Broker tips: Pub groups, Barratt, Atkins

23rd Sep 2009 11:03

Swiss bank UBS has called time on a gaggle of big pub groups, claiming the share prices have risen too far on a heady cocktail of improving consumer sentiment, England's qualification for the World Cup and changes to the rules on pub gaming machine stakes and prizes.UBS reckons the share prices of Enterprise Inns, Greene King, Marstons and Mitchells & Butlers are set for that morning after feeling unless the economy's recovery is 'v-shaped'.In the post-smoking ban environment UBS thinks that even if the economy does stage a full recovery, the margins on leased and tenanted pub will probably not return to historic highs.Cut price operator JD Wetherspoon is UBS's preferred pick in the sector but even these shares only rate a 'hold' rating. The widely anticipated rights issue announced by housebuilder Barratt Developments will put the group on a more stable footing but Panmure Gordon still prefers Bovis and Bellway in this sector.The broker said it continues 'to prefer those housebuilders with cash positive balance sheets,' and rates Barratt shares a 'sell', with a target price of 145p, although this may be reviewed following the investor analyst meeting following the company's interim results.Charles Stanley has initiated coverage of design and engineering consultancy group WS Atkins with a 'reduce' recommendation on expectations of reduced government spending on capital projects.Analyst Geoff Allum notes that around two-thirds of Atkins's UK revenue comes from investment by the public sector, and while the stream of lucrative government contracts is unlikely to dry up this side of the general election, this may not be the case after the election, whichever party gets in.Charles Stanley has a target price of 450p for the stock. It is predicting normalised profit before tax for the current financial year of £98m, up from £91.9m last year, but predicts pre-tax profit will slide to £86m in 2010 before stabilising in 2011.