As a boring (predominately) large cap global investor, it has perhaps been a bit of a surprise that it took me years to warm to FTSE 100 company Bunzl (BNZL), which describes itself as a “multinational distribution and outsourcing company”, which has banged out thirty years of rising dividends. A few months ago, I observed I thought it would be smart to “wake me up if Bunzl shares fall back below a 26 quid price (again)”. That has not happened and today the shares are kicking around above a thirty quid share price. Time for me to get (finally) more excited or not?

Managed IT services, cyber security and cloud hosting company SysGroup (SYS) has announced results for its half-year ended 30^th September 2022 and that “trading for the second half has continued with positive momentum and the board is therefore confident in meeting its full year expectations”. So what’s the detail here?

SysGroup (SYS) recently issued a trading update stating that it “is pleased to report a strong trading performance, despite the challenging macro-economic environment”. With the shares having fallen from approaching 50p last year to a 24p offer price, such a trading performance suggests a lowly valuation and strong recovery potential.

About six months ago I observed that Rentokil Initial (RTO), founded in 1925 as a pest-control business, was “almost perfectly in the middle of the 450-600p range over the last year”. And that it “need to be a bit cheaper to have another look…if you own the stock, then you have probably held it for ages and are very happy to do so, but there is no need to chase this one if you do not”. A bit like the FTSE 100, there has been just a bit of volatility since then but now we are kicking around a similar share price. Is there any need to change my thoughts from back in April, or not?

UK provider of IT and communications services to businesses and public sector organisations, CloudCoCo Group (CLCO) states that it “is pleased to provide an update on its progress for the year ended 30 September 2022”... and the shares have currently responded approaching 40% higher to 1.325p. So how well is its trading going?

Hello Share Scrapers. Companies essential in the way the business world turns have a stronger chance of growing their share price than most other concerns in this very dodgy economic climate. One such outfit is Bunzl (BNZL), a massive Footsie distribution company sending out stuff that’s important to other companies all over the world.

Packaging group Macfarlane (MACF) has announced results for the first half of 2022 and that it expects to deliver another year of profit growth.

Provider of technology and services to the rail, traffic data and wider transport industries Tracsis (TRCS) states that it is “pleased to provide” a trading update for its year ended 31st July 2022, with “group revenue is expected to have increased to c.£69.0m (2021: £50.2m)… expects adjusted EBITDA to be ahead of market expectations”. So what of a current approaching 4% higher share price response to 1050p?

‘Self-care’ products group Venture Life (VLG) commences a trading update with that it “expects to report revenues for the six months ended 30 June 2022 of £18.9 million, a growth of 36% over the same period previous year” and adds “order book remains strong and is ahead of the same period last year”. So what of a current share price response up more than 9% at 35p?

Hello Share Followers. The medical sector is likely to pay more juicy dividends in the humble view of this old punter. Covid has concentrated minds on the need to pour more dosh into the NHS and other services to meet a growing demand from an ageing population and to deal with the huge logjam caused by the pandemic. So let’s take a peek at ConvaTec Group (CTEC).

UK provider of IT and communications services to businesses and public sector organisations, CloudCoCo (CLCO) has announced results for its year ended 30th September 2021, emphasising a now “significantly enlarged customer base and enhanced capabilities from acquisitions”. So what of a currently unchanged 1.70p share price?…

‘Self-care’ products group Venture Life (VLG) has made a trading statement and the shares have currently responded to around 50p, 34% higher, on the back of it. Is this justified?…

Hello, Share Plungers. One of my biggest money makers has endured a dwindling share price recently. For no good reason as far as I can see. Creightons (CRL) is an ambitious growing company in the budget cosmetics field. And personal care, beauty and fragrance products have been popular even during the more serious stages of lockdown.

Power products manufacturer Volex (VLX) has announced results for its half-year ended 3rd October 2021, emphasising “strong trading and strategic progress with investment in growth”. So why have the shares currently responded towards 400p, more than 9% lower?…

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) seem to be the new buzz word in the UK markets at the moment, certainly amongst PIs on social media anyway, and it would also seem that a few AIM company directors are getting involved as well.

Hello, Share Plumpers. For those kind enough to take an interest in my new ability to see headless Christmas ghosts, my appointment at the hospital was encouraging. It dispelled worry about my brain. I was told there’s a hole at the back of my eye which fails to see anything at the centre of my vision. It sounds serious but it could seal itself up, or I might need minor surgery to sew it together. A big relief. Any road up, today’s choice is Learning Technologies Group (LTG)...

Hello Share Dwellers. At the risk of repeating myself, I’ve long thought our love of pets is a money tree for those in the tame animal industry. One of my favourite pennies Avacta (AVCT) is a case in point, though its share price doggedly fails to take off and it’s also involved in human medicine. So let me suggest another company which does treatments for ailing animals...

Self-styled “premier technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment and cultural markets” accesso Technology (ACSO) has announced results for the first half of 2019 emphasising “a solid performance” and “important progress on its long-term strategy to integrate its offerings to uniquely position itself to take advantage of a $3.4bn addressable market, driven by a market shift toward the integrated guest experience and leveraging data to improve business outcomes for customers”. The shares have currently responded towards 800p – er, that’s approaching 12% lower!…

Westminster Group (WSG) has announced results for the first half of 2019 emphasising “a significant move forward” and “we look forward to a strong full year performance significantly ahead of 2018”. The shares have not really responded though – currently remaining sub 10p…

Hello, Share Climbers. I said I may go back to Ashtead (AHT), the tool and building plant hire company - and latest numbers yesterday look good to me. However, we all know it’s quite rare for a company’s share price to rise on reporting its latest results - and as I write the shares are down 2.5%. So let’s take a look at the results and see if we now have a buying opportunity, enhanced by the day’s drop in share price...

An AGM trading update from Gooch & Housego (GHH) sees CEO Mark Webster emphasise “our fibre optic business is performing particularly strongly” and “we remain confident in the potential of the industrial laser sector and our other markets to provide attractive long term growth”. So why have the shares responded currently more than 10% lower, towards 1300p?...

Gas heating, electrical and building services provider Bilby (BILB) reckons it “is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2018”. So why then are the shares currently circa 20% lower on the back of them, to below 75p?...

A year ago I concluded on veterinary group CVS (CVSG), house broker N+1 Singer has trimmed forecasts and its latest numbers suggest a price/earnings multiple, with the shares currently at circa 1100p, of approaching 24x. Given the reported situation, that still looks high and this looks a sell. Today another AGM update – and the shares currently more than 10% lower on the back of it… at 650p…

With oil prices remaining buoyant and this trend looking likely to continue going forwards, there are still plenty of opportunities to invest in companies in this sector.

Provider of software and services for the traffic data and transportation industry, Tracsis (TRCS) has updated including, for its year ended 31st July 2018, adjusted profit “expected to be ahead of market expectations”. What does that mean in financial terms?...

One of ShareProphets regular readers, Wildrides, has asked me to take a look at Weatherly International (WTI), and as I do follow the mining sector quite closely, I am happy to give my thoughts on the company.

Hello Share Swirlers. You may already know that I’m a supporter of big insurance groups. My Legal & General (LGEN) investment has risen by 210%, though it's taken five years or so to achieve it. My RSA investment has not been so successful, but it’s still a better performer than most in my bag.

Previously writing on Van Elle Holdings (VANL) last month it was as it updates on trading & CEO to step down as responds to General Meeting requisition. The latter is from its founder seeking to return – and he has since detailed why, with the company now further responding…

Self-described UK “specialist in data science led digital marketing”, Jaywing (JWNG) has announced results for its half-year ended 30th September 2017 including “since the election was called in the Spring we have seen consumer-led businesses in the UK grapple with difficult trading conditions… their first action has been to cut costs, including marketing costs”. That doesn’t bode well here…

“Eckoh plc (ECK), the global provider of secure payment products and customer contact solutions, is pleased to announce its final results for the year ended 31 March 2017”. Hmmm, this though follows a profit warning in September…

“Eckoh plc (ECK), the global provider of secure payment products and customer contact solutions, today issues a trading update for the year ended 31 March 2017. The board of the company confirms that trading for the year ended 31 March 2017 was comfortably in line with market expectations”. Hmmm, what about the September announcement that “it is expected that the company's pre-tax profits for the year to 31 March 2017 will be below market expectations and is expected to be in line with the performance last year” though?...

Writing in January on fluid power products supplier Flowtech (FLO) with the shares just below 130p, I noted that there looked potentially interesting value, but also “c.£13 million” of net debt and a downward forecast trend which deterred. The company has now announced a “successful fundraise of £10 million at 120p per share”…

As someone who works in the fishing tackle industry as my day job, and have done so for nearly 20 years, I watched with interest as the first retailer in the sector floated on the AIM market last June.

Excuse the title, but it seems to represent the state of play at Victoria plc (VCP). The company held its AGM this morning and accompanied it with a statement to shareholders to the effect that everything is fine. Not bad for a stock which has been an 8-bagger in just two years!

This morning, we woke to the news that PHSC (PHSC) has raised £350k from investors at a placing price of 22p. That’s a hefty discount to the 27p it closed at last night and also to the 32.5p it closed at the night before.

Entertainment One (ETO), owner of 100,000 hours of films and 40,000 songs, announces this morning that it has completed purchasing the half of digital agency Secret Location which it did not already own. Secret Location is an award-winning creator of interesting online/virtual-reality experiences, and the news has been well-received by investors.

This morning brings separate announcements from 888 (888) and Rank Group (RNK) on the one hand, and their desired target William Hill (WMH) on the other. The two sides continue to be poles apart when it comes to the mooted merger of the three entities. Despite the rationale put forward by the suitors, I reckon the board of William Hill are right to ignore the offer for now.

Heading back into the micro-cap space, Friday saw the publication of preliminary results from health, safety and security consultants PHSC (PHSC). The shares have gradually weakened over the past two years providing a potential dip-buying opportunity for the brave.