LONDON Wednesday tips round-up: Tesco, WH Smith, Aggreko

Date: Wednesday 09 Jun 2010

Tesco faces challenges in the current market. Sales growth in the UK is unlikely to be spectacular and the improvement in its global operations will be slow and steady, tied into the economic recovery.

Also, Fresh 'n' Easy in the US is yet to make a profit. However, retiring chiefexecutive Sir Terry Leahy believes that the global recovery will be bedded in by the time he leaves next year. Recent falls have created an opportunity for long-term investors in this quality play. The shares are still a buy says the Telegraph.

Events have not been kind to WH Smith. The expected pick-up in the travel business has not materialised thanks to a certain inconvenient volcanic eruption. That was responsible for a 4% fall in same-store sales at WH Smith Travel. It's not time to head for the exit yet but only a hold says the Independent.

When a television audience of billions watches the World Cup kick-off in Johannesburg on Friday, Aggreko can take part of the credit. The Glasgow-based company will supply the 300 temporary generators, 500km of cabling and 360 staff that will power the event’s outside broadcast facilities and enable live images to be sent around the world. At £14.07, Aggreko’s shares — up 144 per cent year-on-year — look expensive, at 19 times 2010 earnings. But they always do. Buy on weakness says the Times.

Templeton Emerging Market Trust is up 87% since January. Fears of a double-dip recession have hit equity valuations across the world, but the trust's manager does not believe that Hungary is another Greece and he doesn't expect another slump. Buy says the Telegraph.

Underlying full-year sales at aircraft components supplier Umeco were down by 6%, but that masks an improvement in the second half and implies that Umeco is taking market share in both distribution and composites. However, it is the near-term build programmes of Airbus and Boeing that remain critical to sentiment on the shares. At 356p, or ten times earnings, and yielding 5 per cent, stand aside for now says the Times.

Hyder Consulting’s shares are not as lowly rated as those of its rival Scott Wilson, which on Monday said that it had received multiple bid approaches. However, at 278p, less than eight times current-year earnings, Hyder looks too cheap, given the scope for further strong growth overseas. Hold on says the Times.

Market conditions are now improving at chain maker Renold. Sales and orders increased markedly from the second to the fourth quarters, pushing the company to an operating profit in the second half. And facilities in China and India leave Renold well-positioned to make the most of strong economic growth. Buy says the Independent.

The multimedia group Ten Alps has endured a tough year but has launched a three-year development plan for growth that banks heavily on Asia to turn its revenue declines around, but Ten Alps has left a few TV production industry experts scratching their heads about where it goes from here. Sell says the Independent.

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