| BUY |
| Company |
Publication |
Recommendation |
Price tipped |
AB Foods (ABF)
Food producers |
The Times |
This conglomerate is a "prime defensive stock" thanks to the broad spread of its activities from Primark to sugar. A big bounce in the sugar price is due in 2012. |
1,087p
1,197p/916.5p |
Asian Citrus (ACHL)
Aim |
Investors Chronicle |
This orange producer's shares have suffered a sell-off due to fears over Chinese agriculture after the Sino-Forest scandal but this is a good firm with growing production. |
57.5p
88.8p/43p |
Barratt Developments (BDEV)
Household goods & home construction |
The Daily Telegraph |
An update from this house builder showed a drop in sales causing the shares to d rop but the fall was due to a switch in focus from volume to good margins. Buy. |
105.9p
120.6p/69p |
Begbies Traynor (BEG)
Aim |
Shares |
Buy shares in this insolvency specialist ahead of a pick up in levels of UK corporate distress. A decision to sell off other divisions to focus on insolvency looks a "correct" one. |
41.5p
80p/39p |
BHP Billiton (BLT)
Mining |
The Sunday Telegraph |
A bid for shale gas group Petrohawk looks like a "sensible move" for this miner as gas is "undervalued" and should do well over the long term. The shares yield 2.5%. |
2,340p
2,654p/1,750p |
Brady (BRY)
Aim |
The Independent |
This software firm specialises in solutions for the commodity markets. Revenues in the first half rose by 90% year-on-year to £8.8m. "Things are moving in the right direction". |
77p
87p/59p |
Brewin Dolphin (BRW)
Financial services |
The Mail on Sunday |
Growth prospects are "good" at this investment manager and the yield is almost 5% yet the shares have fallen over fears about the impact of a nervous market. Buy. |
160p
186.9p/113p |
British American Tobacco (BATS)
Tobacco |
Investors Chronicle |
This tobacco firm is "well exposed" to fast-growth emerging markets and is developing alternative nicotine products - a market with "potential for growth". The yield is 4.4%. |
2,859p
2,866p/2,156p |
Centaur Media (CAU)
Media |
The Independent |
This media firm has surprised analysts with news of a "strong end to the year" with revenues expected to be up 14%. The firm is "on the right track" and a p/e of 11 is "cheap". |
51p
73p/45p |
Daniel Thwaites (THW)
Plus |
Shares |
Shares in this pub operator may have "speculative appeal" as the benefits of an ongoing restructuring programme and rebranding start to feed through to performance. |
138p
174p/128p |
DP Poland (DPP)
Aim |
Shares |
This Polish pizza operator has the exclusive rights to open Domino's Pizza stores in Poland and new store openings are "gathering pace". Buy on current weakness. |
77p
121.5p/53p |
Electrocomponents (ECM)
Support services |
The Sunday Telegraph |
This electronics firm's "strategy is sound and it is working". The group continues to increase its product range and has "ambitious but achievable targets". Keep buying. |
238.7p
298p/202.8p |
GKN (GKN)
Automobiles & parts |
The Daily Telegraph |
This engineering firm get a third of its sales from the aerospace industry and is well-placed to benefit from increasing production of passenger planes. "Undervalued". |
227.9p
249p/130.9p |
Harvard International (HAR)
Aim |
Shares |
Consumer electronics might be an "exceptionally tough market" but this set-top box maker could be an "astute contrarian play" given its current discount to cash. |
26p
63p/24p |
ICAP (IAP)
Financial services |
The Times |
The world's biggest inter-dealer broker "does terribly well in volatile markets" and has been having some of the busiest trading in its history. "Buy for the longer term". |
482.1p
575p/374.6p |
Lavendon Group (LVD)
Support services |
The Daily Telegraph |
This firm rents out elevated work platforms to builders. It has posted "impressive" growth in the first half across Europe. It could be a takeover target on a 2012 p/e of 11. |
108p
120p/43p |
May Gurney (MAYG)
Aim |
Investors Chronicle |
This outsourcing firm is defensively positioned and has a "strong" balance sheet and has the potential to make bolt-on acquisition. On a p/e of 10 the shares look cheap. |
284p
291.8p/175.3p |
Meggitt (MGGT)
Aerospace & defence |
The Independent |
This engineering group supplies the defence, energy and civil aerospace markets. The City is expecting the firm to post healthy sales growth next month. The stock is "cheap". |
369.2p
392.6p/255.7p |
Monitise (MONI)
Aim |
The Independent |
This firm is a "leading player in the fast-growing world of mobile payments". Annual revenues more than doubled last year to £14m and the same could happen again. |
37.5p
40p/15.75p |
Rio Tinto (RIO)
Mining |
The Daily Telegraph |
The prospect of rising prices couple with rising production make this mining giant an attractive prospect especially as prices are "likely to remain high for many years". |
4,387p
4,718p/2,976p |
Sagentia (SAG)
Aim |
Shares |
This revitalised technology consultant continues to beat profit expectations after streamlining its business and moving away from working on a fixed-price basis. |
84p
90p/45.5p |
Telecom Plus (TEP)
Fixed line telecommunications |
The Independent |
This utility provider has increased its customers and services, and announced "strong" cash generation. It also has "good visibility on long-term profits". Buy despite a p/e of 20. |
681.5p
705.3p/340p |
UK Coal (UKC)
Mining |
The Independent |
A positive trading up date means If this miner can keep growing production, unlock value from its landholdings and cut debt there is "ample scope for upside gains". |
37p
57.3p/32p |
Ultra Electronics Holdings (ULE)
Aerospace & defence |
The Daily Telegraph |
This defence firm is involved in a number of growth areas including anti-submarine electronics. It's balance sheet is robust and more acquisitions are likely. The p/e is 14. |
1,676p
1,903p/1,521p |
William Hill (WMH)
Travel & leisure |
Shares |
This bookmaker is "delivering the goods" and should command a top rating because it does not face the "high regulatory risks" that its peers are facing. A "safe play". |
220.6p
239.2p/153.7p |
| SELL |
| Company |
Publication |
Recommendation |
Price tipped |
Britvic (BVIC)
Beverages |
Investors Chronicle |
This soft drinks firm is facing continuing weakness in some of its markets alongside potential price rises for raw materials. It's hard to see how trading will improve. |
379p
518p/355p |