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Trade Parameters
Observations – For
Observations – Against
Deutsche bank’s downgrade and Bernstein’s reiteration of underperform just before the retailer’s trading statement suggests the brokers don’t expect trends to have improved much since the latest update in early Nov when Next cut sales guidance and after which the shares traded flat. The weak GBP will only become more of a hindrance for costs and margins. We still await news on Article 50 and soft or hard Brexit. Beware a strong Christmas holiday period.
Consensus has more sellers than buyers and a significant number of undecided who could turn negative amid any strong share price sell-off. The consensus target implies limited upside of just 3.5%, not even as far as 5000p, while the first broker updates of 2017 see the shares reiterated at underperform (5% downside) by Bernstein and downgraded to Hold by Deutsche Bank. The most bearish of targets (4580p/-5%) versus the most optimistic of 6632p (+38) means brokers may be too optimistic.
Next Event: Trading Statement, 4 Jan; Prelim FY Results, 23 Mar
Latest Broker 12-Month Consensus: 15% Buy, 59% Hold, 26% Sell (full breakdown on request)
Source: DowJones Newswires, Reuters News, Bloomberg or Company Press releases
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