Robert Makdissi, Baillieu Holst

 

BUY RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Event Hospitality And Entertainment (EVT)

Chart: Share price over the year

Inbound tourism to Australia remains strong and EVT should benefit from this trend. The company operates hotels, resorts and cinemas in Australia and New Zealand. It also operates the popular Thredbo Alpine Resort. The accommodation portfolio includes more than 9000 rooms in Australia and New Zealand. The company’s assets generate diverse revenue streams. A strong balance sheet provides an opportunity to invest in a strong growth theme.

 

MaxiTRANS (MXI) 

Chart: Share price over the year

Makes and supplies trailing transport equipment and solutions in Australia. Demand appears to be picking up across all divisions. This growth is underpinned by a recent large order to supply 395 trailers to Coles Supermarkets. Expect further operational efficiencies to enhance the company’s profitability metrics.

 

 

HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS

 

The Star Entertainment Group (SGR)

Chart: Share price over the year

We like SGR for its Gold Coast casino and entertainment complex that’s forecast to drive double digit earnings per share growth to fiscal year 2020. The stock has underperformed the S&P/ASX 200 since Crown Resorts employees were detained in China in October 2016. But with VIP demand holding up better than some expected amid solid group visitor numbers, we expect the company to continue generating strong cash flows.

 

Origin Energy (ORG) 

Chart: Share price over the year

We expect Origin to benefit from improving electricity market fundamentals, including rising wholesale prices. An increase in price volatility should also benefit its generation portfolio. The company has also provided a clearer view on its plan to reduce debt. Potential upside exists if crude oil prices rise. Crude oil was recently trading closer to the bottom of its range.

 

 

SELL RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Flight Centre (FLT) 

Chart: Share price over the year

Recent share price strength may provide an attractive exit point. While the company has done well to improve efficiencies and diversify its revenue stream, the share price factors in stronger growth than what we believe is achievable in a structurally challenged industry.

 

Top Australian Brokers

 

 

IOOF (IFL)

Chart: Share price over the year

The stock looks fully valued following good share price gains. In our view, a benign earnings growth outlook provides an attractive exit point. We expect margin pressure and weaker organic growth going forward. In our opinion, other stocks with similar valuations in the wealth management sector provide better growth opportunities.

 


Michael McCarthy, CMC Markets 

 

BUY RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Westfield Corporation (WFD)  

Chart: Share price over the year

About a 25 per cent decline in the unit price in the past year puts WFD on the buy list. An unfranked dividend yield around 5 per cent and a lower price/earnings ratio are attractive. In my view, this global shopping centre giant has been sold down more on sentiment, such as retail disruption and higher interest rates, than on fact. Importantly, this vehicle captures the property management fees as well as the property exposure.

 

Oil Search (OSH) 

Chart: Share price over the year

A bearish outlook for the crude oil price and perceived political risk in Papua New Guinea are among the reasons for a sell down and increasing short positions. But I see upside for crude oil, and believe this is an opportunity to take exposure to a key global gas asset. The crude oil price is still largely in a range, but the July 20 price around $US47 is closer to lows around $US42 than highs around $US55.

 

 

HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS

 

ANZ Bank (ANZ)

Chart: Share price over the year

Investors recently pushed bank stocks higher after concluding the big four could meet higher APRA capital requirements without the likelihood of capital raisings. ANZ’s capital position is strong and it offers an attractive dividend yield. The technical outlook is favourable.

 

Woodside Petroleum (WPL) 

Chart: Share price over the year

My positive view on energy pricing and the recent share price retreat leaves WPL conservatively positioned. It offers top quality global gas assets. No need to bail out of this one.

 

 

SELL RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Woolworths (WOW)  

Chart: Share price over the year

Sector margin pressure from increasing competition is a concern for all participants, but particularly for a company attempting a turn around strategy. The jury is still out on the new management team. In my view, recent share price gains provide a reason to exit. The shares were trading at $26.50 on July 20.

 

The A2 Milk Company (A2M)  

Chart: Share price over the year

A top quality and well managed operation with a loyal supply chain and well established distribution channels. The long term outlook remains positive, but, in my view, the shares have run too hard. Consider selling now and look to buy back around $3.25. The shares were trading at $3.64 on July 20.

 


Gavin Wendt, MineLife

 

BUY RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Emmerson Resources (ERM)

Chart: Share price over the year

The gold company’s share price hit a 12 month high of 19.5 cents during November 2016, then retreated on the back of a seasonal lull in exploration activity due to the Northern Territory wet season. The company’s 2017 work program in the NT and NSW is now in full swing, and encouraging results have been reflected in the share price rising from 8 cents in May 2017 to 12 cents on July 20. Edna Beryl’s small scale gold production opportunity hosts ultra high grade mineralisation that remains open along strike and down plunge, with potential at depth. 

 

Oklo Resources (OKU)

Chart: Share price over the year

The share price has surged from 5 cents in December 2015 to a recent high of 35 cents in March. The primary catalyst was strong interest in the company’s aggressive drilling activity. This involved evaluating the Diabarou prospect’s open pit resource potential and nearby regional targets like Seko, where at least five separate gold anomalies have been identified that host gold mineralisation from the surface. The latest results from follow up infill and deeper drilling are encouraging and we wait on further results with interest. The shares were trading at 22 cents on July 20.

 

HOLD RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Poseidon Nickel (POS)

Chart: Share price over the year

A weaker nickel price has weighed on the share price in recent months. Poseidon is attempting to diversify its earnings stream into gold. The recent memorandum of understanding with Aphrodite Gold is a major step in the right direction, as it aims to utilise Poseidon’s nickel processing infrastructure to treat gold ore, while leveraging off strong Australian dollar gold prices.

 

Legend Mining (LEG)

Chart: Share price over the year

Current drilling programs represent the culmination of more than six months work centred on the northern portion of the Rockford nickel, copper and gold project, which we’ve been following closely. We retain our view that Legend Mining is the best placed junior to crack the big one in the Fraser Range.

 

SELL RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Newcrest Mining (NCM)

Chart: Share price over the year

A few months ago, we wrote about looming share price weakness in Australia’s largest gold producer, which has turned out to be prophetic despite gold prices remaining strong, particularly in Australian dollar terms. Investors appear to have taken profits given the production interruption related to seismic events at the company’s Cadia gold mine in NSW. We still have lingering concerns about the company’s production profile, which, in our view, still relies heavily on the problematic Lihir operation in Papua New Guinea.

 

Woodside Petroleum (WPL)

Chart: Share price over the year

The share price of this energy giant has fallen in the past few months as investors locked in profits due to weaker crude oil prices. Recovering US shale production threatens to add to an oversupply of oil, potentially leading to sustained lower crude prices. This could further impact Woodside’s share price performance and earnings. 

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