The week’s best shares

Avast

The Times

The blue-chip cybersecurity specialist was an immediate lockdown beneficiary, as small businesses and entrepreneurs signed up to protect their devices and networks. A play on the long-term need for privacy protection. Buy. 457p.

Barratt Developments

Investors Chronicle

Sales and completions are up, the order book is 18% ahead of last year, and the housebuilder has ample liquidity for buying land and withstanding fluctuations in demand. Margins are resilient and negatives priced in. Buy. 652p.

Grainger

The Times

Britain’s biggest private landlord has performed well. Although occupancy dipped in September, mid-market rents are resilient and a £1.1bn secured development pipeline should drive dividend growth. Buy. 308.5p.

Kainos Group

Investors Chronicle

First-half profits at this IT supplier have more than doubled on growing demand for “digital transformation” among public and private sector clients – particularly in healthcare. Drivers remain intact. Buy. £11.93.

Moderna

The Daily Telegraph

Shares in the vaccine pioneer have already risen fivefold this year – there’s further to go. Moderna’s mRNA approach to therapeutics and vaccines could transform disease prevention, from influenza to cancer. Buy. $93.15.

Renewi

Shares

This “waste-to-product” firm is growing volumes, revenues and profits. It has cut costs and reduced debt, and cashflow is improving with the development of new products. Peel Hunt has raised its price target to 49p. Buy. 23.95p.