Broker tips: BP, ARM, Vodafone, Sainsbury

Investec has maintained its 'hold' recommendation for oil giant BP, labelling the company's full-year results as 'weak'."As the only one of the three UK majors not to warn on profits and/or guidance, BP looks like the undisputed champion in Q4," said Analyst Neill Morton. "However, this should not ignore a weak set of results - on largely unchanged oil prices, net income is down 24% versus Q3 and 29% year-on-year."Numis Securities has reiterated its 'reduce' rating for chip designer ARM Holdings after the company's fourth-quarter results showed that Processor Division royalties came in below forecasts once again."We are likely to remain cautious on FY14E royalties when the main engine of recent growth is clearly sputtering," said Numis Analyst Nick James.The probability of an AT&T bid for Vodafone is "slipping", according to analysts at Credit Suisse, who said that the outlook for the US mobile market is worsening.Credit Suisse said on Tuesday that a Vodafone bid is becoming an "increasingly risky move for AT&T". It now assumes a one-in-three probability that the company will make an offer, down from 50/50 previously.Supermarket group Sainsbury was a standout performer on the FTSE 100 on Tuesday morning after analysts at Bernstein upgraded the stock from 'market perform' to 'outperform', saying that it is a 'well-run retailer'.The stock has been under pressure as of late, falling 6% over the past month, with its valuation now 18% below industry fair-value, the broker said. As such, this creates a "compelling entry point" given that recent concerns have been overplayed, it said.BC