Stocks end higher

Headlines say US stocks end higher after Trump soothes Fed independence worries and all stock picks this week are a mix of 82% BUY, 2% HOLD and 16% SELL

1. STRONG BUY SkinBioTherapeutics

Top performing stock pick this week is Strong Buy SkinBioTherapeutics by Tom Winnifrith in ShareProphets with a tip performance of 26%.

SkinBioTherapeutics is a life science company focused on skin health. The company's proprietary platform, SkinBiotix, leverages discoveries made at the University of Manchester, using bacterial lysates to enhance skin barrier function and address various skin conditions.

SkinBioTherapeutics share price launched at 16p in 2017, reached an all-time high of 71p in 2021 and is today at 27p.

In his article Winnifrith extols the exit of the previous FD and a new executive director COO and FD. He also bases his positivity on a possible partnership with Croda.

In Stockomendation Tom is the only analyst with BUY. There are two open short positions (held by the same company), view those here.

2. BUY Tracsis

Second top performing stock pick this week is BUY Tracsis by Berenberg with a tip performance of 11%.

Tracsis plc is a technology company providing software, hardware, and data analytics services primarily for the rail, traffic data, and broader transport industries. The company was founded in 2004 and has grown through acquisitions and diversification into related transport technologies. Tracsis's solutions aim to improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance safety, and improve the overall user experience

Tracsis share price launched at 43p in 2007, rose to an all-time high of 1,090p in 2021 and is today at 356p.

On 24th April Tracsis released interim results in this RNS stating underperformance across UK & US due to UK railway investment delays and US not gaining traction.

As a result Berenberg halved its target price on the stock from 1,150.0p to 550.0p.

In Stockomendation two analysts: Berenberg with BUY and Steve Moore with AVOID. There are no active short positions open.

3. AVOID BP

Third top performing stock pick this week is AVOID BP by Royston Wild in The Motley Fool with a tip performance of 2%.

BP is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London. It is one of the oil and gas "supermajors" and one of the world's largest companies measured by revenues and profits. It is a vertically integrated company operating in all areas of the oil and gas industry, including exploration and extraction, refining, distribution and marketing, power generation, and trading.

Founded in 1909, BP's primary stock listing in on the London Stock Exchange, where it is a member of the FTSE 100 Index

BP share price was made public between 1979 and 1987.

A couple of things happening with the oil and gas behemoth this week. Firstly, shares will be ex-dividend on 15th May. At a macro picture BP has lost 30% of its value over the past year due to backtracking on tis renewables initiatives. At the centre of the backtracking is US activist investor hedge fund Elliott Investment Management which pressured the oil giant into going back to traditional energy and forgoing costly sustainable endeavours. Elliott has more than 5% of voting rights making it the biggest investor after Blackrock. However, the UK Labour party and greeny shareholders are against the ditching of the green agenda, making it a difficult time for BP right now.

In Stockomendation fifve analysts, two are NEUTRAL Exane and UBS, James Beard says WATCH, Simon Watkins has BUY and Royston Wild says AVOID. There are no active UK fund manager short positions.

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Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be considered financial advice. Pricing data correct as at 24th April 2025.