Weaker trends across broader marketGains in UK & Ireland, France, Poland'Encouraging' big-ticket sales in Q4Kingfisher (KGF) shares were the FTSE 100's biggest faller on 25 March, slumping 12% to 246.5p after the home improvement retailer reported declines in full-year revenue and profit amid weaker demand for big-ticket items.The B&Q-to-Castorama owner faced particular challenges in France,...

Earnings at top of estimate rangeCompany sees return to growth£20 million shares buyback to comeInvestors in home improvement retailer Wickes (WIX) were celebrating after the firm posted full-year earnings at the top of expectations and announced a £20 million buyback.The shares, which have been in a steady uptrend since the middle of 2024, jumped as much as 14p or 7% to a new 12-month high...

European stocks were higher on Tuesday afternoon, with New York stocks set for a quieter start after a tumultuous Monday trade which saw tech stocks dive.The FTSE 100 index added 51.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,555.53. The FTSE 250 was up 190.59 points, 0.9%, at 20,560.09, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.37 points, 0.5%, at 714.76.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.6% higher at 857.38, the Cboe UK 250 rose 1.0% at...

Wickes raises full year 2024 guidanceHalfords upgrades full year 2025 profit expectationWickes shares up 11%, Halfords shares up 19%Shares in Wickes (WIX) gained over 11% to 170p in morning trading as the DIY retailer reported a strong trading update for the six months ending 28 December.The company delivered continued sales and volume growth in retail with revenue up 3% year-on-year.Wickes...

Q3 like-for-likes down 9.7%But signs of sales stabilisation'Significant' online gainsTopps Tiles' (TPT) shares slid 4.2% to a 52-week low of 39p after the UK's leading tile specialist reported a 9.7% plunge in third quarter like-for-like sales as 'challenging' market conditions persisted.The share price reaction might have been harsher had Topps not stressed that sales stabilised through the...

This feature explores spin-offs or de-mergers, looking at the rationale for them and how they have performed, and asks if they can be a promising hunting ground for investors.One of the UK?s largest recent spin-offs was GSK?s (GSK) demerger of its consumer healthcare division in 2022.GSK reportedly rebuffed a £50 billion offer from personal goods giant Unilever (ULVR) to buy the division,...

Like-for-like sales trend worsensProfits to be second-half weightedLiberum halves FY24 estimatesLike-for-like sales tumbled 11.3% in the second quarter at Topps Tiles (TPT) amid persistently subdued demand in the UK RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) market, especially for bigger-ticket projects.Shares in the UK?s market-leading tile retailer cheapened 3% to 42.7p on a warning...

We are now a little more than a fortnight away from Christmas Day with TV adverts pushing festive products, high streets adorned with Christmas decorations and shops flush with discount offers.The so-called 'Golden Quarter' including Black Friday is the most hotly contested period of the year amongst retailers and those that suffer disappointing sales or resort to overly-promotional strategies...

SIG downgrades full year profit to lower end of market expectationsImplies 12% lower profit as demand weakensUncertain timing of recoveryBuilding materials group SIG (SHI) lowered full year guidance for underlying operating profit to the lower end of current market expectations implying a 12% downgrade.The shares fell roughly in line with the downgrade dropping by a tenth to 31p taking the...

An under-the-radar constituent of the IA UK Equity Income sector that is delivering stellar returns despite difficult market conditions is VT Tyndall Real Income Fund (BYX0D61). Small at £18.9 million of assets, it is big on ambition under the stewardship of manager Simon Murphy and competitive on cost, with a lowly annual management charge of 0.35%.Murphy took over the fund right before the...

The common factor across the latest trading updates from the big housebuilders is they are all forecasting fewer completions and land purchases this year.That could spell trouble for the various trades which support the new-build home industry, from legal services to building materials and equipment hire to fitted kitchens and bathrooms.With mortgage costs soaring after repeated interest rate...

- DIY retailer delivers flat core sales- Maintains full year profit guidance- Liberum says shares are far too cheapShares in Wickes (WIX) weakened 7% to 116p after the home improvement retailer reported flat third quarter like-for-like sales in its core business as the pandemic-induced DIY boom lost momentum and hard-pressed UK consumers deferred big ticket projects.However, there was some...

Recent trading updates from various builders' merchants and building supplies companies suggest homeowners are no longer spending as freely on 'doing up the house' as they were during the pandemic.When everyone was cooped up at home in the first half of 2020 with cash to spare and DIY stores were classed as 'essential' and were therefore allowed to open, spending on home improvement...

- Third quarter sales down 16% - Marshalls stock falls 28%- News will worry shareholders in other DIY chainsPatio and paving firm Marshalls (MSLH) reported a sharp decline in sales to the home renovation and DIY market in the three months to September as consumers slammed on the brakes ahead of the hike in household fuel bills this month.It is a warning that should make investors in several...

The retail sector has had a dire 2022, heavily sold off on fears earnings will disappoint as households curb spending due to rising UK inflation and the energy price crisis.Earnings expectations have been cut and investors have priced in a recession already, which means bargain hunters may take the view retailers are now oversold, particularly as prime minister Liz Truss' energy price...

One of the UK market's biggest corporate splits in years is about to happen, with GSK (GSK) demerging its consumer healthcare business called Haleon. The latter should become a FTSE 100 company and give investors exposure to some of the best-known brands in toothpaste, painkillers and more.This article will give you the essential details on Haleon and its prospects. But if you're still unsure...

- Like-for-like sales softened 0.6% in first 20 weeks of financial year- Retailer added over 40,000 customers to TradePro scheme- DIY specialist faces economic uncertainty and inflationary headwindHome improvement retailer Wickes (WIX) warned it faces an 'uncertain macroeconomic environment' as the garden furniture-to-flat-pack kitchens purveyor reported a 0.6% drop in like-for-like sales for...

Home improvement retailer Wickes' (WIX) 2021 results were strong on all fronts and while consumers face a cost of living crisis, the DIY retailer is confident it can continue to outperform the market and is accelerating investment in new store openings and refits to drive growth.Spun out of Travis Perkins (TPK) in April of last year, shares in Wickes rallied 6.3% to 183.4p as profits topped...

Building materials distributor Travis Perkins (TPK) fell 2.5% to £14.26 despite returning to profit in 2021 amid booming housing and home renovation markets.Investors focused instead on the inflationary pressures and supply chain issues faced by the business as well as the risks to the outlook posed by a UK cost of living crisis.Travis Perkins saw raw material costs up a relatively modest 4%...

The latest UK retail sales figures from the ONS (Office for National Statistics) gave the market a boost heading into the weekend as they suggested consumers were in buoyant mood last month.In value terms, in other words in actual pounds and pence, we spent 10.8% more last month than we did in November 2020, which represents the strongest growth in retail sales since shops reopened in...