Lower 2026 pre-tax profitExternal cost pressuresRetail expected to return to growthPets at Home (PETS) was in the doghouse with investors on 31 March after the UK's leading pet care business warned that subdued consumer demand and extra costs could see pre-tax profit fall by around a tenth in 2026.The shares fell 12% to 208.4p versus a 1% drop in the mid-cap index, almost wiping out the gains...

Just over five years ago the stock market began to react in earnest to news of the Covid pandemic.The sell-off was short and sharp, with a modest recovery from the lows in the spring followed by sharper gains in November 2020 after AstraZeneca (AZN) made a vaccine breakthrough.However, a large number of UK stocks are still trading below the levels they were at by the close of trading on 21...

Blue chip indices in London, Paris and Frankfurt opened higher on Wednesday morning, despite Hikma Pharmaceuticals falling on the FTSE 100.The FTSE 100 index opened up 57.40 points, 0.7%, at 8,726.07. The FTSE 250 was up 172.77 points, 0.8%, at 20,621.05, and the AIM All-Share was up 3.76 points, 0.5%, at 711.82.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.7% at 873.03, the Cboe UK 250 was up 1.0% at 17,972.11,...

Professional short sellers are currently circling a small group of UK consuming-facing stocks with the goal of profiting from falls in their share prices, potentially caused by Rachel Reeves' Budget decisions.The UK outlook is getting worse by the day, with business and consumer sentiment weakening amid concerns the new government doesn't have an effective plan to accelerate economic...

London's blue-chips made modest gains Tuesday, supported by defensive sectors, while global sentiment remained cautious amid worries over potential US tariffs on imports.The FTSE 100 index ended up 30.16 points, 0.4%, at 8,533.87. The FTSE 250 jumped 219.01 points, 1.1%, at 20,588.51, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.93 points, 0.6%, at 715.32.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.4% at 855.97 on Tuesday,...

Retail like-for-likes down 2.8%Jollyes taking market shareVeterinary business growth is strongPets at Home's (PETS) shares pawed their way 4.5% higher to 220.6p after the UK pet care leader maintained full-year profit guidance despite suffering a retail sales slowdown in a tough third quarter, which management blamed on the 'more challenging' UK consumer backdrop.Despite disappointing retail...

Only a few more sleeps before we find out how Cranswick (CWK) fared over the seasonally-important Christmas period, with the UK food producer prepping its third-quarter trading statement for release on 21 January.Shares believes the update could stoke another round of forecast upgrades, since Cranswick continues to profit from its strong relationships and scale with the current winners in UK...

Pets at Home CEO buys nearly £100,000 sharesPod Point CFO snaps up £50,400 sharesForesight Solar Fund directors buyLyssa McGowan, CEO of pet food-to-veterinary services group Pets at Home (PETS) has bought 42,294 shares at 236p for a total value of £99,999 on 29 November.Pets at Home's shares recently plunged to a two-year low after it downgraded profit guidance for the year to March...

FY25 profit guidance loweredWeak pet retail marketVet business coming on leaps and boundsPets at Home's (PETS) shares plunged 11.5% to a two-year low of 245.5p after the UK pet care leader downgraded profit guidance for the year to March 2025, pinning the blame on 'subdued' conditions in the traditionally resilient pet retail market.The FTSE 250 pet specialist also warned the government's...

Weaker demand for discretionary toys and treats and an ongoing vet industry investigation by the CMA (Competition & Markets Authority), driven by concerns market consolidation has led to pet owners being overcharged for medicines and prescriptions, have kept Pets at Home's (PETS) shares on a tight leash this past year.Having previously expressed 'disappointment' over the CMA probe, the UK pet...

Now the ballots have been cast at the general election, the UK could become the 'reassuringly boring' market, both politically and fiscally, when compared to the more extreme politics on the other side of the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.So suggests Jean Roche, manager of the Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP), who notes capital allocators know more or less what to expect, which could...

Staying on top of fundamental developments for companies in your portfolio can seem like a daunting task. Share prices can be volatile around earnings reports and trading updates, so getting to grips with what has happened and why is an important part of successfully managing investments.This feature reveals three simple steps to demystifying a typical earnings report and getting a good steer...

Pre-tax profit down 3.2%CEO heralds 'pivotal' yearRelief rally as guidance maintainedPets at Home's (PETS) shares have been buffeted by weakening demand and a CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) probe into the vet industry.However, the stock rallied 4.2% to 295.2p on Wednesday, despite news of a full-year profits decline.Investors were relieved as the dog food-to-cat litter seller stuck with...

Pets at Home shares drop 5%CVS Group shares gain 3%Vet services market £5 billionShares in pet care supplier Pets at Home (PETS) were down 5% to 265p in morning trading as the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) confirmed it would launch a full investigation into the veterinary services sector.In contrast, shares in veterinary practice operator CVS (CVSG:AIM) were up nearly 3% in morning...

Shares in Pets at Home (PETS) have plunged 30% over one year due to an overhang from the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) review of the UK veterinary sector and signs there are limits to the sums pet owners will spend on their animal companions during a cost-of-living crisis.While competitive threats from the supermarkets and online-only player Zooplus are already priced in, the market...

London?s FTSE 100 was higher in the aftermath of the Bank of England keeping UK interest rates unmoved, in an unsurprising move, though there was a dramatic vote split.Sterling was quoted at $1.2657 shortly after midday on Thursday, lower than $1.2715 at the London equities close on Wednesday. Before the decision, the pound was trading at $1.2635.The FTSE 100 index was up 30.05 points, 0.4%,...

Full year guidance downgradedDemand slows in retail businessReturning accessories to growth a ?key priority?Britons are famously devoted to their pets but a profit warning from Pets at Home (PETS) demonstrates there are limits to the sums they will spend on their furry friends.Shares in the UK pet care leader softened 2% to 287.5p after it said third quarter sales ?didn?t quite hit?...

Compared to other retail verticals, Christmas is relatively less important to the pet care market. Nevertheless, UK market leader Pets at Home (PETS) will need to reassure investors that retail like-for-like sales momentum has been sustained when it bounds in with a third-quarter trading update on 30 January.Liberum Capital doesn't expect any reporting surprises, although the broker does...

First quarter sales up 11.9%Six acquisitions made in the year to date for £45.7 millionComplying with competition regulator information requestsAcquisitive veterinary services group CVS (CVSG:AIM) said first quarter total sales increased 11.9% year on year with comparable sales up 5.8% reflecting positive performance across all parts of the business.The company said it has made a good start...

Some largely dovish words from US monetary policymakers supported equities, giving stocks in New York a decent start and sending shares in Europe to session highs before the close, though the dollar suffered.The pound edged to only ever-so-slightly below the $1.27 mark, while the euro topped $1.10.The comments from the Federal Reserve cemented the notion that the central bank has enacted its...