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Investing.com -- Retail analysts at Deutsche Bank cut ratings and price targets across several U.K. consumer stocks, citing a weaker outlook for household spending.
AB Foods was downgraded to “sell” from “hold” with a target price reduced from 2220p to 2130p.
Dunelm was maintained at “buy” with a higher target price of 1360p from 1320p. Kingfisher was lowered to “hold” from “buy” and its target price trimmed to 280p from 320p.
Marks & Spencer kept its “buy” rating but saw its target price reduced to 435p from 450p. Next was unchanged at “hold,” though its target price was raised to 11600p from 10800p.
Victorian Plumbing stayed at “hold” with a lower target price of 70p from 95p, while Wickes Group was cut to “sell” from “hold” with its target price moved to 195p from 205p.
Analysts Adam Cochrane and Benjamin Yokyong-Zoega said the end of 2024 and early 2025 likely represented a peak for consumer strength, with real wage growth expected to slow and unemployment concerns beginning to rise.
“We are taking a more cautious view on the UK consumer,” the analysts said. Deutsche Bank’s Household Cash Flow model pointed to discretionary spending growth falling to 3% in the second half of the year from 7% in the first half unless households draw down on savings.
Retail sales held up into the second quarter, supported by warmer weather, though performance varied by category.
Consumer confidence remained subdued, and Deutsche Bank’s newly created “Fear Index” indicated that conditions may be deteriorating further.