Report sees retailer’s shares jump

HARVEY Norman’s battered shares have bounced after JPMorgan said its steep recent decline has made the company better value to investors.

JPMorgan analysts noted that Harvey Norman shares have fallen by more than 20 per cent since the start of the year, and upgraded their rating from underweight to neutral.

But the recommendation does not mean a bullish outlook for a company that has been hit by a disappointing first-half result, a reduced interim dividend and millions of dollars of writedowns.

“There is an absence of positive catalysts and earnings risk is skewed to the downside, but we believe valuation support is now emerging at this share price, such that our previous underweight rating cannot be justified,” JP Morgan analyst Shaun Cousins said.

Harvey Norman’s shares hit a session high of $3.59 before closing 9c higher at $3.44.