---
title: "David Hayes Reiterates Hold Rating on Reckitt, Keeps $5600 Price Target Amid Heightened NEC Litigation Risks"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/285968034.md"
description: "Jefferies analyst David Hayes has reiterated a Hold rating on Reckitt (RKT) stock, maintaining a price target of $5600. This decision is influenced by ongoing NEC litigation risks involving Mead Johnson, a Reckitt subsidiary. The court's refusal to grant summary judgment means the case will proceed to a jury, increasing legal risks. Hayes sees limited justification for significant changes to the investment outlook at this time. RBC Capital also holds a Hold rating on the stock with a price target of p6,200.00."
datetime: "2026-05-11T15:35:44.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/285968034.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/285968034.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/285968034.md)
---

# David Hayes Reiterates Hold Rating on Reckitt, Keeps $5600 Price Target Amid Heightened NEC Litigation Risks

Jefferies analyst David Hayes has maintained their neutral stance on RKT stock, giving a Hold rating on April 22.

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David Hayes has given his Hold rating due to a combination of factors, including the latest developments in the NEC litigation involving Mead Johnson, a Reckitt subsidiary. The court’s refusal to grant summary judgment means the July bellwether case will now go before a jury, adding an additional layer of legal and headline risk that tempers the near‑term risk‑reward balance for the stock.

While one corporate entity was dismissed on technical grounds, the primary Mead Johnson operating company remains a defendant, and the judge believes there is enough evidentiary dispute for a jury to consider claims about warnings and product design. Against this backdrop, Hayes maintains a neutral stance, seeing limited justification to either materially upgrade or downgrade the investment case at this stage, and he keeps the price target unchanged at $5600.

In another report released on April 22, RBC Capital also maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a p6,200.00 price target.

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