Watkin Jones – a “continued to execute effectively on its broad commercial objectives”… trading warning!

Describing itself as “the UK’s leading developer and manager of residential for rent”, Watkin Jones plc (WJG) has issued a “FY26 Trading Update” including emphasising that “in recent weeks, the group has achieved successful practical completion on two major schemes, in Belfast and Cardiff, comprising 1,345 units of build to rent accommodation and with aggregate margins in line with guidance. We have made further progress on our building safety rectification obligations”. So what about a current 16.4p share price, approaching 9% lower?

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – warns “expected to deliver adjusted operating profit for the full year at a similar level to H1”, states “continues to make progress in evolving its business model”

Watkin Jones – profit warning… so now ‘reviewing funding options to further develop the projects pipeline’?!

Describing itself as “the UK’s leading developer and manager of residential for rent”, Watkin Jones (WJG) commences a “trading update” with, “As set out in our half year results announcement on 21 May 2024, we had a number of schemes being actively marketed, with the subsequent sale of a substantial purpose-built student accommodation development located in Stratford, London, announced in July”. Good news then? Er, what of the shares currently approaching 30% lower in response to below 36p?

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – profit warning and also now “do not currently expect adjusted operating profit in FY25 to be above FY24”

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – sale of three “non-core” private rented sector assets for £11m net cash inflow but a book loss on disposal

Watkin Jones – from less than two months ago H2 to “be materially stronger” to now there may not be much improvement and worse!…

Less than two months ago with half-year ended 31st March 2023 results, company describing itself as “the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent” Watkin Jones (WJG) stated that it “expected that H2-23 will be materially stronger than H1-23, with forward sales adding to performance from in-build developments”. So good news from a trading update today then? Er, the shares are currently down more than 37% to around 50p in response!

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – CEO Richard Simpson “stepped down”, CIO Alex Pease now Interim CEO

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – greater risk on transactions timing and increased cost of funding trading warning

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – “continued to make good progress across the business”

Table of shorted AIM shares - week to 29/11/2019

From the FCA's spreadsheet of short positions required to be disclosed to it, the following shows the shorted AIM shares with positions from 2018 and thus far in 2019 (by net short position %, those in bold not on the list at the start of 2019) – and if this position has increased (red), reduced (green) or remained unchanged (black) since last week...

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – FY underlying earnings “in line”, “remains confident”

Watkin Jones (#WJG) – H1 “in line with its expectations”, “remains confident”

Live Like a Student Prince With One of this Firm's Clean Modern Flats.

Hello Share Mashers. Let’s talk about a venerable company called Watkin Jones (WJG). It goes back to the 1700’s when it was a joinery firm. Now it’s big in the lucrative student accommodation game. Having had three children who’ve been through the nightmare of finding a decent place to live while they study, I am all for firms who put the whole thing on a professional footing. There are too many private landlords out there who are anxious to take students’ money without looking after their properties very well

Watkin Jones (#WJG) says H1 trading strong & in line

Watkins Jones (#WJG) joins AIM with £131m placing - welcome to the Casino