Investors Mull

Headlines say Stocks end up as investors mull US inflation reading and all stock picks this week are 80% BUY, 11% HOLD and 9% SELL.

1. BUY EnQuest

Top performing stock pick this week is BUY EnQuest by Jefferies with a tip performance of 18%.

EnQuest is a petroleum exploration and production company which operates mainly in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

EnQuest share price launched at 83p in 2010, reached an all-time high of 117p in 2011 and is today at 25p.

On 10th June the company announced a significant acquisition in four offshore production sharing contracts in Malaysia in this RNS for £620 million, causing shares to rise 25%.

Britain’s levies on energy profits have raised concerns about the profitability of North Sea-exclusive drillers, forcing diversification into overseas assets such as Malaysia.

In Stockomendation three analysts: Jefferies and Shore Capital have BUY ratings, while JP Morgan has OVERWEIGHT. There are no active UK fund manager short positions open.

2. AVOID MPAC

Second top performing stock pick this week is AVOID MPAC Group by Steve Moore in ShareProphets with a tip performance of 7%.

MPAC Group is a packaging and automation company that serves customers in the global food and beverage, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

MPAC Group share price launched at 477p in 1993, rose to an all-time high of 1,035p one year later and is today at 214p.

On 8th June the company announced its Trading Update and Sale of Lambert in this RNS stating that trading conditions have worsened in 2026 due to delayed customer investment decisions, increased pricing pressure and lower volumes. As a result, first-half margins are expected to decline year on year and full-year profits are now forecast to be materially below market expectations, despite a growing order book. To strengthen the balance sheet, Mpac agreed to sell its loss-making Lambert division for up to £20 million, with proceeds primarily earmarked for reducing net debt.

In his article Steve Moore highlights the disposal of Lambert and the deterioration in trading performance as reasons to avoid the stock.

In Stockomendation three analysts: Steve Moore has AVOID, while Hot Stock Rockets and Lucy Tobin both say BUY. There are no active UK fund manager short positions open.

3. BUY Croda

Third top performing stock pick this week is BUY Croda International by Goldman Sachs with a tip performance of 6%.

Croda International is a British speciality chemicals company. Founded in 1925, it is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Croda share price listed on 10th June 1964 under the ticker CRDA. The share price reached an all-time high of 10,120p in 2021 and is today at 3,038p.

The share price peak in 2021 was driven by strong demand for lipid ingredients used in COVID vaccine production. Since then, shares have fallen around 70% as vaccine-related revenues normalised and the company entered a recovery phase.

On 8th June Goldman Sachs reiterated its BUY rating and increased its target price from 3,200p to 3,500p. Goldman originally initiated coverage with a BUY rating in March 2026, citing improving trading momentum and stronger-than-expected organic sales growth. In its latest note, Goldman pointed to further organic sales growth improvements and upgraded EBIT forecasts.

In Stockomendation four analysts: Goldman Sachs, Stephen Wright and Jefferies say BUY, while Deutsche Bank has HOLD. One open UK fund manager short position: view that here.

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Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be considered financial advice. Pricing data correct as at 11th June 2025.