ASHTEAD

P 5,000 4,900 4,735 5 Dec 4,800 4,700 4,600 29 Nov 30 Nov 1 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec

Equipment rental group Ashtead delivered profits in line with its trading update two weeks ago as group EBITDA increased 15 per cent to $2.583bn. Full-year 2024 headline guidance was retained with the key component being Sunbelt US rental revenue growth of 11-13 per cent. Analysts at Peel Hunt have maintained their April 2024E PBT of US$2.3bn. They rate it a buy stock with a target price of 5,000p.

MOONPIG

P 180 175 170 5 Dec 163.3 165 160 29 Nov 30 Nov 1 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec

Peel Hunt analysts doubled down on their buy rating as card maker Moonpig delivered interims largely in line with the market's expectations. Sales were "bang in line", and gross profit was the "eye-catcher" with the margin up the best part of 4 per cent, Peel Hunt said. But with trading so far in the second half of the year in line with expectations, management is holding guidance where it is. They set a target price of 300p.

(c) 2023 City A.M., source Newspaper