The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Jan. 9, edition that CIBC World Markets analyst Stephanie Price boosted her rating on Altus Group ($21.31) to "sector outperformer" from "sector perform." The Globe's Luke Kawa, Darcy Keith and Tim Shufelt write in the Eye On Equities column that Ms. Price, however, reduced her target price to $24 from $25.50. She says worries about how the turmoil in oil prices will affect Altus Group are overblown. Ms. Price acknowledges the company's geomatics division does face challenges stemming from slowing growth in the energy sector, which prompted her to lower her estimates for revenues and margins in this segment. However, she highlights the 15-per-cent decline in the stock price over the past month as proof that the downside risks have been more than priced in. The CIBC analyst says: "We believe the impact of lower oil prices will be less pronounced than 2009 given greater diversification within the division (65 per cent exposed to oil versus 85 per cent in 2008) and the company (geomatics 20 per cent of overall revenue versus 30 per cent prior). ... In addition, we believe the company has levers to pull to reduce costs (employee reduction, overtime restrictions, etc.)."