Whitbread Stock News

UBS has raised its earnings forecasts for Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB), the Premier Inn hotel operator, after stronger-than-expected first-half trading prompted the bank to take a more positive view of its growth prospects. The bank maintained its 'buy' rating and lifted its price target to 3,150p from 2,975p, implying a potential upside of 22% from the 2,586p closing price on October 15.

Citi has rated Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB), the owner of the Premier Inn hotel chain, a 'buy' with a target price of £33 after meeting management to discuss the company's new five-year plan. The bank says activist involvement at Whitbread highlights a tension between some public market investors and listed companies that own the properties from which they operate.

Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB) shares rose as much as 4% to an intraday high of 2,600p after stronger trading at Premier Inn prompted brokers to point to scope for higher profit forecasts. Jefferies, which has a 'hold' rating and a 2,250p price target, said first-half adjusted pre-tax profit of £287 million beat consensus by 4%, while revenue increased 2% to £1.57 billion.

Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB), the owner of Premier Inn, has urged shareholders to reject a proposal from activist investor Corvex Management to appoint its chosen director to the company's board. Whitbread published a shareholder circular on Tuesday ahead of a general meeting Corvex requisitioned to consider the proposed appointment.

Premier Inn owner Whitbread urges shareholders to reject Corvex's board seat demand

Citi, the investment bank, forecasts adjusted pre-tax profit for Whitbread PLC (LSE:WTB)'s first half of the financial year ending February at 4.2% above market consensus, driven by slightly higher revenue and net cost phasing between the UK and Germany. The bank forecasts UK RevPAR growth of 2% for the financial year ending February 2027, ahead of the 1.5% consensus estimate, with second-quart...