2024 results in line with estimates2025 forecasts present no surprisesShares reverse initial lossesDespite a drop in earnings per share and a forecast of slower growth next year, together with no word on share buybacks, investors seem minded to give global food service group Compass (CPG) the benefit of the doubt.After opening 102p or 3.8% lower, the shares inched their way into positive...

Miners dragged the FTSE 100 into the red on Tuesday, as stocks in London finished the session lower at the close.The FTSE 100 index closed down 31.41 points, 0.4%, at 8,167.37. The FTSE 250 ended down 47.19 points, 0.2%, at 21,091.49, and the AIM All-Share closed down 3.07 points, 0.4%, at 780.17.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.5% at 814.73, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 0.5% at 18,388.59, and the...

The FTSE 100 shrugged off a subdued start to push higher at midday on Tuesday, although an underwhelming session for miners held back further gains.The FTSE 100 index traded 27.12 points higher, or 0.3%, at 8,225.90. The FTSE 250 was down 17.71 points, 0.1%, at 21,120.97, while the AIM All-Share was down 1.33 points, 0.2%, at 781.91.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 821.39, the Cboe UK 250 was...

Operating profit outlook raised again'Good growth' across all regions in Q3New business wins acceleratingShares in Compass Group (CPG) climbed 4.6% to £22.92 in early dealings after the catering giant upped its full year sales and profit guidance for the second time this year.The upgrade followed a forecast-beating third-quarter performance from the Chertsey-based food service star turn,...

Stocks in London made a soggy start on Tuesday, with miners dragging the blue-chip FTSE 100 lower, although Compass bucked the weaker trend.The FTSE 100 index traded down 30.93 points, or 0.4%, at 8,167.85. The FTSE 250 was down 25.12 points, 0.1%, at 21,113.56, while the AIM All-Share was down 1.55 points, 0.2%, at 781.69.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.4% at 815.65, the Cboe UK 250 was 0.2% lower...

Compass director buys £60,929 sharesElementis CEO sells £523,653 sharesBaron Oil director buys amid falling share priceArlene Isaacs-Lowe, non-executive director of food service giant Compass Group (CPG) has bought 2,800 shares at £21.76 for a total value of £60,929 on 30 May.Isaacs-Lowe's move comes after the company delivered strong first half growth in all regions driven by new...

Our 2023 picks have smashed it - achieving an average return excluding dividends of 20.6%, more than four times the return of the FTSE All-Share and better even than the MSCI World which is up 17.9% this year.This is all the more satisfying as the MSCI World index has been powered by the US 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks, whereas the Shares portfolio benefited from the inclusion of just one...

FY23 guidance downgradedCost-of-living pressures impact eating out market?Robust? growth targeted in 2024Shares in Tortilla Mexican Grill (MEX:AIM) tumbled 8% to an all-time low of 50.5p after the UK?s largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group served up a profit warning following a sour end to 2023, with subdued demand across the eating out market hindering growth in the fourth quarter.The...

Stock prices in London opened mixed on Monday morning, making few moves in anticipation of UK fiscal announcements and US central bank minutes.The FTSE 100 index opened down 25.58 points, 0.3%, at 7,478.67. The FTSE 250 was up 5.81 points at 18,573.68, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.39 of a point, 0.1%, at 719.44The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 746.20, the Cboe UK 250 was slightly lower at...

Shares in Restaurant Group (RTN) have been on a tear over the last nine months, gaining 84% after positive trading updates and a strategic review of the business prompted in part by activist investors pushing for change.The company has now agreed to offload its underperforming leisure division (principally Frankie & Benny's and Chiquitos) to the Big Table Group which operates brands including...

Given how hard it has been to pick winning stocks this year, due to the outsized gains enjoyed by a narrow collection of stocks in the US in particular, we are delighted with the performance of our 2023 Tips of The Year.Against a FTSE All-Share index which has basically gone nowhere, eking out just a 0.5% positive return at this stage, our basket of 10 stocks has returned an average of 23.3%...

There are an increasing number of large firms which are thinking about changing their main share listing from the UK to the US or elsewhere, raising fears London is losing its importance.This article explains why companies are giving serious thought to this issue and who might be next to press the button.Irish building materials giant CRH (CRH) is the latest firm to decide to move its main...

- First-half sales and margins beat expectations- Organic sales and profit growth forecasts increased- Additional £750 million buy-back announcedUsually, for firms with tens of billions of pounds in annual revenues, the 'law of big numbers' means they can struggle to grow meaningfully.Happily for shareholders that's not the case at catering giant Compass (CPG), which reported...

Helped by a positive first quarter for stocks our top selections for 2023 have made a superb start to the year.At the time of writing the share price return on the portfolio of 10 names is 18.5%, substantially outpacing the FTSE All-Share which is up just 3.8% and with not a single name in negative territory. We have also significantly outperformed the MSCI World's 4.6% advance in sterling.The...

Have you ever come across a company whose shares are classified as being in one sector, but in reality, should sit in a different one? It matters from a valuation perspective.For years, catering group Compass (CPG) was in the travel and leisure sector, sitting alongside travel agents, airlines and gambling groups. This seemed bizarre as running a canteen in a hospital or school is more of a...

- Like-for-like sales 16.4% above pre-Covid levels- Food and energy costs eat into margins- Tacos-to-burritos seller reports positive current tradingTortilla Mexican Grill (MEX:AIM), the UK's largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group, served up record sales for the year ended 1 January 2023 with a boost from a record year of 18 site openings and below-inflation price increases to mitigate...

Investors should feast on food services company Compass (CPG) which has emerged from the pandemic in a stronger position with enhanced growth opportunities and more loyal clients.Compass believes the global outsourcing market for catering is worth at least £220 billion with around half the market still operated in-house. Increasing complexities facing many businesses across supply chains,...

- FY revenues +37.5%, adjusted operating profit +87.5%- Record new business and client retention- 2023 organic revenue guidance +15%, profit +20%Despite beating expectations for full year revenues and profit, shares in food services company Compass (CPG) fell 2% to £18.11 reflecting a slight disappointment in the margin outlook.In addition, the shares ran-up 3.5% last week coming into today's...

- Profits hit by surging meat and energy costs- Like-for-like sales have slowed over the summer- Industry headwinds to have 'material' impact on second half earningsShares in Tortilla Mexican Grill (MEX:AIM) slumped 27.4% to 106p after the UK's largest fast-casual Mexican restaurant group served up mixed first half results with surging meat prices eating into margins, news that overshadowed...

The US dollar is trading at 20-year highs against a basket of major currencies. It has benefited from the twin tailwinds of big interest rate hikes from the US Federal Reserves and recession fears.When rates are rising faster in the US than in other parts of the world, the higher returns on offer attract more money into the US currency. In addition, the dollar is considered a safe haven...