UK 20:05 Friday, 18 September 2026
Breaking news and expert analysis on fast-moving AIM and LSE listed shares
Loads of interesting FTSE 350 corporate numbers out today. Akin to my thoughts a quarter ago, there is no need to own shares in Haleon (HLN) even if the world of consumer healthcare is not boring (just in this case heavily factored in). By contrast, Taylor Wimpey (TW.) shares are cheap, and are up this morning, and it was alright to read that its “full year UK completions excluding joint ventures to be in the range of 10,000 to 10,500, the upper end of our previous guidance”. However, I have no intention of buying the shares, even if the UK still needs plenty of new flats/homes and banks are desperate to introduce 35-year mortgages. A much smarter way to play this trend, for me, remains Ibstock (IBST) and the world of clay bricks and related.
Hello Share Chewers. Rising interest rates have put the skids under new mortgages. And so the share prices of house builders have faltered. But the industry should not do as badly as you might think, as there’s still a sad shortage of new homes in this country. And here’s a company that services builders and that should continue to do well for its shareholders.
Whilst there are a bunch of issues to address regarding the markets, politics and sensible economic policy, I am going to think a bit more about stocks and shares today. And my interest again is centred on the “leading UK manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products”, Ibstock (IBST).
I am struggling to remember a Wednesday that was as busy for those of us interested in the world of analysis, fund management and macroeconomics matters over the twenty-six years since I started work, as was yesterday. It was all good fun, even if I ended my day listening to the Federal Reserve believing it was very good at looking after American inflation. More about stocks. Like the analytical weirdo I am, I love listening to at least one live conference call every business day. However yesterday, I lost count of the number of calls I listened to and there were a bunch I passed on because I knew I simply did not have time. First up for me was Reckitt Benckiser (RKT), a company that I mentioned on Tuesday was far more interesting than Unilever (ULVR), which remains very clear after the former’s first half numbers.
Hello Share Bunnies. This old punter has recommended you look at an ambitious outfit called Ibstock (IBST) before. But I think the case to buy is even stronger now. Ibstock makes bricks and brick-like things. And I can see you marvelling that I should support any company in the construction world. Nobody does that if a recession might be on the way, do they? So what’s going for Ibstock, then?
Hello Share Cheerers. A company in the brick trade I've commended before is flying higher than expected. Ibstock (IBST) makes bricks and other building blocks. And you would anticipate success in this continuing bull market for houses and flats.
Hello, Share Bashers. House builders have continued to see rising share prices on a generally moribund stock exchange. But you don't have to just invest in housebuilders to try to take advantage of this jolly situation. It might be worth looking at a company that makes the bricks.
I have written positively a number of times about Ibstock (IBST) - a ‘leading UK manufacturer of clay bricks and a diversified range of clay and concrete products’ - most recently in August. Back then I hoped for a 250p+ share price and that still made me a strong holder, but the share has moved down since to (today) just over 200p. An opportunity or a problem?
