On Thursday I looked at a few shares that brokers had given buy ratings to this week.
Today I thought I would look at the unfortunate shares that have been given sell ratings.
Three that caught my eye are listed below. Here's why they are rated as sells:
ALS Ltd (ASX: ALQ)
According to a note out of Deutsche Bank, its analysts have retained their sell rating and $6.70 price target on this testing services company's shares. Despite expectations that the ALcontrol business it acquired in 2016 will add up to $10 million to EBITDA in FY 2019 and improve its Life Sciences margins, the broker isn't in a hurry to change its rating after a disappointing full-year result release this week. I think Deutsche Bank has got this one right and would suggest investors wait for a better entry point.
ASX Ltd (ASX: ASX)
A note out of Goldman Sachs reveals that it has retained its sell rating on the Australian stock exchange operator's shares but raised its price target slightly to $47.00. Yesterday ASX Ltd announced the formation of Sympli with the intention of entering the national electronic property settlement market. The company will own a 50% stake in Sympli. While Goldman sees it as potentially positive to its long-term earnings, it expects the new company to be loss-making until FY 2021. While I wouldn't be a seller of ASX Ltd shares if I owned them, I wouldn't be a buyer unless they traded at a more attractive price.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA)
Analysts at Morgan Stanley have retained their underweight rating and $70.00 price target on the banking giant's shares. The broker believes that slowing mortgage growth could weigh on the banking sector. Especially given that tighter lending standards means the banks will have to fight harder to win low-risk loans. With the bank's shares now below Morgan Stanley's price target, I would class Commonwealth Bank as more of a buy than a sell.
