Amsterdam the primary Ice Cream listing destinationOrganic growth deceleratesMarket growth to remain 'soft'Packaged consumer goods powerhouse Unilever (ULVR) delivered encouraging full-year 2024 results with volume growth across every division and margins on the rise.The cash-generative Hellmann's mayonnaise-to-Dove soap maker also announced a new €1.5 billion share buyback.Which begs the que

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 growth.The ou

Robust growth in 2024Strong demand for premium beers€1.5 billion buyback launchedInvestors re-acquired a taste for Heineken (HEIA:AMS) stock after the Dutch brewer delivered forecast-beating full-year earnings, hiked the dividend 7.5% to €1.86 and launched a two-year €1.5 billion buyback.There was also relief as the globe's second-biggest brewer guided for tasty operating profit gro

Q4 sales and earnings top expectationsKFC and Taco Bell shineLaunch of proprietary AI technologyRestaurants group Yum! Brands (YUM:NYSE) bested Wall Street's revenue and earnings estimates for the fourth quarter on 6 February, sending the shares up by a tenth to a new six month high of $144.Over the last 12-months shares in the KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell operator have increased by 11%, underperf

Organic sales improvementOutlook clouded by tariffsMedium-term guidance withdrawnAlcoholic drinks giant Diageo (DGE) served up a return to organic growth for the first half as a palate-pleasing performance from the iconic Guinness brand, a shoot-the-lights-out showing from tequila label Don Julio and price increases helped to offset a modest decline in volumes.There was also relief as Diageo left

Quarter sets new sales and earnings recordsiPhone revenues light of estimatesServices revenue hits all-time highCalifornia-based colossus Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ) set new records for revenue and earnings in its first quarter to 28 December 2024 and has now beat earnings expectations for eight quarters in a row, positives that propelled the shares up 3.1% to $245 in pre-market trading across the pond.Ho

With most of the big names in the retail sector having reported we can get a decent picture of how the sector fared in the run-up to and during the festive period. A weak trading backdrop for non-food retail in October and November, before Santa delivered a return to growth in December, a month that also witnessed a notable shift to online sales according to the latest data (17 January) from The O

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 groce

Group winning more customersGrocery strength offsets ArgosNo change to full-year guidanceHot on heels of rival Tesco (TSCO), second-placed UK supermarket group Sainsburys (SBRY) posted an upbeat third-quarter trading statement saying it had had 'the biggest-ever Christmas'.Inevitably, just as Tesco shares were sold off yesterday, Sainsburys shares were also down on the day losing 5p or 2% to 258p.

Stronger-than-expected second halfBenefiting from operational gearingRobust net cash positionShares in Anpario (ANP:AIM) soared 10.2% to a two-year high of 405p after the natural sustainable feed additives supplier delivered its fifth upgrade to full-year 2024 guidance on the spin.Following a stronger-than-expected second half performance, Anpario now expects revenue for the year to December 2024

Alcoholic drinks outfit Diageo (DGE) has endured a rough period of late, partly thanks to problems of its own making. We think that has put the valuation in a place where, if there are signs the business is getting its act together, the shares can deliver significant upside for investors in 2025.Unless there is evidence of improved performance soon then activist investors could be tempted to join

The UK stock market has performed robustly over the past year, with several companies standing out significantly. In this article, we will examine the top-performing large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks of 2024, dissected across four different market valuation categories.£5 BILLION+ MARKET CAPAfter a stellar 2023, aeronautical engineer Rolls-Royce (RR.) has once again rallied hard during 2024

New five-year framework starts on 3 JanSupports growth ambitionsDrag on profit from new investmentsDomino's Pizza (DOM) has reached a new five-year framework agreement with franchisees, starting on 3 January, which underpins its confidence in reaching a target of more than 1,600 stores and delivering £2.5 billion of system sales by 2033.The shares fell 12p or 3.3% to 340p as investors reflected o

Strong first-half growthDividend raised by 10%Full-year outlook confirmedLeading UK food producer Cranswick (CWK) was the biggest faller in the FTSE 250 mid-cap index, losing nearly 5% despite serving up a tasty 16.5% increase in first-half adjusted operating profit to just shy of £100 million and reiterating full year guidance.Investors were clearly in the mood for some profit-taking after the s

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

Palm oil price up 40%'Significant' boost to profitabilityFurther acquisitions on the agendaShares in MP Evans (MPE:AIM) cultivated a 7.5% rise to £10 in early dealings, marking a new two year high, after the Indonesia-based sustainable palm oil producer upgraded year-to-December 2024 profit guidance off the back of surging palm oil prices, which have risen some 40% year-to-date.A more favourable

Half year pre-tax profit up 4.7%Tasty grocery performanceArgos sales disappointFirst half sales and profits rose at Sainsbury's (SBRY) as the UK's second biggest supermarket continued to secure market share gains in groceries, making up for a soft first quarter at Argos and in general merchandise.CEO Simon Roberts insisted Sainsbury's core food business is 'making the biggest market share gains in

Profits up 17.2%Tasty growth in foodInternational sales down 10.3%Marks & Spencer (MKS) reported a forecast-beating jump in half-year profits as the retail bellwether's turnaround continues to gain traction, sending shares in the FTSE 100 company up 8% to a five-year high of 414p.With its dependable food and revitalised clothing and home divisions both gobbling up market share and Marks & Spencer'

ProCook (PROC) 29pMarket cap: £32.7 millionRisk-tolerant investors seeking a compelling recovery play with tasty re-rating potential should consider ProCook (PROC). This direct-to-consumer specialist kitchenware brand is carving out market share gains under management's refreshed strategy to serve up profitable growth.After a tough few years post its 2021 IPO (initial public offering), when the c

Paul's very first taste of investing came when his employer, aerospace and defence company Rolls Royce (RR.), introduced an employee share scheme which gave him what seemed to be a low-risk way of getting exposure to its shares.It seemed low risk, explains Paul, because the scheme allowed employees to save a monthly or four weekly amount for five years and at the end of the period the savings and