To date, a small, exclusive club of UK retailers have exceeded £1 billion in annual profits, a high street elite that includes Tesco (TSCO), Marks & Spencer (MKS) and Kingfisher (KGF). Some may view this £1 billion figure as merely symbolic, but breaching this barrier is no mean feat and demonstrates a retailer has a lasting place in consumers' affections and the scale to win in a competitive ma

Optima Health (OPT:AIM) 164.5pMarket Cap: £146.1 millionAs the UK's leading occupational health provider, Optima Health (OPT:AIM) is uniquely positioned to consolidate a fragmented market via bolt-on acquisitions as well as delivering organic growth faster than the underlying market.Analysts at RBC Capital Markets believe Optima Health's buy-and-build strategy can deliver a 23% compound annual gr

The mining sector is at an inflection point. Historically associated with polluting materials like coal, the industry has a huge role to play if the world is to transition itself away from fossil fuels.However, while long-term targets remain around net zero, there are hints of governments backsliding on these commitments and prioritising other things like energy security.That makes it very difficu

Second quarter sales and earnings beatRaised full year profit guidanceGreen shoots of recoveryElectronics retailer Best Buy (BBY:NYSE) grew second quarter adjusted EPS (earnings per share) by around 10% to $1.34 compared with Wall Street estimates calling for a drop of around 5%, sending its shares up 14% to a fresh two year high of around $100.Better than expected trading chimes with data out yes

Currys (CURY) 79.25pGain to date: 31.9%We flagged the recovery potential of electricals retailer Currys (CURY) on 21 March and urged readers to buy the stock at 60.1p on the basis self-help measures were beginning to pay off and the super-size TVs-to-smartphones seller offered a compelling play on an improving consumer backdrop. Recent takeover interest had only served to highlight the underlying

Takes 14.65% stake in Aussie retailer'Mutually beneficial opportunities' for both groupsStrengthens ties with Hoka, SkechersDespite already having fingers in multiple pies, Mike Ashley-controlled Frasers (FRAS) has swooped on yet another opportunity to expand its international footprint.The deal-hungry conglomerate has taken a 14.65% stake in Australian sports and lifestyle brands seller Accent, a

Currys (CURY) 79.5pGain to date: 32%We highlighted Currys' (CURY) exciting recovery potential on 21 March and urged readers to buy at 60.1p on the basis the electricals retailer's self-help measures under CEO Alex Baldock's leadership were starting to pay off and the washing machines-to-smartphones seller offered a compelling play on the improving consumer backdrop.Shares also suggested that while

Stocks in New York were called lower at midday on Thursday, but European stocks were stable with Auto Trader and Currys among the top performers.The FTSE 100 index was up 17.00 points, 0.2%, at 8,200.07. The FTSE 250 was up 175.00 points, 0.9%, at 20,611.34, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.16 points, 0.3%, at 802.43.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.2% at 818.16, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.8% at 18,070.82, an

It was the best performing stock in the ranks of the FTSE 350 by some distance in 2023, and aircraft engine-maker Rolls-Royce's (RR.) share price has started 2024 in fine fettle to trade above pre-pandemic levels.There is no doubt Tufan Erginbilgiç has brought real seriousness to the business of turning around a company which had been struggling for years even before Covid grounded planes a

Like-for-like sales in positive territoryThird consecutive upgrade in 2024Shares trading above Elliott?s top bidRebuffing a takeover bid can heap pressure aplenty on a board, so the fact electricals retailer Currys (CURY) has upgraded profit guidance in the wake of batting off foreign interest is helpful to management?s credibility.Shares in the washing machines-to-smartphones seller sparked up 9.

Stocks in London started the week on the front foot, picking up strength as Monday?s trading session wore on, to post healthy gains by the close.Gold hit a new high before fading, airlines and miners were in demand, while Entain prospered on bid speculation.The FTSE 100 index closed up 32.31 points, 0.4%, at 7,943.47. The FTSE 250 ended up 128.64 points, 0.7%, at 19,854.58, and the AIM All-Share c

The FTSE 100 rose on Monday morning, albeit not as confidently as peers in Paris and Frankfurt, as investors reflect on a slew of data releases from last week, and look ahead to what could be a key few days for inflation and monetary policy developments.The FTSE 100 index rose 9.70 points, 0.1%, at 7,920.86. The FTSE 250 climbed 68.77 points, 0.4%, at 19,794.71, and the AIM All-Share advanced 4.55

Currys (CURY) 60.1pMarket cap: £681.3 millionBuy electricals retailer Currys (CURY) following the washing machines-to-smartphones purveyor?s second full-year profit upgrade within three months (18 March). Currys? latest positive earnings revision demonstrates that self-help measures under CEO Alex Baldock?s stewardship are starting to pay off.And given its UK and Nordics market leadership, the FT

Recent sales better than expectedFull year PBT to be ?at least? £115 millionGreek disposal on trackElectricals retailer Currys (CURY) has upgraded its full year profit forecast for the second time in three months following the end of takeover interest from Elliott Advisors and JD.com (JD:NASDAQ), news that sparked a 4% share price rally to 59p.In an unscheduled update, the washing machines, mobil

This column signed off last week by bemoaning telecoms testing specialist Spirent Communication?s (SPT) surrender to a £1 billion from US rival Viavi.As we observed, the 61% premium was not anywhere near as generous as it looked when you consider the takeout price of 172.5p was 100p less than the shares were trading for in early 2023. In the same spirit it is only right to welcome Currys? (CURY)

US activist walks away from bidding?Multiple? efforts to engage with board rebuffedBut JD.com could yet table a bidCurrys? (CURY) shares tumbled 9% to 59p after US investment firm Elliott Advisors abandoned its efforts to buy the electricals retailer, having had two bids spurned and ?multiple attempts? to engage with the board rebuffed.Waterstones-owner Elliott may have withdrawn its bid interest

Stock prices in London opened in the red on Monday, despite a favourable inflation reading from China, as investors nervously await Tuesday?s US data.While a hotter-than-forecast Chinese consumer price index print reassured, stock market investors will be hoping the US data shows inflation is cooling, however.The FTSE 100 index fell 3.85 points, 0.1%, to 7,655.89. The FTSE 250 was down only 9.60 p

CMA CGM ups offer to 480pWincanton board backs increased bidMystery suitor emergesShares in Wincanton (WIN) accelerated 11.4% to an all-time high of 500p on Monday after agreed buyer CMA CGM upped its offer for the UK logistics company and an unnamed third party threw its hat into the ring.This has set the scene for a bidding war over the Wiltshire-based business.French shipping group CMA CGM, whi

Frasers increases stake to 8.9%Sports Direct-owner a ?strategic shareholder?Opportunity to sell more products via GAME chainMike Ashley-controlled Frasers (FRAS) has shunted its way up the shareholder register at model trains-to-planes maker Hornby (HRN:AIM) as the deal-hungry conglomerate pounces on yet another retail name going through tough times.Shares in Hornby leapt 40.5% to 29.5p on news Fr

UK mid caps are seemingly under siege with a noticeable increase in takeover approaches from overseas suitors in recent months.The latest target is leading UK TV and laptop-to-washing-machine retailer Currys (CURY), providing further evidence that valuations are attractive across the sector argue analysts at Peel Hunt.This week, Currys rejected a £700 million offer (62p per share) from Elliot Par