The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Capital & Regional PLC, up 12% at 10.98 pence, 12-month range 54.00p-71.60p. The retail property investor restores its dividend after a swung to an interim profit on the back of strong leasing and robust rent collection. Capital & Regional returned to profitability, swinging to a pretax profit of £18.9 million for six months ended June 30 from a loss of £29.5 million in the same period last year. Revenue rose by 3.6% to £28.4 million from £27.4 million as rent collection was back in line with pre-Covid levels. Total dividend of 2.5 pence was declared, having skipped it in the prior year.
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Videndum PLC, up 7.2% at 1,483.82p, 12-month range 1,040.00p-1,665.00p. The content creation software provider posts improved interim profit on the back of strong market demand, despite component shortages and lockdowns in China. Videndum reported a pretax profit of £16.4 million in the six months ended June 30, up 8.6% from £15.1 million the previous year. Revenue jumped 23% to a record £223.6 million from £181.4 million a year prior. Videndum says it has a record order book heading into the second half of 2022.
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Empiric Student Property PLC, up 2.1% at 97.90p, 12-month range 80.10p-103.80p. The student accommodation provider posts significant rise in half-year profit and revenue as strong student demand drives increased occupancy rates for the upcoming academic year. For the six months ended June 30, pretax profit multiplied to £70.3 million from £7.0 million a year ago, due to the reduced impact of Covid on the academic year, increased rents and strong student demand. Revenue increased 37% to £35.6 million from £25.9 million a year prior. Looking ahead, the company expects to deliver revenue occupancy at the upper end of its guidance, between 90% and 95% for the upcoming academic year.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Ocean Wilsons Holdings Ltd, down 2.3% at 875.00p, 12-month range 830.00p-1,075.00p. The Bermudian investment company says it swung to an interim loss in the first half of 2022 due to a decline in its investment portfolio amid global supply chain challenges. Ocean Wilsons swung to a loss of $9.7 million in the six months ended June 30, from a profit of $66.2 million the previous year. Ocean Wilsons said this swing was primarily due to its negative return on its investment portfolio as well as increased finance costs.
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