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Rogers alone accounted for 62 per cent of the auction’s total proceeds, spending $3.3-billion.Tim Fraser/The Globe and Mail

Inside the Market's roundup of some of today's key analyst actions. This file will be updated during the trading day.

Investors shouldn't be overly concerned with an announcement by Cameco Corp. this morning that it has temporarily stopped jet boring at its Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan to allow additional time for freezing areas of the mine, said Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Rob Chang.

Jet boring involves using water under high pressure to carve out parts of an orebody. While the delay will impact the ramping up of activities at the mine, it will only result in about a two-month delay, he noted.

"The delay does not meaningfully impact our estimates but development delays may not be viewed well in the market," Mr. Chang said as he reiterated a "buy" rating and $27.80 (Canadian) price target. Shares in Cameco initially headed lower at the TSX open, but have since recovered, trading up just over 1 per cent at 1030 a.m. (ET).

The Cigar Lake uranium deposit occurs at depths ranging from 410 to 450 metres below the surface where the water-saturated Athabasca sandstone meets the underlying basement rocks. To prevent water from entering the production areas of the mine and to help stabilize weak rock formations, the ore zone and surrounding ground is being frozen by circulating a brine solution through cased holes drilled from both surface and underground. The company has determined that freezing has not advanced as quickly as expected in some localized areas of the mine.

Cameco said ore that was expected to be milled at the end of the year will shift into early 2015. As a result, Cameco's 2014 production target will be affected. It expects to update this target on July 31, when it reports second-quarter financial results.

The analyst consensus price target for Cameco over the next year is $24.98, according to Thomson Reuters data.

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Citing recent price depreciation in its shares, and "overblown" fears about a fourth national wireless player coming to market, Canaccord Genuity analyst Dvai Ghose upgraded Rogers Communications Inc. to "hold" from "sell." He maintained a $41 (Canadian) price target.

Rogers shares are down about 14 per cent this year, partly because of the loss of wireless and cable market share and weaker average revenue per user (ARPU) trends. But investors have also been nervous about Ottawa's continued efforts to spur more competition in the wireless market. Earlier this month, the government announced it plans to auction prime (AWS-3) spectrum in a way that would motivate an investor to buy and combine smaller struggling players such as Mobilicity and Wind Mobile.

Quebecor's Videotron has signaled it may be willing to become Ottawa's long-sought fourth wireless player and this past winter spent $233-million buying valuable spectrum in Canada's four most populous provinces. But Quebecor has also strongly hinted it wants more help from Ottawa in order to make it more attractive to roll out wireless service across the country.

"Although the current wireless regulatory/competitive overhang may last for some time, 1) wireless new entrants have generally failed; 2) there is no guarantee that Videotron will get the regulatory relief or partners required to launch national wireless; and 3) given its weak balance sheet, lack of competitive advantages outside Quebec and limited success with wireless in Quebec, we find it hard to take the Videotron threat seriously," Mr. Ghose said in a research note.

"While RCI faces tough execution challenges, its asset mix and free cash flow remain attractive, and wireless 4 player risk seems overblown," he added.

The analyst consensus price target for Rogers Communications over the next year is $44.29.

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Increased global demand for lentils should result in higher prices and increased revenue for Alliance Grain Traders Inc., which processes the specialty crop, says CIBC World Markets analyst Jacob Bout.

He explains that the core business fundamentals seem to be improving thanks to robust Indian and Turkish lentil demand that is driving lentil prices higher.

"Canadian lentil exports continue to be robust, running 10 per cent ahead of the last year level," says Mr. Bout.

Mr. Bout maintains his "sector performer" rating and is increasing his price target to $21 from $19. The analyst consensus price target over the next year is $22.19, according to Thomson Reuters.

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CIBC World Markets analyst Stephanie Price is initiating coverage on Information Services Corp.,  the exclusive provider of land titles registry services to the Province of Saskatchewan.

Ms. Price says the company is highly profitable, with earnings before interest, taxes, debt and amortization margins in the mid-30 per cent range. The company is also enjoying strong growth over the past several years thanks to a robust Saskatchewan economy and housing cycle.

She has assigned a "sector performer" rating and a target price of $20 (Canadian). The analyst consensus price target over the next year is $21.00, according to Thomson Reuters.

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UBS analyst Colin Langan is bullish on Ford Motor Co. after a survey revealed strong interest in the company's new F-150 truck.

"The survey found very strong buying interest for the new aluminum based Ford F-150 among near-term buyers and indicates solid potential to conquest traditionally loyal customers," said Mr. Langan. "Most importantly, our survey found that near-term buyers were willing to pay an average premium of about $3,138, well above our estimated incremental cost per truck of $600. The high premium should alleviate investor concerns that Ford will not cover the additional aluminum costs."

He also expects 2015 to be a record year for Ford's profitability thanks to increased margins, a return to profitability in European markets and continued market share gains in China.

Mr. Langan maintained his "buy" rating and raised his price target to $23 (U.S.) from $22. The analyst consensus price target over the next year is $19.13, according to Thomson Reuters.

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Euro Pacific Canada has named Solium Capital Inc., a provider of software applications for equity plan management, as its top pick for the year after re-visiting its investment thesis.

The company develops, maintains and operates a web-based software platform available on-demand to employees of corporate clients.

"We see an emerging replacement cycle of equity administration software driving the recurring sales-dominated top line over the near to medium term. With structural tailwinds in place, Solium has all the makings of a growth story with ample room to surprise to the upside," Euro Pacific Canada said in a note.

It reiterated a "buy" rating and $9.60 (Canadian) price target.

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In other analyst actions:

Piper Jaffray downgraded Imax to "neutral" from "overweight" and cut its price target to $28 (U.S.) from $35, citing lower box office returns.

Industrial Alliance Securities upgraded Gluskin Sheff to "buy" from "hold" and raised its price target to $34 (Canadian) from $31. National Bank Financial has also upgraded the stock, to "outperform" from "sector perform."

CIBC World Markets raised its price target on Potash Corp. to $38 (U.S.) from $35 and reiterated a "sector performer" rating. TD Securities downgraded the stock to "hold" from "buy" and maintained a $39 (U.S.) price target, citing the decline in crop prices.

Credit Suisse raised its price target on Gildan Activewear to $75 (Canadian) from $70 and reiterated an "outperform" rating, citing a drop in cotton prices.

CIBC World Markets cut its price target on Mercator Minerals to 3 cents (Canadian) from 10 cents and reiterated a "sector underperformer" rating. Credit Suisse cut its target to 5 cents from 10 cents and maintained an "underperform" rating.

Citigroup initiated coverage on Apple with a "buy" rating and $110 (U.S.) price target.

At least a dozen analysts raised their price targets on Intel, including UBS, which upgraded its rating to "buy" from "neutral" as it raised its price target to $37.50 (U.S.) from $30. The average price target is now $34.13, up from about $30 prior to its earnings late Tuesday, according to Bloomberg data.

At least five analysts raised their price targets on JPMorgan after the company reported better-than-expected earnings earlier this week. The average price target is now $64.63, up from about $64.37 two days ago.

At least five analysts raised their price targets on Goldman Sachs after its better-than-expected earnings earlier this week. The average price target is now $177.96, up from about $175.44 about two days ago.

At least seven analysts cut their price target on Yahoo after the company reported weaker-than-expected earnings and revenue in the second quarter. The average price target is now $39.83, down from $42.65 two days ago.

Credit Suisse downgraded Hershey to "neutral" from "outperform" and cut its price target to $101 (U.S.) from $108.

Credit Suisse upgraded JB Hunt Transport Services to "outperform" from "neutral" and raised its price target to $86 (U.S.) from $78.

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