These ASX stocks enjoyed the biggest broker upgrades this week
The ASX stocks that enjoyed the biggest upgrades and price target increases this week (plus those shunned with downgrades and cuts!)
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Mentioned
KEY POINTS
- Several ASX lithium stocks received ratings upgrades (due to improved valuations after sharp share price declines), but their price targets were cut
- Several ASX gold stocks received ratings downgrades as well as price target cuts
- Several strong performers also saw their ratings trimmed, but in others, brokers aggressively increased their price targets
Welcome back to our weekly check up on the biggest moves from the biggest brokers that cover ASX stocks.
They were certainty busy this week, in particular, with plenty of updates to their ratings and price targets for Aussie mining stocks. Like most Aussie investors, you've probably got a least a few of the stocks mentioned in the tables below in your portfolio.
You're probably also acutely aware that the prices of several commodities key to Australia pulled back sharply in June. Generally, moves in commodity prices translates to updates to the assumptions that underpin ASX commodity stock valuations, as well as translating to moves in their share prices.
So, there are a couple of moving targets for brokers to contend with (valuations vs share prices). This conundrum is probably most pronounced in the ASX lithium sector where lithium prices and sector constituent prices have both plunged.
Very interestingly, this week share prices in the ASX lithium sector appear to have finally reached a level where the brokers are comfortable to upgrade their ratings.
I note that Core Lithium (ASX: CXO), IGO (ASX: IGO) x 2, Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR), and Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS) each received ratings upgrades. Good news, right? Any rating upgrade is usually a welcome development for a stock, but I note in each of these cases, brokers were only comfortable to go as far as a neutral/hold, up from sell.
Also note that the commentary accompanying each of these upgrades centred on the fact that share prices had fallen so far that sell ratings were no longer warranted. It wasn't a case of "stock specific positive developments have improved the value proposition in XYZ", if you get my drift.
A similar theme accompanied ratings upgrades to Deterra Royalties (ASX: DRR), Iluka Resources (ASX: ILU), Ebos Group (ASX: EBO), Lend Lease (ASX: LLC), and Mirvac Group (ASX: MGR), that is, share price plunges equals greater perceived value, equals rating upgrade. At least in the case of DRR, ILU, and MGR ratings went to buy/overweight.
On the downgrades front, I note several gold stocks saw their ratings shaved, mainly from buy to neutral (Gold Road Resources (ASX: GOR), Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), and Regis Resources (ASX: RRL)).
There were also a few that saw the reverse effect to commodity stocks – recent share price success saw brokers less enthusiastic about their present valuations (Generation Development Group (ASX: GDG), Goodman Group (ASX: GMG), GQG Partners (ASX: GQG), and Suncorp Group (ASX: SUN)).
In price target changes, it was very pleasant to see several stocks I follow very closely in my ChartWatch ASX Scans uptrends list garnering sizeable price target increases (Metro Mining (ASX: MMI), Austin Engineering (ASX: ANG), Pro Medicus (ASX: PME), Superloop (ASX: SLC), Tuas (ASX: TUA), and Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC) to name a few).
Going the other way, notably, those afore mentioned lithium stocks (note disparity between ratings upgrades and price target cuts!), and interestingly another two previously hot sector that has come off the boil – uranium stocks (Boss Energy (ASX: BOE)) and rare earths stocks (Arafura Rare Earths (ASX: ARU), and Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC)).
There are plenty of other interesting broker moves for the period – and you can only get this level of detail on what they’re up to from us – so let’s dive in!
How to read broker recommendations 🔎
Typically, there are two major components of a broker’s view:
Rating: A call to action, usually along the lines of buy, hold, or sell, but depending on the broker’s ratings system, can be somewhere in between (e.g., accumulate or add is typically between a hold and a buy).
Price target (PT): The price at which the broker expects the stock will be trading at some point in the future, generally within the next 12 months.
Broker upgrades since Wednesday, 3 July
Company | Broker | New Rating | Old Rating | Price Target | PT Upside% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CSL (CSL) | Citi | Buy | Neutral | $335.00 | 12.2% |
Core Lithium (CXO) | Jarden | Neutral | Sell | $0.10 | 7.5% |
Deterra Royalties (DRR) | Goldman Sachs | Buy | Neutral | $4.70 | 15.8% |
Deterra Royalties (DRR) | UBS | Buy | Neutral | $4.90 | 20.7% |
Ebos Group (EBO) | Citi | Neutral | Sell | $31.50 | 5.4% |
Fortescue (FMG) | Jefferies | Hold | Underperform | $21.00 | -3.9% |
G8 Education (GEM) | Macquarie | Outperform | Neutral | $1.35 | 8.9% |
IGO (IGO) | UBS | Neutral | Sell | $6.10 | 5.2% |
IGO (IGO) | JP Morgan | Neutral | Underweight | $6.40 | 10.3% |
Iluka Resources (ILU) | JP Morgan | Overweight | Neutral | $8.20 | 22.8% |
Lendlease Group (LLC) | UBS | Neutral | Sell | $5.79 | 0.5% |
Liontown Resources (LTR) | Citi | Neutral | Sell | $1.00 | 5.8% |
Mirvac Group (MGR) | UBS | Buy | Neutral | $2.19 | 18.4% |
Pilbara Minerals (PLS) | JP Morgan | Neutral | Underweight | $2.95 | -2.0% |
REA Group (REA) | Macquarie | Outperform | Neutral | $212.00 | 7.7% |
Sims (SGM) | JP Morgan | Neutral | Underweight | $10.00 | -5.1% |
Vicinity Centres (VCX) | UBS | Neutral | Sell | $1.86 | -3.9% |
Biggest broker rating upgrades since Wednesday, 3 July. Price Target Upside/Downside (“PT Upside%”) values in the last column are based on closing prices on Tuesday, 9 July.
From the brokers:
Citi upgrades CSL (ASX: CSL) to BUY from neutral
“With several negative catalysts behind, we see less headline risks going into 2H CY24.”
“The stock offers reasonable value given the 14% NPATA CAGR between FY23 and FY27e, in-line with consensus.”
“We expect CSL to be able to deliver double-digit growth despite the increasingly competitive environment medium term.”
The price target was increased to $335 from $305
UBS upgrades Deterra Royalties to BUY from neutral
“DRR's recent share price performance is unjustified, in our view, with price falls accounting for more than 60% of the EV of Trident, while 90% of NAV and NPAT remains subject to the exceptional MAC royalty stream. ”
The price target was increased to $4.90 from $4.80
Macquarie upgrades REA Group (ASX: REA) to OUTPERFORM from neutral
“The fundamental outlook in the next 6-12 months should remain solid and underpin incremental earnings upgrades. Valuation support limited but relative valuation among marketplaces is starting to look supportive for REA.”
The price target was increased to $212 from $196.
Broker downgrades since Wednesday, 3 July
Company | Broker | New Rating | Old Rating | Price Target | PT Upside% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arena Reit. (ARF) | UBS | Neutral | Buy | $3.94 | 2.3% |
BWP Trust (BWP) | UBS | Neutral | Buy | $3.79 | 9.9% |
Centuria Capital Group (CNI) | UBS | Sell | Neutral | $1.51 | -3.2% |
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (CUV) | Morgans | Hold | Add | $16.00 | 9.7% |
Generation Development Group (GDG) | Morgans | Hold | Add | $2.57 | 11.3% |
Goodman Group (GMG) | UBS | Sell | Neutral | $31.71 | -9.1% |
Gold Road Resources (GOR) | JP Morgan | Neutral | Overweight | $1.90 | 7.0% |
GQG Partners Inc. (GQG) | Ord Minnett | Accumulate | Buy | $3.20 | 10.3% |
Jumbo Interactive (JIN) | Jarden | Underweight | Neutral | $15.40 | -5.9% |
Monadelphous Group (MND) | Bell Potter | Hold | Buy | $14.00 | 9.0% |
Macquarie Group (MQG) | Macquarie | Hold | Outperform | $201.00 | -0.9% |
Newmont Corporation (NEM) | JP Morgan | Neutral | Overweight | $66.00 | 0.7% |
Regis Resources (RRL) | UBS | Neutral | Buy | $1.85 | 0.8% |
Regis Resources (RRL) | Citi | Neutral | Buy | $1.90 | 3.5% |
Scentre Group (SCG) | UBS | Sell | Neutral | $2.96 | -6.9% |
Sonic Healthcare (SHL) | Bank of America | Underperform | Buy | $23.50 | -9.4% |
Suncorp Group (SUN) | Macquarie | Neutral | Outperform | $15.80 | -5.7% |
Biggest broker rating downgrades since Wednesday 3 July. Price Target Upside/Downside (“PT Upside%”) values in the last column are based on closing prices on Tuesday 9 July.
From the brokers:
UBS downgrades Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) to SELL from neutral
“For GMG, we see very strong growth from the data centre strategy but move to Sell on valuation grounds/high investor expectations.”
The price target was increased to $31.71 from $29.25
JP Morgan downgrades Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) to NEUTRAL from overweight
“We still like gold, but downgrade NEM and GOR to Neutral, and prefer NST and EVN from a valuation perspective.”
The price target was lowered to $66 from $67
Biggest broker price target changes since Wednesday, 3 July
Company | Broker | Rating | New PT | Old PT | PT Change% | PT Upside% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metro Mining (MMI) | Shaw and Partners | Buy | $0.13 | $0.07 | 85.7% | 124.1% |
Austin Engineering (ANG) | Shaw and Partners | Buy | $0.75 | $0.60 | 25.0% | 23.0% |
Insurance Australia Group (IAG) | Macquarie | Outperform | $8.00 | $6.40 | 25.0% | 14.9% |
Pro Medicus (PME) | Citi | Sell | $95.00 | $80.00 | 18.8% | -29.2% |
Superloop (SLC) | JP Morgan | Overweight | $1.90 | $1.60 | 18.8% | 20.6% |
Suncorp Group (SUN) | Morgan Stanley | Overweight | $20.20 | $17.05 | 18.5% | 20.5% |
Tuas (TUA) | Citi | Buy | $5.25 | $4.50 | 16.7% | 11.7% |
GQG Partners Inc. (GQG) | Ord Minnett | Accumulate | $3.20 | $2.85 | 12.3% | 10.3% |
Regis Resources (RRL) | Citi | Neutral | $1.90 | $1.70 | 11.8% | 3.5% |
Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (SXE) | Shaw and Partners | Buy | $2.00 | $1.80 | 11.1% | 13.6% |
GQG Partners Inc. (GQG) | Goldman Sachs | Buy | $3.00 | $2.73 | 9.9% | 3.4% |
CSL (CSL) | Citi | Buy | $335.00 | $305.00 | 9.8% | 12.2% |
Coronado Global Resources Inc. (CRN) | Goldman Sachs | Buy | $1.70 | $1.55 | 9.7% | 20.6% |
Whitehaven Coal (WHC) | Goldman Sachs | Neutral | $8.10 | $7.40 | 9.5% | -9.7% |
Whitehaven Coal (WHC) | UBS | Buy | $9.65 | $8.85 | 9.0% | 7.6% |
GQG Partners Inc. (GQG) | Macquarie | Outperform | $3.05 | $2.80 | 8.9% | 5.2% |
Goodman Group (GMG) | UBS | Sell | $31.71 | $29.25 | 8.4% | -9.1% |
New Hope Corporation (NHC) | Goldman Sachs | Sell | $3.90 | $3.60 | 8.3% | -22.8% |
Coronado Global Resources Inc. (CRN) | UBS | Buy | $1.95 | $1.80 | 8.3% | 38.3% |
REA Group (REA) | Macquarie | Outperform | $212.00 | $196.00 | 8.2% | 7.7% |
Gold Road Resources (GOR) | Goldman Sachs | Buy | $2.10 | $1.95 | 7.7% | 18.3% |
Integral Diagnostics (IDX) | Macquarie | Outperform | $2.85 | $2.65 | 7.5% | 11.3% |
South32 (S32) | Goldman Sachs | Buy | $4.30 | $4.00 | 7.5% | 15.6% |
South32 (S32) | JP Morgan | Overweight | $4.40 | $4.10 | 7.3% | 18.3% |
Lynas Rare Earths (LYC) | JP Morgan | Underweight | $4.70 | $5.00 | -6.0% | -26.7% |
De Grey Mining (DEG) | JP Morgan | Overweight | $1.55 | $1.65 | -6.1% | 33.6% |
Genesis Minerals (GMD) | UBS | Buy | $2.15 | $2.30 | -6.5% | 13.5% |
Transurban Group (TCL) | Macquarie | Neutral | $12.81 | $13.74 | -6.8% | 3.1% |
Suncorp Group (SUN) | Macquarie | Neutral | $15.80 | $17.00 | -7.1% | -5.7% |
Boss Energy (BOE) | Bell Potter | Buy | $5.90 | $6.35 | -7.1% | 56.1% |
Fortescue (FMG) | JP Morgan | Neutral | $25.00 | $27.00 | -7.4% | 14.4% |
Gold Road Resources (GOR) | UBS | Buy | $2.35 | $2.55 | -7.8% | 32.4% |
Regis Resources (RRL) | Goldman Sachs | Neutral | $2.10 | $2.30 | -8.7% | 14.4% |
Cyclopharm (CYC) | Bell Potter | Buy | $3.10 | $3.40 | -8.8% | 85.1% |
Monadelphous Group (MND) | Bell Potter | Hold | $14.00 | $15.40 | -9.1% | 9.0% |
Core Lithium (CXO) | JP Morgan | Underweight | $0.08 | $0.09 | -11.1% | -14.0% |
Bluescope Steel (BSL) | Macquarie | Outperform | $26.10 | $29.45 | -11.4% | 29.4% |
Ramsay Health Care (RHC) | Citi | Neutral | $50.00 | $56.50 | -11.5% | 7.4% |
Adore Beauty Group (ABY) | Citi | Buy | $1.50 | $1.70 | -11.8% | 76.5% |
Regis Resources (RRL) | UBS | Neutral | $1.85 | $2.10 | -11.9% | 0.8% |
Northern Star Resources (NST) | UBS | Buy | $16.00 | $18.50 | -13.5% | 23.3% |
De Grey Mining (DEG) | UBS | Buy | $1.80 | $2.10 | -14.3% | 55.2% |
Liontown Resources (LTR) | Goldman Sachs | Neutral | $1.15 | $1.35 | -14.8% | 21.7% |
Fortescue (FMG) | UBS | Sell | $18.90 | $22.30 | -15.2% | -13.5% |
Boss Energy (BOE) | Macquarie | Outperform | $5.00 | $6.00 | -16.7% | 32.3% |
Core Lithium (CXO) | Jarden | Neutral | $0.10 | $0.12 | -16.7% | 7.5% |
Sonic Healthcare (SHL) | Bank of America | Underperform | $23.50 | $29.00 | -19.0% | -9.4% |
Liontown Resources (LTR) | Canaccord Genuity | Hold | $1.05 | $1.30 | -19.2% | 11.1% |
Clean Seas Seafood (CSS) | Bell Potter | Hold | $0.22 | $0.27 | -20.4% | 2.4% |
Meteoric Resources (MEI) | Macquarie | Outperform | $0.36 | $0.46 | -21.7% | 176.9% |
Arafura Rare Earths (ARU) | JP Morgan | Underweight | $0.10 | $0.14 | -28.6% | -48.7% |
Cygnus Metals (CY5) | Shaw and Partners | Buy | $0.30 | $0.50 | -40.0% | 597.7% |
Biggest broker price target changes since Wednesday 3 July. Price Target Upside/Downside (“PT Upside%”) values in the last column are based on closing prices as of Tuesday, 9 July.
From the brokers:
Shaw and Partners increases price target for Metro Mining to $0.13 from $0.07 (implies 124% upside)
“We make no change to our FY24 production forecast (6.8Mt) or earnings forecasts post the site visit. June quarter production of 1.42Mt was a new record for the second quarter and, despite being below target, full-year guidance of 6.3-6.8Mt looks achievable.”
Rating is retained at BUY
Shaw and Partners increases price target for Austin Engineering to $0.75 from $0.60 (implies 23% upside)
“ANG is a very well-run company delivering impressive results under a revised strategy. The company remains attractively priced versus comparable companies.”
Rating is maintained at BUY
UBS increases price target on Coronado Global Resources (ASX: CSN) to $1.95 from $1.80 (implies 38.3% upside)
“We lift our price targets on WHC and CRN reflecting higher expected met-coal prices).”
Rating is maintained at BUY
