The ASX 200 stocks hit with the biggest broker downgrades last week: Core Lithium, The Star
Core Lithium faces another week of sharp share price target cuts as lithium prices dwindle.
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Mentioned
KEY POINTS
- Broker activity has been relatively quiet, consistent with post-holiday activity
- Analysts continue to cut their price targets for Core Lithium amid growing bearishness towards the lithium sector
- Rental giant Hertz plans to sell electric vehicles and buy gas cars, citing depreciation concerns and higher repair costs
The consensus target price for Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) has continued to unwind, down to 25 cents from 30 cents a week ago.
Spodumene prices have continued to dwindle, down to US$1,020 a tonne from US$1,037 a tonne a week ago, according to the Shanghai Metals Market.
The Biggest Broker Downgrades
It was a relatively quiet week for broker moves, consistent with post-holiday activity.
Ticker | Company Name | Close Price | 1-Week | Target Price | Prev Target Price | % Dif |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Core Lithium | $0.21 | -8.7% | $0.25 | $0.30 | -16.7% | |
The Star Entertainment | $0.52 | 0.0% | $0.74 | $0.86 | -14.0% | |
Healius | $1.46 | -3.3% | $1.68 | $1.76 | -4.5% | |
Mirvac Group | $2.07 | 2.5% | $2.17 | $2.22 | -2.3% | |
Nickel Industries | $0.66 | -0.8% | $1.04 | $1.06 | -1.9% | |
Iluka Resources | $6.77 | 7.3% | $7.79 | $7.88 | -1.1% | |
Whitehaven Coal | $7.97 | 1.4% | $8.08 | $8.17 | -1.1% | |
AMP | $0.95 | -2.1% | $0.95 | $0.96 | -1.0% |
'Target price' is an aggregate of Refinitiv broker target prices. % Dif compares target prices between 5 January and 12 January 2024
In a surprise shift, rental firm Hertz plans to sell about 20,000 electric vehicles from its US fleet to buy gasoline cars instead.
Two years ago, Hertz outlined ambitions plans to make more than 20% of its rental fleet electric by 2022. During this time. it placed an order for 100,000 Tesla Model 3 Sedans as well as 65,000 Polestar 2s.
Towards the end of 2023, Hertz flagged a long list of reasons as to why it was going back to gas, including:
EV price cuts in 2023 resulted in increasing vehicle depreciation expenses and negatively impacted salvageable costs
Rental EVs were damaged and crashed more often
EVs faced higher cost of repairs, especially Teslas
Hertz is expected to flag depreciation of US$245 million for its EV assets in its Q4 2024 financial results.
