Publisher Pearson (PSON) has gone through many incarnations during its 180-year history from starting out as a civil engineering business to the owner of The Financial Times to its current focus on education.The company is going through change once again with the appointment of new CEO Omar Abbosh in January this year and the early signs are good with the company recently announcing a positive set

If you've been tuned out of the political narrative over the summer, you might not have heard the government is facing a £22 billion black hole in its finances and a 'painful' Budget lies ahead. Then again, if you've got a smart phone, you're probably up to speed.There is plenty of speculation flying around about the taxes Labour are going to hike, especially after Keir Starmer said the heaviest

Investors lost their appetite for Hormel Foods (HRL:NYSE) after the global branded food group served up mixed second-quarter results in May, but the stock has been shaken from its torpor in recent weeks on optimism surrounding management's turnaround plan and Mars' takeover of Kellanova (K:NYSE), which has highlighted the resilience and growth potential of selective food sector names.Bulls will be

This feature was prompted by a reader question on why 'bond proxies' such as insurers Phoenix Group (PHNX) and Aviva (AV.) do not attract more investor attention.A bond proxy typically refers to a company which has a steadier-than-average income stream and offers a higher-than-average level of income.Long-term savings and insurance group Phoenix sits on a dividend yield of 10.4% based on an expect

Stock prices in the UK fell Friday morning after retail sales came in below forecasts after a rainy April.The FTSE 100 index opened down 53.88 points, 0.7%, at 8,285.35. The FTSE 250 was down 95.18 points, 0.5%, at 20,536.12, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.37 points, 0.3%, at 802.65.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.7% at 826.62, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.6% at 17,972.38, and the Cboe Small Companies

The end of the tax year is well known for being ISA season, when savers and investors rush to beat the 5 April deadline to make the most of their £20,000 annual ISA contribution.But in the background a hardy bunch of investors are just biding their time at the beginning of April, waiting for the new tax year to roll around, so they can pounce on their new ISA allowance as soon as it becomes avail

Shares up 6% over past yearUnderlying sales rise 5% to £3.7 billionFree cash flow of £387 millionShares in Pearson (PSON) improved 4% to 998.2p after the education media group reported a positive set of results for the year to December 2023.The FTSE 100 company reported a rise in adjusted operating profit from £456 million to £573 million.EPS (earnings per share) rose 12.4% to 58.2p and Pearso

The recent wave of takeovers and mergers in the quoted UK commercial real estate sector has continued this week with the proposed all-share takeover of UK Commercial Property (UKCM) by Tritax Big Box (BBOX).The deal, which values UKCM at 71.1p per share or a 10.8% premium to the previous day?s closing price, would create the UK?s fourth-largest REIT (real estate investment trust) by market cap wit

All-share deal to create top four REITOffer at a 10.8% premium to closing priceStrong strategic rationale for combiningThe wave of consolidation in the UK listed property sector looks set to continue with today?s announcement of an proposed deal between Tritax Big Box (BBOX) and UK Commercial Property (UKCM) to create the fourth-largest REIT (real estate investment trust) by market value.Shares in

Shares in education media group Pearson (PSON) have been in a rising trend since August, up 19% to 968p as investors reappraise the company's prospects.Helping to sustain the upward share price movement was a well-received trading update on 30 October where the company upgraded its full-year operating profit guidance by £20 million to a new range of £570 million to £575 million and started a ne

Group revenue up 5%Upgrades guidance by circa £20 millionNew CEO Omar Abbosh starts 8 January 2024Shares in Pearson (PSON) were marginally higher in morning trading to 931p as the education publishing group reported 5% growth in group revenue (excluding the OPM business) for the nine months ending 30 October 2023.Strong performances came from its Pearson Vue and Pearson Test of English businesses

The future of wind-powered energy in the UK looks uncertain after the recent failure of the Government's offshore wind auction to attract a single bidder and a rolling back of net zero targets.However, as this author's recent visit to the official opening of the Cumberhead wind farm in Scotland shows, there are still projects being developed onshore as the country looks to transition away from fos

According to data from the AIC, the average investment trust discount to net asset value has widened from 12.2% at the end of 2022 to 14.5% as of 8 September 2023, while sector averages have generally widened. The exception is private equity, which narrowed from 25.1% to 4.5%, skewed by 3i's (III) dramatic swing from discount to premium.While this presents an opportunity to buy into parts of the m

Obesity is one of the fastest growing public health issues facing the world. The World Health Organisation estimates there are two billion overweight adults, of which around 650 million are technically obese.Having a body mass index over 30 means someone is obese, while anyone with a score over 25 is classified under this system as being overweight. Experts predict almost half of US adults will be

The FTSE 100 outperformed European peers heading into Wednesday afternoon, with the interest rate sensitive house building sector shining after investors reeled in the Bank of England expectations after a cooler-than-expected UK inflation reading.A hike on Thursday was largely seen as a foregone conclusion prior to the data, but the surprising slowdown in UK inflation means the decision is on some

UK inflation fell to an 18-month low driving London's stocks higher on Wednesday, with top housebuilders doing particularly well, as nerves calmed ahead of this week's upcoming rate announcements.The FTSE 100 index opened up 44.27 points, 0.6%, at 7,704.47. The FTSE 250 was up 240.40 points, 1.3%, at 18,667.10, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.26 points, 0.3%, at 744.67.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% a

One of Shares 2023 Tips of The Year, Mr. Kipling, Bisto, Sharwood's and Ambrosia brands owner Premier Foods' (PFD) stock is up 11.5% year-to-date, extending five-year gains to nigh-on 190%.Ravenous investor appetite for the shares in recent years reflects the considerable progress made in reducing debt and resolving its pension issues, as well as the consistent growth from its brands and cycle of

Abrdn shares tumble almost 10% on updateQuilter shares jump 13% on raised outlook Abrdn the most unloved UK stockShares in fund management group Abrdn (ABDN) slid to the bottom of the FTSE 100 leaderboard with a drop of 9.5% to 198p after it revealed a drop in total assets in the first half.In contrast, shares in FTSE 250 wealth management firm Quilter (QLT) rallied over 13% to 80.5p as assets inc

Shares up nearly 4% to 900pEnglish Language sales increased 44%Assessment & Qualifications sales up 7%Shares in Pearson (PSON) were up nearly 4% to 900p in early trading as the education publishing group reported a 44% increase in underlying adjusted operating profit to £250 million for the six months to 30 June 2023.Adjusted earnings per share grew 25.6p compared to 22.5p in the first half of 20

We suggested at the start of 2023 that commercial property stocks could prove to be a good bet this year, with valuations offering significant upward reversion potential from their depressed levels and dividend yields at the top end of their historic range.While valuations have improved slightly, if anything sentiment is even more negative than it was in January, especially after April's stubbornl