LIVE MARKETS-These names could surprise - to the upside or downside - Jefferies says

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THESE NAMES COULD SURPRISE - TO THE UPSIDE OR DOWNSIDE - JEFFERIES SAYS

Earnings season is once again getting underway, and if there's just too many companies and bits of news for you to stay on top of, Jefferies equity analysts and researchers have devised a list of names across Europe that could surprise either to the upside, or downside.

Heidelberg Materials HEIG.DE is one of the names that they say could positively surprise.

"With the stock trading on just 10.6x 2026 P/E and having surrendered the prior year's re-rating, confirmation of guidance and incremental savings could drive positive earnings revisions and a re-rating," Jefferies said.

Next up, is the UK's Computacenter CCC.L, which Jefferies highlights as their "preferred "picks and shovels" exposure to the AI investment cycle."

"The company is uniquely positioned through its growing exposure to US enterprise infrastructure and hyperscaler customers, two of the strongest spending areas in technology today," they said, while also flagging scope for operational upside.

Other names that could surprise positively, according to Jefferies, are AstraZeneca AZN.L, Beijer Ref BEIJb.ST, Euronext ENX.PA , InterContinental Hotels IHG.L, Legrand LEGD.PA, Sanofi SASY.PA, Siltronic WAFGn.DE, and Zalando ZALG.DE.

Downside surprises meanwhile could include staffing services firm Randstad RAND.AS. Jefferies notes that "improving demand and market share gains are being offset by margin pressure, weak operating leverage and softer-than-expected cash flow generation."

Dassault Systemes DAST.PA and UPM-Kymmene UPM.HE may also be downside surprises, Jefferies said.

(Sophie Kiderlin)

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