LOUNGERS

P 240 28 Nov 230 235 230 225 220 22 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov

Restaurant and cafe operator Loungers delivered a 39 per cent increase in profit in the first half. On the back of this, analysts at Peel Hunt upgraded their pretax profit forecast for the full year by 12 per cent. Margins also have upgrade potential, the analysts said, predicting that pretax profit would more than double over the next three years. The analysts rated it a 'Buy' with a target price of 375p.

SOFTCAT

P 1,280 1,277 28 Nov 1,260 1,240 1,220 22 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov

IT services provider Softcat delivered a trading update for the first quarter which was "reassurringly in line," analysts at Peel Hunt said. The firm reiterated the guidance given in October with trends from the previous half carrying over into trading this financial year. The analysts noted that Softcat is well-managed and "better positioned for the longer term than some peers". They rated it a 'Buy' with a target price of 1,722p.

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