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

Q4 like-for-likes up 3.7%Operating profit forecast raised againReturn to dividends promisedSandwich, salad and sushi maker Greencore (GNC) has upgraded full year profit guidance yet again following what CEO Dalton Philips dubbed an 'outstanding' performance, with profit conversion in the final quarter beating management's expectations.Shares in the FTSE 250 food maker, which supplies major UK supe

Full year ahead of forceastsDividend reinstated at 2019 levelSees scope for 1,000 pubsPub chain JD Wetherpoon (JDW) served up a tasty cocktail of continuing like-for-like sales growth and reinstatement of the dividend after a five-year hiatus, which was enough to send the shares up 2.8p or 0.5% to 726p in early trading.While the shares are up around 80% from the trough in September 2022, they rema

Volume growth and market share gainsNet debt down 2.1% to £9.7 billionInterim dividend upped 10.4%The UK's biggest grocery chain Tesco (TSCO) raised its full-year 2025 earnings guidance after delivering better-than-expected volume growth and a near-10% uplift in profit for the half ended 24 August.Chief executive Ken Murphy insisted his charge is 'in good shape' ahead of Christmas and Britain's b

Blue-chip equities in Europe were on the up heading to Tuesday afternoon, with miners and luxury retail on top after stimulus measures in China were unveiled.Among the measures was a cut to the reserve requirement ratio, which dictates the amount of cash banks must hold in reserve.Lloyds analysts, however, commented: 'It feels like we've been here before when it comes to headline-grabbing bouts of

Once peerless, there's an argument that Alphabet (GOOGL:NASDAQ) is now facing its own 'Hobson's choice'. On the one hand, it is being threatened by enormous potential disruption as competitors like OpenAI and its SearchGPT chase share of its valuable search market, forcing it to throw billions of dollars at AI (artificial intelligence) infrastructure to stay ahead.On the other, there's a nightmari

Anniversaries are often an opportunity to take stock so the Shares team has had a look at the best performing shares, funds and investment trusts since the magazine's first issue in September 1999.Read on to discover the identity of the top performers and find out names we think will continue to impress in the years to come and those where we think the good times might be over. But first, Ian Conw

Diversified food multinational General Mills (GIS:NYSE), which makes and markets breakfast cereals Cheerios and Lucky Charms, has a well-deserved reputation as a resilient total return stock. The company reinvests its reliable cash flows behind its brands whilst returning cash to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.Shares in the meal, snack and baking mix supplier have rebounded strongly s

CEO unexpectedly steps downPre-tax profits plunge in H1Strategic review ongoingShares in Chapel Down (CDGP:AIM) cheapened 16% to 58.5p after England's largest winemaker uncorked a first half profits plunge and said CEO Andrew Carter is leaving to take up a new role at Timothy Taylor & Co.Drinks industry veteran Carter's exit is a bitter blow to Chapel Down.During his three year stint as CEO, he ov

Stock prices in London opened higher on Friday, following US GDP data that one analyst said 'tasted exactly how investors love it', as well as promising UK retail footfall figures.The FTSE 100 index opened up 28.77 points, or 0.3%, at 8,409.25. The FTSE 250 was up 73.24 points, or 0.4%, at 21,104.32, and the AIM All-Share was up 0.36 points at 772.85.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.3% at 840.62, the Cboe

Bakkavor's (BAKK) shares have rebounded more than 80% to 153.5p year-to-date, investors regaining their appetite for the fresh prepared food provider amid evidence CEO Mike Edwards' reset is paying off, an improving outlook with margin-crimping inflation moderating and with debt on the way down.In March Bakkavor, which supplies UK and US grocers and food brands in China with everything from meals,