Skip Header
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.

Numis downgrades DS Smith to 'hold'

(Sharecast News) - Numis downgraded its stance on packaging group DS Smith on Friday to 'hold' from 'buy' as it said there was insufficient upside to retain a buy rating. It noted the shares have rallied by around 30% year-to-date and now trade on FY25 EV/ EBITDA and price-to-earning multiples of 6.8x and 11.3x, respectively, which are close to the stock's medium-term averages.

"The competitive tension indicated by two competing bidders for DS Smith raises the prospect of a materially higher valuation of the stock in the near-term," Numis said.

"While we cannot rule out a competitive bid situation emerging, we think prospects may be limited by Mondi's historic lack of appetite for large scale M&A and modest valuations paid for previous acquisitions."

Numis said it expects the shares to trade closer to the value implied by International Paper's proposal and revised its price target up to 415p from 385p.

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

Standard Chartered posts jump in Q1 profits
(Sharecast News) - Standard Chartered backed its full-year guidance on Thursday and posted a jump in first-quarter profit as it continued to benefit from higher interest rates.
Revolution Bars confirms takeover talks with Nightcap
(Sharecast News) - Revolution Bars confirmed on Thursday that it has held "an exploratory meeting" with Piano Works owner Nightcap about a range of possible transactions, including a potential takeover.
Engine sales drive Q1 growth at Melrose
(Sharecast News) - Aerospace tech group Melrose reported a strong start to the year with its Engines division driving group revenues higher, as it reiterated recently upgraded guidance for the full year.
Spectris reports Q1 sales drop but sees outlook improving
(Sharecast News) - Precision measurement group Spectris has kept its projections for 2024 unchanged despite a "softer-than-anticipated" first quarter, with sales falling against a strong comparative period last year.

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.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.