Housing in Reverse

Headlines say worries about stamp duty reform are sending the UK housing market into reverse and all stock picks this week are 80% BUY, 12% HOLD and 8% SELL.

1. OUTPERFORM Oxford Nanopore

Top performing stock pick this week is OUTPERFORM Oxford Nanopore Technologies by RBC Capital with a tip performance of 6%.

Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc is a UK-based company which develops and sells nanopore sequencing products for the direct, electronic analysis of single molecules. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Oxford Nanopore share price launched at 615p in October 2021, reached an all-time high of 710p two months later and is today at 181p.

The company issued interim results on 2nd September in this RNS stating ‘strong first-half results’ at which shares jumped to a 12-month high. RBC Capital reiterated its BUY rating and upped the target price to 280p from 250p.

In Stockomendation five analysts: Deutsche Bank and Berenberg with BUY; RBC Capital says OUTPERFORM; Barclays has OVERWEIGHT and Stifel says SELL. 8 UK fund manager short positions open, view those here.

2. BUY Fisher & Sons

Second top performing stock pick is BUY James Fisher & Sons by Canaccord Genuity with a tip performance of 6%.

James Fisher and Sons plc is a global marine engineering and services company founded in 1847, headquartered in Barrow-in-Furness. It provides specialist services to oil and gas, nuclear, renewables, and marine sectors globally.

Fisher and Sons share price launched at 73p in 1995, rose to an all-time high of 2,220p in 2019 and is today at 350p.

On 9th September the company announced half year results in this RNS stating James broadly flat revenue, increased earnings and positive margins especially in the defence sector.

In Stockomendation two analysts: Canaccord Genuity says BUY and Davy with OUTPERFORM. There are no active short positions open.

3. OVERWEIGHT Prudential

Third top performing stock pick is OVERWEIGHT Prudential by Barclays with a tip performance of 5%.

Prudential plc is a British multinational financial services company, focused on providing life and health insurance and asset management services in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. Founded in 1848 as a loans and life assurance company, Prudential has dual primary listings on the London Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. It also has secondary listings on the New York Stock Exchange and Singapore Exchange.

Prudential share price launched at 136p in 1924, rose to an all-time high of 1,685p in 2018 and is today at 1,036p.

Prudential has launched a share buyback program repurchasing and cancelling almost 30,000 shares from Merrill Lynch. The company also posted a 12% increase in profits for the first half of the year. It announced plans to repurchase a further $1.1billion shares over the next 2 years in addition to the $2billion announced last year.

Barclays reiterated its OVERWEIGHT rating and upped the target price from 1,157p to 1,220p.

Four analysts in Stockomendation: two with BUY being Citi and Bank of America; Barclays and JP Morgan have OVERWEIGHT. There is one open 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 September 2025.