Thomas Barnet

France analyst views: Capgemini, Danone and Legrand cut, support for L'Oréal and Safran

Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs downgrade Capgemini and Legrand, respectively, while Deutsche Bank moves Danone to sell but upgrades its view on L'Oréal. This wave of analyst notes also includes positive coverage initiations on Inventiva and Sopra Steria, as well as numerous price-target adjustments across industry.

January 12, 2026 at 07:34 am

Education: the mirage of penny stocks

For the novice investor, the temptation is both mathematical and human: it seems easier for a share to go from EUR0.10 to EUR0.20 (a 100% gain) than for LVMH shares to double from their current level, for example. This cognitive bias underpins the vast penny stock market. However, behind these tiny headline prices often lies a complex and unforgiving financial reality. Forewarned is forearmed.

January 09, 2026 at 12:06 pm

Rio Tinto and Glencore revive merger talks

Rio Tinto and Glencore have confirmed that they are in talks over a potential takeover that could create the world's largest mining group, with a combined valuation of close to $207bn.

January 09, 2026 at 07:56 am

Rio Tinto and Glencore revive their merger plans

Rio Tinto and Glencore have confirmed they are in talks over a possible takeover, a deal that could create the world's largest mining group, with a combined valuation close to $207bn.

January 09, 2026 at 07:45 am

France analyst views: RBC downgrades Sartorius Stedim, fresh support for BNP and L'Oréal

UBS and JP Morgan raise their ratings on L'Oréal and BNP Paribas, while RBC downgrades Sartorius Stedim to market perform. While price targets are lifted in aerospace and at Abivax, they are cut for Stellantis, Sodexo and Ubisoft.

January 09, 2026 at 07:45 am

Rexel Hit Hard After MSC Results

Rexel is having a rough day on the Paris Stock Exchange, weighed down by the quarterly results of its American peer, MSC Industrial, according to a market source. The company from Melville, near New York, is not a direct competitor of the French group, but the trends it highlights are relevant to related markets in North America.

January 08, 2026 at 11:59 am

French analyst views: fresh buy calls on BNP and TotalEnergies, Ipsen and Saint-Gobain downgraded

Among the key calls of the day, UBS revisits BNP Paribas and downgrades Ipsen and Saint-Gobain. Oxcap prefers Stellantis over Renault. Dassault Aviation is upgraded by Bernstein and Deutsche Bank.

January 08, 2026 at 07:39 am

Nickel and copper stay elevated

Fueled by speculative momentum and supply constraints, industrial metals are holding near highs. While copper is staying close to its all-time peaks, nickel is surging on quota restrictions imposed by Jakarta.

January 07, 2026 at 10:55 am

Steel: BlueScope Rejects SGH and Steel Dynamics' "Opportunistic" Bid

No deal. The board of steelmaker BlueScope unanimously rejected an unsolicited takeover offer from a consortium bringing together SGH Limited and US-based Steel Dynamics. Management says the A$30-per-share proposal "very significantly" undervalues the company and is designed to capture its rebound potential at the expense of current shareholders.

January 07, 2026 at 08:47 am

Chevron and Quantum Energy reportedly set their sights on Lukoil's international assets

U.S. oil major Chevron and private equity firm Quantum Energy Partners have reportedly joined forces to buy the international assets of Russian oil giant Lukoil, valued at $22bn, according to the Financial Times.

January 07, 2026 at 07:53 am

Defense: major European player considers IPO in 2026

Amid a boom in the arms industry, Czechoslovak Group (CSG), the Czech-Slovak champion, is finetuning its plans for a stockmarket listing. Chairman, Michal Strnad confirms he is considering floating about 15% of the company, in a strategic move notably advised by BNP Paribas. The goal is clear: build financial firepower to step up acquisitions.

January 07, 2026 at 07:38 am

France Analyst Views: Support for SocGen, ArcelorMittal and Danone, Sodexo and BioMérieux Downgraded

Morgan Stanley upgrades ArcelorMittal and Lufthansa to overweight, while Bernstein moves Danone to outperform. By contrast, Barclays takes a tougher line on healthcare by downgrading BioMérieux, while Sodexo is cut by Morgan Stanley. Finally, Rothschild resumes coverage of Société Générale with a buy rating.

January 07, 2026 at 07:26 am

Adidas stumbles, InPost soars after a buyout offer, Novo gets 2026 off to a strong start

The session is marked by several analyst rating changes and corporate announcements that are driving sharp moves in a handful of names. Among the biggest gainers, InPost stands out after a buyout approach, and Novo Nordisk extends its rebound. On the downside, BofA does damage to Adidas and JD Sports.

January 06, 2026 at 09:59 am

Analysts' calls of the day: Bernstein favors Thales over BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation

Bernstein is reshuffling its defense picks, downgrading BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation in favor of Thales, which it raised to outperform. Eurofins, Valneva and Euronext are marked higher, unlike Teleperformance and Sanofi.

January 06, 2026 at 07:19 am

Tops / Flops Europe: Exail surges, TomTom maps it out, Munters runs out of steam

The abrupt return of geopolitical risk is jolting defense names awake, helped along by fresh contract wins. On the downside, it is the research shops that are calling the shots.

January 05, 2026 at 10:18 am

Analyst Calls of the Day: Lower Targets for Arkema and Legrand, Pandora Punished

Bernstein is highly bullish on ASML, with a €1300 target, and upgrades Pirelli to outperform, while Vestas and Johnson Matthey pick up buy calls. By contrast, Pandora takes a downgrade paired with a sharp target cut, and Morgan Stanley lowers its aim on several chemicals names, including Arkema and Lanxess.

January 05, 2026 at 07:54 am

Casino, Steelmakers, and Semiconductors Off to a Strong Start This Year

Casino (+16%) surges after an asset sale in Cameroon, while Munters (+9%) and semiconductor equipment makers benefit from robust AI-driven demand. The steel sector is also in demand following BNP Paribas target upgrades on Salzgitter (+6%) and its peers. Decliners are few and far between today.

January 02, 2026 at 09:13 am

Orsted launches legal offensive against Washington to save its wind project

Orsted is striking back. The Danish giant said on Friday it is formally challenging Washington's suspension of the Revolution Wind lease, its offshore wind joint venture. The aim is to secure a court injunction to restart the massive project, valued at $5 billion.

January 02, 2026 at 08:39 am

Renault Stands Out in a Contracting French Auto Market

In 2025, amid a shrinking French automotive market, Renault strengthened its position, driven by a refreshed lineup, a sharp commercial strategy, and a strong push towards electrification.

January 02, 2026 at 08:07 am

Orsted launches a legal offensive against Washington to save its wind project

Orsted is fighting back. The Danish giant said Friday it is formally challenging Washington's suspension of the Revolution Wind lease, its offshore wind joint venture. The goal is to secure a court injunction to restart this massive project, valued at $5bn.

January 02, 2026 at 07:38 am

Bernard Arnault sees himself leading LVMH for another 10 Years

During the Yale CEO Summit on December 17, 2025, Bernard Arnault made it clear to Sara Eisen (CNBC) that he had no plans for an immediate handover. When questioned about his succession, the 76-year-old CEO replied, "See you in ten years."

December 18, 2025 at 09:15 am