Broker tips: Daily Mail, Halfords, Supergroup

Along with its sector peers, newspaper publisher Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) experienced a tough December but Panmure Gordon initiates a 'buy' rating ahead of the group's first quarter update in the coming weeks.Like most newspapers, the Daily Mail suffered an above-average rate of year-on-year (YoY) decline in December, with the Mail being down 3.9% YoY and the Mail on Sunday down 2.4% YoY."For a variety of reasons, December is not a typical month for newspaper publishers in terms of volume expectations. This time the weather was also a mitigating factor," says analyst Alex DeGroote. Currently, DMGT is above its daily circulation target level of 2 million. The broker notes that circulation below these levels might require additional marketing support "and would also curtail plans for any cover price rises."As a result, the broker sees the shares in a "holding pattern" in the near term, and retains its 'buy' and target price of 725p.While finnCap has reduced its forecasts for Halfords on the back of its recent disappointing sales performance, the broker has retained its positive stance on the stock as guidance on margins and costs are unchanged.The bike and car parts retailer's third quarter trading statement "was the latest in a series of disappointing announcements," says analyst David Stoddart, with retail like for like sales declining by 6.6%, leading to a total retail sales fall of 6.3%, worse than the 5% decline that the broker had assumed. Stoddart adds that the heavy snowfalls in December played a major part in causing the shortfall against expectations.The relatively high-margin category, car maintenance, increased sales by 12.1%, allowing Halfords to fund additional promotions in categories such as 'cycles' (in which it struggled in the third quarter) without reducing reported gross margin, the broker says.FinnCap has cut its pre-tax profit forecast of £129m to £127m and target price of 525p to 520p, but retained its 'buy' rating.Peel Hunt has raised its forecasts again for SuperGroup after a confident trading update issued last week by the trendy fashion retailer.Trading over the second half-to-date is higher than expected and pre-tax profit is expected to be at the top end of the range following SuperGroup's statement on 12 January.The broker upgraded forecasts after December's interim results, and has increased estimates again, with pre-tax profit raised 16.6% to £49m for 2011, and upped by 11.6% to £70m in 2012."While the shares recovered sharply on last week's update, we believe strong trading momentum and overseas expansion will provide the basis for on-going upgrades this year," the broker said. "While brand risks cannot be overlooked, we feel SuperGroup is built on solid foundations and see online, international and UK sales growth continuing through 2011 and 2012."The stock is given a 'buy' rating and 1,600p target price. Halfords