Source: Sharecast
Pets at Home shares tanked on Thursday after the retailer and vets chain announced the immediate exit off CEO Lyssa McGowan after three years, coinciding with the company's second profit warning in as many months.
"Whilst disappointing to have to revise estimates again in such short order, it is another reminder that the UK consumer backdrop remains challenging. That said, management had hoped to outperform the market," Canaccord Genuity said.
However, the broker added: "The business is far from broken, and we continue to believe that investment (DC infrastructure and digital platform) made in recent years provides a strong platform for PETS to outperform and the Group is well-placed to benefit as and when the UK macro backdrop improves, albeit now with a new CEO leading the Group. We expect the Group will look for a new CEO with experience in retail turnaround situations."
With the company now guiding to adjusted pre-tax profits of £90m-100m for the year to end-March, down from £110m-120m previously, Canaccord Genuity has cut its estimates and lowered its target price for the shares from 285p to 245p.
However, the broker pointed out that the stock is trading at just 13.2 times FY26 earnings, falling to 12.6x on FY27 earnings – well below the 10-year average of 15x.
Tate & Lyle tumbled on Monday as Morgan Stanley downgraded the shares to 'underweight' from 'equalweight' and cut its price target on the stock to 500p from 590p.
Morgan Stanley said there was a higher risk to Tate & Lyle's mid-term targets after Tyson Foods said it would phase out sucralose from US branded products.
MS also said there was a risk that more consumer packaged goods companies could follow and stated that this could weigh on Tate & Lyle's share price, with sucralose accounting for around 9% of group sales.
The bank highlighted that investors can find superior investment opportunities elsewhere.
