magazine archive
magazine archive
Larger Companies
Kier benefits from bite-sized approach
Thursday 28 Sep 2017The market is displaying a sunnier disposition to builder and civil engineer Kier ( KIE ) in the wake of its latest financial results published on 21 September. Sentiment towards Kier had soured thanks to damaging profit warnings from sector peers Carillion ( CLLN ) and Interserve ( IRV ) such that...
Next: bouncing back into fashion?
Thursday 21 Sep 2017We believe fallen stock market darling Next ( NXT ) could soon be back in favour. Get in now while the stock remains unloved with many investors at £50. We’re encouraged by in-line half-year results (14 Sep) and upgraded profit guidance following a promising start to the third quarter and the...
Special dividends on the cards at Victrex
Thursday 14 Sep 2017Investors should be excited about polymer manufacturer Victrex’s ( VCT ) reduced tax rate as it may result in special dividends going forward. News the company’s hefty investment in R&D spending has made it eligible for the UK’s Patent Box tax break translates into a cut in the firm’s tax rate...
Why now is the perfect time to buy BHP Billiton
Thursday 07 Sep 2017Despite all the publicity around an activist investor trying to shake up BHP Billiton ( BLT ) , it is the worst performing stock among the FTSE 100 diversified miners this year. That’s not to say shareholders have lost money; in fact a near-50% share price gain actually makes BHP the eighth best...
CYBG could pay dividend after profit breakthrough
Thursday 31 Aug 2017Banking group CYBG ( CYBG ) in 2016 achieved its first statutory profit in five years. Its ambition to pay an inaugural dividend for the September 2017 financial year now seems increasingly likely to be realised. The bank’s share price has risen by more than 50% since the company was floated by...
Why BAE Systems’ share price slump might be over
Thursday 24 Aug 2017The recent flair up in tensions between North Korea and the US has offered defence company BAE Systems ( BA. ) some temporary reprieve from its earlier share price slump, helping it to stabilise around the 585p level. The value of its shares had previously declined from 677p in mid-June to 575p in...
Could a Pru UK exit be on the cards?
Thursday 17 Aug 2017FTSE 100 global life insurer Prudential ( PRU ) has been rallying this year, its share price up around 10% to £17.78 since the end of 2016. Its recent results beat consensus forecasts by 5% and 7% on new business revenue and profit respectively. But the company merging its UK businesses is perhaps...
Seeds of recovery for Standard Chartered
Thursday 10 Aug 2017Although the lack of a dividend initially disappointed the market did first half results (3 Aug) from emerging markets focused Standard Chartered ( STAN ) offer some signs of a more tangible recovery? Pre-tax profit increased 93% year-on-year to $1.9bn but the shares were down 6.6% on the day of...
Can AstraZeneca recover from failed cancer trial?
Thursday 03 Aug 2017Analysts are split on whether drugs titan AstraZeneca ( AZN ) can bounce back from the shocking failure of its MYSTIC lung cancer trial as fears of a dividend cut and opportunistic takeover bids emerge. Shares in AstraZeneca crashed 15.6% on 27 July after the trial failed to demonstrate that a...
Reckitt’s on the right path
Thursday 27 Jul 2017A pull back at consumer health and hygiene powerhouse Reckitt Benckiser ( RB. ) is a buying opportunity. The Cillit Bang, Veet and Vanish brands owner is a so-called ‘expensive defensive’ but its globally-derived earnings, dependable cash flow and progressive dividend should remain highly prized if...