Eight months in, 2024 is already a record year for M&A (mergers and acquisitions) in the investment trust sector.Trust boards are increasingly focused on value for money and shareholder returns amid persistently wide discounts to NAV (net asset value) and with activists nosing around. A major trend underway is mergers between sub-scale trusts with similar remits to create funds large and liquid en

Positive first half points to full-year beatDividend raised and buyback extendedShares rally to new highShares in textile and workwear rental firm Johnson Service (JSG:AIM) gained more than 5% to a new 12-month high of 131p as the firm posted an impressive recovery in revenue for the six months to June and announced a new share buyback programme.In addition, the company lifted its outlook for the

- First half revenue tops 2019 level- Dividend and buyback to lift total returns- Uncertainty over economy clouds full year outlookLinen supply company Johnson Service Group (JSG) posted an upbeat trading statement showing a strong improvement in revenues for the six months to June.The group also marked its return to the dividend list with an interim payout and said it intended to launch a share b

It is one thing for analysts to forecast which stocks and sectors will do well in a rising-rate or inflationary environment, but when it actually comes to pass it's always fascinating to see what works in practice.Judging by the list of stocks making 12-month highs over the past week, those who favoured real assets were on the money.Standing tall are 3i Infrastructure (3IN), AEW UK REIT (AEWU), GC

Shares warned of supply chain challenges in the food industry as far back as May last year, yet it took announcements from fast-food chains KFC and Nando's and supermarket giant Tesco (TSCO) for the penny to finally drop. Broader supply chain issues pose a threat to company earnings and therefore to share prices.Not only are there shortages of goods on the shelves, the combined effects of Brexit a

The FTSE 100 surged 1.6% to 5,956.50 by lunchtime on Wednesday, driven by increased optimism over the strength of economic recovery and the potential for a coronavirus vaccine this year.It comes as a report from Nationwide Building Society showed a strong recovery in the housing market and said UK house prices increased by the most in 16 years, stoked by cut to stamp duty. Values rose 2% from a mo

The FTSE 100 opened 1% higher on Wednesday at 5,930 points driven by increased optimism over the strength of economic recovery.Overnight trading in Asian saw China's Shanghai Composite fall slightly while Japan's Nikkei 225 index gained 0.5%. Brent Oil was trading 0.8% higher to $46 a barrel while Gold sank 0.6% to $1,958 an ounce.The pound was slightly lower against the US dollar at $1.33.UK hous

Shares in textile services and workwear rental firm Johnson Service Group (JSG:AIM) dropped 10% to 128p after it announced plans to raise £85m in new financing through a non-pre-emptive share issue, in order to give it enough liquidity to see out a 'prolonged lockdown period' and give it options to grow once the pandemic eases.The placing of 73.9m new shares, which represents almost 20% of the co

UK stocks gave up most of yesterday's gains heading into the weekend as growing geo-political tensions between the US and China over Hong Kong sent Asian markets down overnight.Investors are concerned that President Trump could change the US's trade stance towards Hong Kong at a press conference later today, spurring retaliation from China including the black-listing of US companies operating ther

Shares in workwear and laundry supply firm Johnson Service Group (JSG) dipped 2.5% to 116p against a stronger market after it revealed the extent of the effect of the lockdown on its laundry and linen business in its AGM statement.The group 'is continuing to see a significant amount of disruption across its markets', especially in the hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) sector where it has cea

Laundry and workwear rentals group Johnson Service (JSG:AIM) grew revenues 9.2% to £350.6m and adjusted pre-tax profit grew 13.4% to £48.2m for the year ended 31 December 2019. The shares were 11% ahead at 203p.Chief executive Peter Agan commented, 'we anticipate that the Group will deliver organic growth across both divisions, whilst continuing to focus on customer satisfaction and investment t

UK markets staged a firm rally in early trading on Monday, following Asian markets higher and clawing back some of the heavy losses chalked-up last week.At 9am, the benchmark FTSE 100 index was up close on 2.7% at 6,756.35, while the mid cap FTSE 250 is also around 2.5% higher at 19,803.06.However, by midday those gains had been entirely wiped out with the FTSE 100 dipping 0.5% to 6,546.61. The FT

Johnson Service (JSG:AIM) 212pGain to date: 64.3%Original entry point: Buy at 129p, 7 March 2019Shares in Johnson Service Group (JSG:AIM) started the year strongly, hitting a 10-year high after chief executive Peter Egan raised earnings guidance for 2019 for the third time.Thanks to strong trading and 'consistent organic growth', results for the year to 31 December are seen 'slightly ahead of mark

Laundry and workwear hire firm Johnson Service Group (JSG:AIM) increased its full year earnings guidance for the third time on Friday, sending the shares up 2.1% to a 10-year high of 203p.Chief executive Peter Egan said he expects to announce full year results 'slightly ahead of market expectations' and remains optimistic for the business's future prospects.According to the consensus compiled by R

Johnson Service Group (JSG:AIM) 165pGain to date: 27.9%Original entry point: Buy at 129p, 7 March 2019Our 'boring is beautiful' call on catering and workwear hire and laundry firm Johnson Service continues to deliver as the half-year results show.Revenue was up almost 10% with like-for-like growth of 7.5% thanks to strong demand and higher prices. Since the end of June demand has continued at such

London's FTSE 100 extends yesterday's bull-run, tacking on an additional 17.2 points to trade at 7,515. Stocks continue to rise on renewed hopes of a US-China trade deal and headlines like 'US equities hit a new record high' are certainly helping to improve investor sentiment.Peer-to-peer lending platform Funding Circle (FCH) is firmly out of favour, the shares slumping 14% to 140.4p on a halving

UK-focused Johnson Service (JSG) is a steady growth compounder in the mould of Rentokil (RTO) but is less well-followed and even less well-appreciated.The laundry rental and cleaning business isn't headline-grabbing stuff but since 2014 the firm's turnover has doubled, earnings per share have risen by 90% and dividends have risen by 80%.Despite its consistent growth record, investors have ignored

Stocks are bouncing back after yesterday's Apple-inspired bout of weakness, with London's FTSE 100 gaining 50.6 points to trade at 6,743.3 on Friday on hopes that next week's talks between the US and China can help temper the tensions on trade.However, online musical instruments retailer Gear4music (G4M:AIM) crashes 44% lower to 287.5p on a warning full year earnings before interest, taxation, dep

Johnson Service (JSG:AIM) 136.2pLoss to date 3.9%Original entry point : Buy at 141.74p, 14 September 2017Our bullish stance on textile rental firm Johnson Service (JSG:AIM) may not have been rewarded by share price gains yet but we're still backers of this business. Its 2017 results released on 27 February show a company improving revenue and profit while reducing its net debt at the same time.Its

'Most investors' results will be determined more by how many losers they have, and how bad they are, than by the greatness of their winners.'Readers would do well to heed the wise words of the legendary Howard Marks, co-chairman of US-based Oaktree Capital Management.Indeed, the recent global equity markets sell-off has served to remind investors that equities can go down as well as up.Analysing t