magazine archive
magazine archive
Big News
National Grid recommits to dividend growth promise
Thursday 31 May 2018Britain’s largest utility supplier National Grid ( NG. ) has renewed its commitment to grow its dividend to match RPI (retail price index) inflation or better ‘for the foreseeable future.’ This is welcome news for investors looking for reliable and attractive income for two reasons. First is an...
Former CEO looks to topple Stobart chairman
Thursday 31 May 2018Former Stobart ( STOB ) CEO Andrew Tinkler will voting at the company’s AGM on 28 June against the re-election of chairman Iain Ferguson. Tinkler is joined by two shareholders who are also against the re-election of Ferguson who together hold 25.5% of the share capital. One of whom is thought to be...
Royal Mail analyst fears are overdone
Thursday 31 May 2018Regulatory risks and intense competition are clouding parcel delivery service Royal Mail’s ( RMG ) outlook according to broker Berenberg as it slashes earnings forecasts. Despite this negative analyst comment we are confident that Royal Mail remains an interesting contrarian play. Productivity...
Why Homebase sale is such good news for Kingfisher
Thursday 31 May 2018Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers is selling Homebase for a nominal £1 to turnaround specialist Hilco Capital just two years after buying the business from Home Retail for £340m. The Aussie firm wrongly assumed it could replicate the success of its Bunnings brand down under in the UK. Wesfarmers’s...
Europe hit by renewed political instability
Thursday 31 May 2018The market may have felt it had cleared the major political threats facing Europe in 2017 when the result of German and, in particular, French elections helped restore some confidence to the European project. However, the issue of Italy has returned to haunt investors and with it the renewed threat...
Rumours of Lidl going online is bad for Tesco and Sainsbury’s
Thursday 24 May 2018Lidl may be planning to enter the online grocery delivery market in a fresh assault against the UK’s largest supermarket chains, according to media reports. The German discounter has registered the name ‘Lidl Digital Logistics’ at Companies House and could be targeting the grocery deliveries arena...
Shock management departures could pave way for KCOM break-up
Thursday 24 May 2018The shock departure of senior management at KCOM ( KCOM ) has started tongues wagging that a break-up of the group is on the cards. Chief finance officer Jane Aikman resigned on 17 May, hot on the heels of chief executive Bill Halbert’s decision to stand down after an 11-year run with the company...
Entertainment One and Bloomsbury are scooping up the cash from big franchises
Thursday 24 May 2018The benefits of having successful franchises are made crystal clear in the latest results from Entertainment One ( ETO ) and Bloomsbury Publishing ( BMY ) . Both companies are riding high thanks to ongoing sales from certain titles which have the hallmarks of being evergreen brands, potentially...
Shares in Brewin Dolphin up by nearly 80% in two years
Thursday 24 May 2018Wealth manager Brewin Dolphin ( BRW ) is forecast by analysts to increase pre-tax profit by nearly 12% this year to £78.1m and by a further 13% in 2019 to £88.2m. The company is on a roll, judging by its latest half year results which showed net new inflows in discretionary funds under management...
CYBG refuses to elaborate on Virgin Money approach
Thursday 17 May 2018The chief financial officer of CYBG (C YBG) has refused to comment on the bank’s takeover approach for Virgin Money ( VM. ) , revealed on 7 May. Speaking to Shares at its half year results on 15 May, Ian Smith wouldn’t be drawn into discussion on any element of the approach. Virgin has yet to...