Eight stocks lead brokers’ October consensus Buy list

Eight stocks have emerged as brokers’ main picks for October, with Nigerian Breweries receiving the strongest assist among the many six funding companies reviewed by Nairametrics.

The brewer secured 5 Buy or Upside suggestions, whereas Access Holdings, ETI, GTCO, BUA Cement, MTN Nigeria, Dangote Sugar and Aradel acquired 4 optimistic rankings every.

This represents a a lot shorter consensus list than in late September, when 14 stocks attracted not less than 4 optimistic suggestions.

UBA, FCMB, Zenith Bank, NASCON, and AIICO have been among the many stocks that did not retain their earlier positions.

All eight stocks nonetheless have costs beneath the degrees brokers imagine they may attain. However, some now seem extra enticing than they did in late September as a result of their share costs have fallen.

• Aradel recorded the largest change. Its share value dropped from N1,550 to N1,377, creating extra room for positive aspects if it reaches the brokers’ common goal. The anticipated return consequently elevated from 67.1% to 85.7%.
• The similar occurred with MTN Nigeria. Its share value fell from N890 to N840, elevating the potential return from 39.8% to 44.6%. Nigerian Breweries and Dangote Sugar additionally supplied barely extra room for positive aspects than they did in September.

ETI, Access Holdings and GTCO nonetheless supplied positive aspects primarily based on the brokers’ targets, however barely lower than within the earlier evaluation. BUA Cement’s anticipated return remained unchanged.

The evaluation covers suggestions issued on October 12 and 13 by Cowry Asset Management, Morgan Capital Securities, Blue Marina Research, Arthur Steven Asset Management, First Securities Brokers and Futureview Financial Services.

Only stocks rated Buy or Upside have been counted as optimistic suggestions.

Nigerian Breweries strikes forward

Nigerian Breweries acquired optimistic suggestions from 5 companies; the very best quantity recorded by any inventory within the October evaluation.

• The brokers’ targets ranged from N88.94 to N107.61. Their common goal of N97.51 suggests a potential acquire of 30.7% from the October 9 value of N74.60.

The suggestions replicate confidence within the brewer’s restoration, together with improved pricing and revenue margins.

• Nigerian Breweries moved from an gathered lack of N72.17bn on the finish of 2025 to optimistic retained earnings of N13.65 billion by June 2026.
• It additionally repaid its remaining N59.71bn in financial institution borrowings, leaving the corporate with no excellent loans and N74.63bn in money. Cash generated from operations rose sharply from N10.50bn to N126.98bn.

However, weak client spending, increased manufacturing prices and foreign-exchange pressures stay vital dangers.

Banks retain robust illustration

Access Holdings, ETI and GTCO every acquired 4 optimistic suggestions.

• Access Holdings had a median goal of N42.91, indicating a possible acquire of 45.5% from N29.50.
• ETI recorded the very best anticipated return, with a median goal of N153.59 in contrast with its N67 market value. This implies an upside of 129.2%, though the determine was lifted significantly by Arthur Steven’s a lot increased goal of N299.29.
• GTCO’s common goal of N159.95 represents a possible upside of 21.6% from N131.50. Unlike the 4 companies recommending the inventory, Arthur Steven rated GTCO Sell and positioned its goal at N79.32.

UBA and FCMB, which had 4 optimistic suggestions in September, acquired three every within the newest evaluation. This doesn’t essentially imply each lacking dealer downgraded them, as some companies launched shorter suggestion lists in October.

BUA Cement, MTN and Aradel keep assist

BUA Cement retained 4 optimistic suggestions and a median goal of N391.50. This represents a potential appreciation of 31.8% from N297. Arthur Steven, nevertheless, rated the inventory Hold.

• MTN Nigeria additionally acquired 4 optimistic rankings. Its common goal of N1,214.83 implies a possible upside of 44.6% from N840.
• Aradel’s 4 optimistic targets produced a median of N2,557.09, in contrast with its market value of N1,377. This signifies potential appreciation of 85.7%, the second highest on the list.

The targets for MTN and Aradel diverse extensively, displaying that brokers usually anticipate their costs to rise however disagree on how far they may go.

Dangote Sugar stays amongst main picks

Dangote Sugar acquired optimistic suggestions from Blue Marina, Arthur Steven, First Securities, and Futureview.

• Their targets ranged from N87.88 to N102, producing a median of N95.21. This represents a potential appreciation of 36% from N70.

Compared with ETI, MTN and Aradel, the brokers have been extra intently aligned with Dangote Sugar’s worth.

Zenith, NASCON and AIICO lose assist

Zenith Bank recorded one of many largest adjustments from the late-September evaluation, as its optimistic suggestions fell from 4 to 2.

• Cowry and First Securities stay optimistic. First Securities locations Zenith’s truthful worth at N149.37, representing a potential value acquire of 10.9% from N134.70. When its anticipated dividend is included, the dealer estimates a complete return of 25.4%.
• Futureview’s place modified primarily as a result of Zenith’s share value elevated. Its goal remained unchanged at N147.88, however the inventory rose from N128.40 in September to N134.70 in October. This decreased the potential acquire from 15.2% to 9.8%, prompting Futureview to alter its suggestion from Buy to Hold.
• Arthur Steven takes a extra destructive place, score Zenith Sell with a goal of N102, which is about 24% beneath the October reference value. Blue Marina, in the meantime, moved the inventory from Buy to Under Review and withdrew its earlier N157.20 goal. This means its change can’t be attributed solely to the share value improve.
• NASCON’s lack of assist was extra clearly pushed by its rising share value. The inventory elevated by 18.1%, from N160 in September to N188.90 in October, whereas First Securities retained its N212.11 truthful worth. As a end result, the potential value acquire narrowed from 32.6% to 12.3%, main the dealer to maneuver NASCON from Upside to Neutral.
• Blue Marina and Futureview stay optimistic on NASCON, with respective targets of N286.71 and N235.50. Their suggestions present that brokers nonetheless disagree over how a lot additional the inventory can rise.
• AIICO adopted an analogous sample. Its value elevated from N3.77 to N4.14, whereas Blue Marina’s goal remained unchanged at N4.86. This decreased the anticipated value acquire from 28.9% to 17.4%, prompting the dealer to maneuver the inventory from Buy to Hold.

Futureview stays optimistic on AIICO with a goal of N5.10, whereas Arthur Steven recommends Buy with a better goal of N6.62.

What buyers ought to take away

Nigerian Breweries presents the strongest case, combining broad dealer assist with enhancing money stream, decrease debt and a return to optimistic retained earnings.

• Access Holdings, BUA Cement and Dangote Sugar have extra intently aligned targets, whereas the broad goal ranges for ETI, MTN Nigeria and Aradel require higher warning.

Investors also needs to take note of entry costs. The adjustments in Zenith Bank, NASCON, and AIICO present {that a} good inventory can lose its Buy score after its value rises and reduces the chance for additional positive aspects.

Broker suggestions ought to subsequently be thought-about alongside earnings, money stream, debt, and valuation.