BEST OF THE BROKERS

TOMKINS
Goldman Sachs upgraded Tomkins from “neutral” to “buy”, with a revised 12-month price target of 215p. The broker estimates the engineering company will generate a mid-cycle earnings margin of eight per cent and expects it to say in its July interim management statement that its consumer-end markets have stabilised, and its mid-year trading implies that growth should return in the full year 2010.

TRAVIS PERKINS
With growing evidence of stability in UK housing, Collins Stewart upgraded its Travis Perkins target from 580p to 604p. The broker recommends investors “buy” the stock, saying that it continues to see the company as better placed than its rivals and on a firmer financial footing to pick up smaller companies since its rights issue. Market conditions remain mixed, but the analysts expect the builders merchant to be resilient.

J SAINSBURY
Analysts at Nomura maintain their “reduce” stance on J Sainsbury ahead of next week’s first quarter trading preview from the supermarket chain. The target price also remains the same at 220p. Nomura said it does not fault the company on operational momentum or on an improved price position, but on the ability ultimately to deliver value for shareholders through sustainable margin upgrades and a long-term growth story.