** Shares of Medibank Private MPL.AX rise as much as 3.9% to a record high of A$4.502, last up 2.8%
** UBS hikes price target for insurer to A$4.90 from A$4.30, rates stock "Buy"
** Brokerage sees scope for gross margins to expand further into FY26E, given that premium rate rises are set to continue outpacing inflation in near term
** Three of 10 analysts rate the stock "buy" and seven "hold"; median PT is A$4.46 – data compiled by LSEG
** Stock up 17.9% this year
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com;))