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eEnergy – trading update argues now “strong momentum”, but sufficiently strong for the expectations?

Describing itself as “revolutionising the path to Net Zero as a leading digital energy services provider for B2B and public sector organisations”immediately makes me wary of eEnergy Group (EAAS) as small companies that claim “revolutionising” often tend to use it mainly to attempt to justify vast cash outflows. What of this business, which has today issued a “trading update” and with its shares currently responding up to 5.7p though still down from approaching 8p earlier this year?

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Brighton Pier Group – recent week improved weather and a “successful” charging implementation, BUT…

Brighton Palace Pier, Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, Paradise Island Adventure Golf and bars group, The Brighton Pier Group (PIER) has issued a trading update including noting a current warm and sunny spell and the potential for improved weather in August as well as “successful” implementation of charging non-residents £1 for admission to the pier during peak trading periods. So what of a share price currently more than 15% lower to 33.5p?

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Virgin Wines UK – argues earnings “ahead of market expectations”, but how impressive is that?

Online wine retailer Virgin Wines UK (VINO) has issued a trading update including full-year “profit/(Loss) before tax expected to be £1.95m (FY23: Loss £430k). The balance sheet remains strong with net cash at the end of the period significantly higher at £10.2m” and that it “remain confident for the future”. What of a share price currently up to 45p in response, but still down from above 70p early last year?

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Pennant International – “pleased to report ongoing progress in the business”. How ‘pleasing’ is it?…

Systems support and training to the aerospace, defence and adjacent safety-critical markets business Pennant International Group (PEN) has issued a trading update including CEO Philip Walker “pleased to report ongoing progress in the business” and also that the group “notes the UK Strategic Defence Review recently announced by the new Labour government, and is pleased to see that the new government has committed to increasing UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP”. So what of a current 4% lower share price response to 24p?

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Empresaria – trading update, is there “encouraging resilience” from it?

International staffing group Empresaria (EMR) has issued a trading update headlined “Encouraging resilience in temporary and contract despite ongoing challenging market conditions”. So what of a current share price response down 7.5% to 37p?

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Churchill China – “pleased to provide an update on trading in the six months ended 30 June 2024”, but how ‘pleasing’ is it for investors?

Hospitality ceramic products company Churchill China (CHH) states that it “is pleased to provide an update on trading in the six months ended 30 June 2024 ahead of the expected announcement of the company's interim results on Thursday 5 September”. So what of the update detail with the shares currently having responded slightly further lower to 1160p, having commenced 2024 at above 1400p?

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Aptamer – fundraise “for working capital purposes”. Er, why “pleased to announce” such a massive discount then?…

Previously on life sciences affinity binders developer Aptamer Group (APTA), last month with the shares up to 0.75p I suggested a continuing attempted ramptastic ahead of attempted bailout fundraising despite its half-year ended 31st December 2023 results having included the group’s forecast including “the cash runway extends well into the next financial year”. Now, 24 days into that “next financial year”… “Fundraise to Raise £2.83 million”…

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Learning Technologies Group – having been an AIM Awards 2023 'Diversity Champion’ nominee, “trading update” disappointment (natch)…

Describing itself as “a leading provider of services and technologies for learning and talent management”, Learning Technologies Group (LTG) has issued a “Half year trading and US regulatory update”-titled announcement including that it “continues to deliver margin progression, driven primarily by GP Strategies' commercial transformation, with group adjusted EBIT for the first half expected to be not less than £43 million (H1 2023: £41.1 million on a like for like basis)”. So what of a current around 70p share price, more than 13% down?

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Nexteq – significantly below expectations warning and Chair, CEO & CFO to “step down… in the coming months”!

Earlier this year on industrial technology company Nexteq (NXQ), from HotStockRockets it was 2023 “materially improved profitability and cash generation”, but take profits on another winning share tip. That was with the shares above 150p and it noted it stating “softer customer demand seen in 2023 has, as expected, persisted in the first months of 2024” and that “the board remains confident in the medium-term organic growth prospects”, which tends to mean not confident on such short term prospects. The shares most recently closed at 122.5p and what of today announcements including “trading update” and “board transition”?

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Cordel – argues a “pleased to provide” update, but why the broker change now?

Transport analytics technology group Cordel (CRDL) commences a latest announcement with that it “is pleased to provide an update on full-year trading for the year ended 30 June 2024 and the progress made by the company in the year”. The shares have currently nudged up to 4.65p in response, but what of they still below the above 5p at which they commenced 2024?