UPGRADES

January 2 – January 12

The Lottery Corporation (ASX:TLC) Upgrade to Accumulate from Hold — Ord Minnett
We’re tacking this one on despite Ord Minnett releasing the note just before the New Year.

The broker likes TLC’s consolidated, market leading position, saying it looks set to dominate local lotteries for some time. That said, sales volumes have been abnormally soft, the broker concedes.

Ord expects a fairly tame first half H1 performance, estimated -7% below last year’s performance. Oz Lotto, with sales down -20%, is the biggest drag to date, points out the broker.

Price Target remains at $5.

 

JB HiFi (ASX:JBH) Upgrade to Neutral from Underperform — Macquarie

Macquarie has conceded that its own assumptions for consumer spending were off the mark, following this week’s surge in retail trade data.

The broker says with this in mind, JBH remains best in class of the dual whitegoods retailers. JBH has a superior cost structure which has so far fended off the wannabes from Kogan to Harvey Norman.

The broker lifts its forecasts by between 7-8% for the long term outlook. PT also lifts to $55 from $45.

 

CEH – Coast Entertainment Upgrade to Accumulate from Hold — Ord Minnett

(January 3) Ord Minnett says shares in the former Ardent Leisure (ASX:ALG), (hello, Coast Entertainment!), are remaining stifled and wallow well below Ord’s Price Target of 60 cents – a rare opportunity, Ord reckons.

 

 

DOWNGRADES

January 2 – January 12

 

CSR (ASX:CSR) Downgrade to Sell from Hold — Ord Minnett

Insurance Australia (ASX:IAG) Downgrade to Hold from Add — Morgans

Judo Capital Holdings (ASX:JDO) Downgrade to Hold from Accumulate — Ord Minnett

Magellan Financial Group (ASX:MFG) Downgrade to Sell from Neutral — Citi

The broker is among many voices unwilling to let their guard down on MFG. Citi sees a lot of Christmas in MFG’s stock price rally, although the PT  lifted $8.10 from $7 on higher forecasts, though the stock is Downgraded to Sell from Neutral.

Motorcycle Holdings (ASX:MTO) Downgrade to Hold from Add — Morgans

NextDC (ASX:NXT) Downgrade to Lighten from Hold — Ord Minnett

Probiotec (ASX:PBP) Downgrade to Hold from Add — Morgans

Challenger (ASX:CGF) Downgrade to Hold from Accumulate — Ord Minnett

Ord Minnett lowers the rating for Challenger while retaining the PT of $7.30.

The broker likes CGF’s growing boutique funds management arm, although the business depends on annuities and high sales growth to offset recurring annuity payments obligations, so it’s a little high risk.

Sims Metal Management (ASX:SGM) Downgrade to Sell from Neutral — Citi

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (ASX:BEN) Downgrade to Sell from Neutral — Citi

Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) Downgrade to Sell from Neutral — Citi

Healius (ASX:HLS) Downgrade to Underweight from Equal-weight — Morgan Stanley

Insignia Financial (ASX:IFL) Downgrade to Underweight from Equal-weight — Morgan Stanley

Alumina (ASX:AWC) Downgrade to Neutral from Buy — Citi

On Thursday AWC stock surged enough for Citi analysts to reappraise their long-held AWC position. As the stock jumps, the broker accepts the risk of higher aluminium prices and has lifted the PT by 5 cents to $1.15.

ASX (ASX:ASX) Downgrade to Neutral from Outperform — Macquarie

 

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