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Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Berenberg hikes target price on Johnson Matthey

(Sharecast News) - Analysts at Berenberg raised their target price on Johnson Matthey from 1,380.0p to 1,800.0p on Thursday as it said the firm had "successfully navigated a fork in the road". Berenberg said Johnson Matthey's share price has "quite justifiably rallied" by over 20% since the announcement on 22 May that it would divest its Catalyst Technologies segment to Honeywell for £1.8bn, or a 13.3x enterprise value/underlying earnings ratio.

"The decision to divest for a multiple higher than the group may not only benefit JMAT's valuation directly, but it also removes the narrative dissonance caused by growth-oriented and cash-cow

businesses being housed in the same company," said Berenberg. "Now, there is no such contradiction. JMAT has embraced a role as a brutally effective cash generator, even if earnings appear likely to begin declining in the late 2020s."

The German bank stated the new group has an "endearing simplicity" that may highlight its quiet success in restoring margins in its Clean Air segment. However, Berenberg said it may also leave the remaining company a potential private equity bid target.

Berenberg reiterated its 'hold' rating on the stock.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

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