premium content
Empresaria – “materially lower” profit warning, hopefully prior caution on the half-year results was heeded!
Previously writing on international staffing group Empresaria (EMR), in May with the shares down to 53p I cautioned that the half-year results look set to be particularly unfavourable and concluded to avoid. The shares most recently closed at 52p, but today “a trading update ahead of announcing its interim results on 22 August”… and what of the shares currently down at 38p?
- By Steve Moore |
- 27 July 2023, 13:00 |
premium content
Whilst chat about the “world’s smartest mousetrap” is striking, I am still not yet buying shares in Rentokil Initial
It is a busy Thursday (as usual). I still remain rather grumpy about the recent decision from the CEO of BT Group (BT.A) to exit the business, given he has still got loads of his promised job to do. Despite personally using the telecoms company across a bunch of such offerings, if its shares get back to a 150p plus level then I am selling out and moving on. And if you believe the bid rumours…then keep your fingers crossed. Instead, I am going to talk today about Rentokil Initial (RTO) and the world of rats, termites and much more.- By Chris Bailey |
- 27 July 2023, 11:49 |
premium content
Safestyle UK – H1 ‘in line with forecasts’, but what about now?…
Previously writing on “leading UK focused retailer and manufacturer of PVCu replacement windows and doors for the homeowner market” Safestyle UK (SFE), in March with the shares heading back towards 23.5p I questioned how confident on profitability now and concluded continue to avoid. Today an update from the company commences that it “expects to report H1 revenue of £74.0m, a decline of 5.4% on H1 2022, which is in line with our forecasts”… so what of a current more than 40% further lower share price response to around 10p?
- By Steve Moore |
- 27 July 2023, 10:53 |
premium content
Lush sues Silverwood, Andrew Monk insists no impact on VSA which he fesses is losing money
Who could have predicted this shitshow? I did but pompous Andrew Monk (Oriel College Oxford, don’t you know) insisted I was talking nonsense. You may well remember that Monkey only managed to record a profit last year by booking a £1 million fee from Aquis lobster pot listed Silverwood (SLWD) for advising it on its purchase of 20% of Lush. The fee was payable in shares which are completely untradeable. Uh oh!- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 27 July 2023, 09:19 |
premium content
ITV – Still A Dividend Muncher’s Delight?
Before Covid struck I took a liking to fully-listed ITV (ITV) and enjoyed bumper dividends for a while. But then Covid struck and I bailed out. This morning, the company released its interims to June along with an unchanged interim dividend of 1.7p and a promise of at least 5p per share for the full year. At 71.6p per share, that works out at a yield of almost 7%. So should dividend munchers pile in?- By Nigel Somerville |
- 27 July 2023, 09:02 |
premium content
Clem Chambers and Online Blockchain jump on the AI bandwagon – spoooooooooooooooooooof
It is only a couple of years since Online PLC became Online Blockchain (OBC). But blockchain is so old hat. Then there was the NFT spoof ( Rocky Horror division). What happened there? Er... So a new "angle" is needed. Today Clem Chambers jumped on the AI bandwagon with Synthia, a total spoof. Surely it is time to change the name again?- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 27 July 2023, 08:36 |
premium content
Tom Winnifrith Bearcast: why doesn't Centamin buy into Kefi?
I am not saying it would or should but given that it is spaffing money on exploration in Ethiopia why isn't it just buying into/buying Kefi Gold & Copper (KEFI). The answer might reflect badly on Kefi, I just do not know. I also consider Centamin's (CEY) results. I start with snake barn thoughts. Then it is onto Alison Rose and NatWest (NWG) and Karl Monaghan at Wandisco (WAND) and why I despair about UK PLC and how the great and the good are protected. I consider Rua Life Sciences (RUA) and Great Western Mining (GWMO)- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 26 July 2023, 16:40 |
Aptamer Group – considering wider options as “need working capital funding”. It means as it’s cash crunch ahoy desperation!
With shares in ‘novel’ affinity binders development group Aptamer (APTA) soaring this morning, what of an intra-day “Response to Speculation, Strategic Review, Update” announcement from it?- By Steve Moore |
- 26 July 2023, 16:19 |
premium content
Royale Parks Administrators report - a damning indictment of ICG Longbow
When I first raised numerous red flags about ICG Longbow (LBOW) the major one was the carrying value of its exposure to Royale Parks Ltd. Natch it dismissed my report in a patronising RNS. Now Royale is in administration and what the Administrator has to say suggests that it was my red flags dossier rather than ICG's dire rebuttal that was bang on the money. Enjoy.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 26 July 2023, 15:41 |
premium content
Tom Winnifrith: Optibiotix 7p to 37p in a week ( now 33.5p) – is this insane? My new valuation and target price
7p was the wrong price for shares in Optibiotix (OPTI). Anyone who has watched last Thursday’s video interview I did with Steve O’Hara HERE will agree. But what about 37.6p where they are now valuing the company at £33 million? Is that crazy? I write as a shareholder for more than 10 years!- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 26 July 2023, 15:17 |
premium content
Thoughts on updates from BATS, Rio Tinto and Reckitt
It is a busy world out there, but I will leave all the excitable happenings at NatWest (NWG) to the real experts out there, and talk about some more sensibly managed FTSE 100 corporate names. First up, is British American Tobacco (BATS), which announced its own CEO shift a month or two back. I reckon this was driven by the need to actually start bringing the business deeper into the 2020s, especially as progressively it will be moving away from the world of cigarettes. But even I, as a complete non-smoker, have to acknowledge that it will take a bit of time, as despite a 30% revenue increase year-on-year in 2023, non-combustible offerings are still only 16.6% of the company’s overall sales. However, just like hybrid and/or electric cars, the user market share is only going up.- By Chris Bailey |
- 26 July 2023, 14:32 |
premium content
Actual Experience – argues that it’s proving its technology is a 'need to have' for IT and Operations leaders alike. Er, is it?!
Digital workplace analytics and services company Actual Experience (ACT) has issued a “Logicalis to seek first customer for DWMP product”announcement, following yesterday a “Second enterprise sale of new DWMP product” announcement. With the shares currently soaring to back above 1p, how significant is the latest news?- By Steve Moore |
- 26 July 2023, 14:15 |
premium content
Centamin – Interim Results Show Continued Progress: BUY
Fully-listed Egyptian Gold producer Centamin (CEY) unveiled its half-year results to June this morning and there is much to be pleased about. Given its history, the first thing I looked for was any sign of weakened guidance, and once again I was pleased to find the rather boring in-line comments. So all is on track.- By Nigel Somerville |
- 26 July 2023, 13:37 |
premium content
Revolution Bars – trading statement argues “our vision and strategy to delight our guests across all our brands is delivering”. Er, is it?!
Revolution Bars Group (RBG) commences a “Pre-Close Statement” announcement with that it “is pleased to update on the year ended 2 July 2023 which is anticipated to be in line with market expectations”. Good news then?- By Steve Moore |
- 26 July 2023, 11:25 |
premium content
NatWest’s £5m a year Alison Rose “resigned” with immediate effect – will she get a payoff?
Her position was untenable after she admitted – as I suggested was the case here – that she was the person who leaked to the BBC details of Nigel Farage’s bank account at Coutts and a claim that he was not targeted because of his political views. Many banking experts and media types have such Farage derangement syndrome that they defended Alison Rose the CEO of NatWest (NWG) the owner of Coutts. I disagree with Farage on much but what Rose and Coutts did was wrong. I could see the wood for the trees.- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 26 July 2023, 10:47 |
Tom is Sceptical but I believe this Jolly Green Pioneer Could Still Reward the Braver Investor
Hello Share Swingers. Uncle Tom has had another go at me, this time for supporting another denizen of his blacklist. And yes, Ceres Power (CWR) has taken a double whammy this week. The last one was yesterday when a rather dismal trading update was released.
- By Malcolm Stacey |
- 26 July 2023, 08:14 |
premium content
Cohort – positive full-year results and expects further progress, Buy
Technology for defence and related markets company Cohort (CHRT) has announced results for its year ended 30th April 2023, noting a record performance slightly above market expectations and that it continues to expect its current year will be ahead of this. Sounds like good news with the shares currently up to a 490p offer price.- By HotStockRockets |
- 25 July 2023, 16:09 |
Aferian – bailout placing to “provide adequate headroom over the group's banking covenants”. Er, still does it?
B2B video streaming technology company Aferian (AFRN) states that it is “pleased to announce the successful completion of the placing… raising gross proceeds of approximately US$4.0 million. The placing price of 12 pence per share represents a premium of approximately 20.0 per cent. to the closing middle market share price of 10 pence per share on 24 July 2023”. Good news then?- By Steve Moore |
- 25 July 2023, 15:59 |
premium content
Tom Winnifrith Bearcast: NO! I did not say buy Optibiotix at 119p!
Optibiotix (OPTI) shares are now 32p and still cheap. How cheap? I will be doing a detailed piece with revised numbers within 48 hours. But first I respond to a bit of trolling. And I flag up who my next CEO guest is on the video show. Then I look at Trackwise (TWD), Wandisco (WAND) and Brighton Pier (PIER)- By Tom Winnifrith |
- 25 July 2023, 14:20 |
premium content
Brighton Pier Group – “trading statement”. Hopefully my prior caution on the outlook was heeded!
Previously writing on Brighton Palace Pier and other UK leisure and entertainment group Brighton Pier (PIER), in February with the shares falling to 61p I concluded I remained cautious of the outlook and continued to avoid. The shares most recently closed at 57p… and what of them currently heading towards 40p on the back of a “trading statement”?
- By Steve Moore |
- 25 July 2023, 14:14 |