Persimmon Stock News

Panmure Liberum, the City broker, named Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN), the York-based housebuilder, as its top sector pick on Friday, reiterating its 'buy' rating and 1,694p price target. The broker expects the government's Your First Home initiative, which would provide financial support to buyers of new-build homes, to increase completions, although many details remain undecided.

UK housebuilders face weak demand and rising cost pressures, RBC said, although the broker expects ‘Your First Home' to significantly boost newbuild sales. RBC's tracker puts five-year fixed mortgage rates at 5.3% for first-time buyers borrowing 75% of a property's value, up 20 basis points from April's 5.1% post-Iran peak.

Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) and MJ Gleeson (LSE:GLE) PLC could be among the main beneficiaries of the government's proposed Your First Home scheme, according to Panmure Liberum. The policy, which is described as a younger sibling of Help to Buy, appears designed to support first-time buyers on modest incomes purchasing more modestly priced new-build homes.

UK housebuilders surged on Monday after the government confirmed plans for a new equity-loan programme intended to bring first-time buyers into the new-build market and stimulate residential construction. Barratt Redrow PLC (LSE:BTRW) jumped around 14% to 353p, while Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) climbed more than 15% to 1,332p.

Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) and Barratt Redrow PLC (LSE:BTRW) have emerged as UBS's preferred UK housebuilders, with the investment bank arguing that investors should remain selective as elevated mortgage rates and construction costs delay a broader recovery. UBS initiated coverage of Persimmon with a ‘buy' rating and £13.25 price target and reiterated its ‘buy' recommendation on Barratt Redrow wit...

Deutsche Bank has upgraded Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) to 'buy' from 'hold', arguing that share price weakness has left the housebuilder too cheap despite a run of forecast downgrades. Chris Millington nudged his target price down to 1,403p from 1,419p, still implying about 20% upside from the last close of 1,166.5p.

Persimmon PLC (LSE:PSN) kept its dividend flat as it reported double-digit growth in first-half profits and completions but flagged signs of softer demand in the second half. The FTSE 100 housebuilder posted interim results showing underlying operating profit rose 10% to £189.1 million, although the margin narrowed by 30 basis points to 12.8%.