BUZZ-Vodafone: Citigroup upgrades on rising free cash flow

** Vodafone Group shares up 1 pct after Citigroupupgrades to "buy" from "neutral"; among top gainers on FTSE 100

** Broker says potential debt and hybrid funded deal to buyUnitymedia would add 12-15 pct to co's free cash flow

** Vodafone trades on an equity FCF of 7.9 pct and a FCF tofirm of 5 pct in FY18 which will rise according to Citigroup'sforecasts to 9.3 pct and 6.5 pct in FY22

** Says markets remain competitive but Germany and Spainlook to be structurally attractive for the long term

** UK is improving, Netherlands may have stabilised andIndia could end up with a much more appealing market structure -top-rated Citi analyst Simon Weeden writes in a note

** Brokers bullish on stock with 19 of 25 rating it "buy" orhigher