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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Mears Group PLC, up 7.8% at 337.5 pence, 12-month range 192.5p-346.5p. The housing and social care provider says it expects annual results ahead of market expectations. It forecasts revenue of £1.05 billion, up from 2022’s £959.6 million, and ahead of market forecasts of £1.03 billion. Adjusted pretax profit is expected at £43 million, compared to forecasts of £40.9 million. Also says its results in 2024 are expected to beat market forecasts of £888 million revenue and adjusted pretax profit £33.9 million. ‘We are delighted to have achieved strong revenues, profits and cash generation in 2023. This strong momentum is expected to continue into 2024 and the group continues to deliver well against its clearly defined strategy, underpinned by our long track-record for operating excellence,’ says Chief Executive Officer Lucas Critchley.
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Robert Walters PLC, up 3.9% at 425.80p, 12-month range 344p-580p. The recruitment firm regains its footing, after a trading update of its own, after a profit warning from FTSE 250-listed peer Hays PLC had weighed on the stock earlier this week. Robert Walters affirms that pretax profit for 2023 will be in line with market expectations of £20.5 million, which is down sharply from £55.6 million in 2022. Its fourth quarter net fee income falls 13% year-on-year, in what the company describes as a ‘resilient’ performance. ‘We remain confident in the long-term structural drivers that underpin demand for our services,’ says CEO Toby Fowlston. The stock is still down 4.5% this week, however.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Smiths News PLC, down 6.0% at 50.60p, 12-month range 40p-59.8p. The newspaper and magazine distributor’s shares retreat, and are down 4.8% since the start of 2024. Over the past 12 months, they have fallen 11%.
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