** Goldman Sachs upgrades metals recycler and battery materials producer Umicore UMI.BR to "neutral" from "sell", citing a more balanced risk/reward outlook
** "Despite the ongoing uncertainty from global tariffs and still challenging outlook for the company's Battery Materials division, we identify some positive catalysts in the year ahead," it says in a note
** Among upside risks GS sees EU policy support, strategic pivot potential, more persistent catalysis strength and EU defence spending
** "We believe scope for materially negative revisions from here is more limited," it says, adding it views considerably negative sentiment as already priced in
** Out of 18 analysts that cover Umicore, two rate the stock "strong buy" or "buy," 12 rate it "hold" and four rate the stock "strong sell" or "sell"
(Reporting by Clement Martinot)
((Clement.Martinot@thomsonreuters.com;))