Questor share tip: Cranswick is a tasty hold The Hull-based company said it had sold its 49pc stake in cooked meats business Farmers Boy to its joint-venture partner Wm Morrison. Analysts reckon that this could generate about £14.5m, which would bring the group's debt to around £30m. The company has a £100m credit facility, so there's plenty of scope for Cranswick to use its strong balance sheet to grow by further acquisitions. The trend for consumers to switch to pork from more expensive meats has continued, with bacon sales up 50pc in the quarter. Bernard Hoggarth, Cranswick's chief executive, said that sales of its The Yorkshire Baker brand, which makes pies and pasties, were "storming." The company's full year results will be announced on May 21 and the shares are trading on a March 2013 earnings multiple of 10.7 times, falling to 10.5 in 2013. The prospective yield is 3.7pc, rising to 3.9p in 2014. Last tipped at 770p on January 31, the shares are up 5pc since then, compared with a FTSE 100 up 2pc. They were first tipped at 600p in January 2009. There are headwinds in the form of reduced consumer confidence and a potential increase in pig prices next year, so Questor now rates the shares a hold, although the average price target of City analysts is 861.6p, some 7pc above the current price.