Shares in housebuilder Bellway (BWY) slumped 9% to a new year-low of £19.50 after its H1 update failed to reassure investors. Although the CEO reaffirmed his FY26 profit target, he admitted the Middle East conflict represents a risk to the housing market. Risks are rising Bellway delivered ‘a robust H1 performance in a challenging market’, said CEO Jason Honeyman. Completions were up 2.7% to 4,702 homes, while average selling prices rose 3.7% to just over £322,000. The firm said it had seen an improvement in both customer demand and reservations since the start of the year. Underlying operating profit reached…

Shares in DIY retailer Kingfisher (KGF) gained 1.5% after FY25 earnings met expectations and the group launched a new buyback. The report wasn’t as upbeat as the Wickes (WIX) results last week, but the buyback is considerably larger. Making progress Group sales for the year to January 2026 were £12.95 biliion, slightly ahead of the consensus. LFL sales growth was 1.4%, also slightly ahead of consensus and the nine-month run rate. As expected, B&Q and Screwfix turned in the best performances with LFL growth of 3.3% between them. That was in line with analysts’ forecasts, which had B&Q growth pegged…

Shares in engineering group Goodwin (GDWN) tumbled 39% to £140 after the firm said it had lost two significant tenders. It also warned it had delayed the delivery of parts for certain large Middle East contracts, potentially affecting revenue timing. Shrinking order book The company said trading since October 2025 was generally as expectated and ‘broadly in line’ with H1. The firm fixed order book was £288 million in February, against £330 million in December and £365 million in October. However, the Mechanical Engineering business lost two significant tenders worth a combined £60 million in revenue. The first, relating to…

Specialist lender Distribution Finance Capital Holdings (DFCH) posted forecast-beating FY25 results thanks to record demand for new loans. The bank also confirmed its financial targets for FY30 including roughly doubling its loan book. ‘Best year so far’ For the year to December 2025, the AIM-listed group reported revenue of £90.9 million, up 19% on FY24. Net income rose 23% to £56 million thanks to an increase in the net interest margin to 8%. Meanwhile, the cost-income ratio fell 2% to 57% so adjusted pre-tax profit rose 26% to £19.1 million. EPS rose more than 40% to 8.3p while tangible NAV…

If a week is a long time in politics, sometimes it can be a lifetime in financial markets. On Wednesday the guys were reflecting on how calmly stocks and bonds were behaving, and within a day the situation had turned on its head. The International Energy Agency has declared the current disruption ‘the largest in the history of the oil market’. European power prices are surging, and UK interest rate expectations have swung from cuts to one or even two increases. While oil majors like BP (BP.) and Shell (SHEL) are reaping the whirlwind, housebuilders and banks are collateral damage.…

In this latest Sharesify podcast special, the team welcomes Anthony Lynch, co-manager of JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust (JCH), to discuss the trust’s process and its remarkable 53-year record of rising dividends. Anthony also manages Mercantile Investment Trust (MCH) and two open-ended equity income funds, and brings a wealth of experience.JPMorgan Claverhouse gives investors access to the long-term growth and income potential of the UK stock market. The managers look for attractively valued, high-quality UK companies with the ability to deliver consistent and growing dividends. Anthony explains what differentiates the trust from other equity income vehicles, and which factors have driven…

After our inaugural wrap of results incoming last Friday, this week we spin through what to expect from Kingfisher (KGF), Next (NXT) and US firm Cintas (CTAS). Remember, if you value this content, or any of our analysis features and stories, let us know at editorial@sharesify.com, like us on X, Bluesky, Facebook or LinkedIn, and click that ‘follow’ button. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you’ll find a wealth of investing podcast material. Kingfisher (KGF) There will be keen interest in FY earnings from Kingfisher (KGF) next Tuesday, after Wickes (WIX) beat forecasts this week. Analysts are expecting group sales of £12.9 billion with…

Specialist value-seeking trust Temple Bar (TMPL) posted another year of outstanding performance in 2025. After a near 20% NAV total return in 2024, the managers produced a 33.9% return last year. Superior stock selection By comparison, the FTSE All-Share index delivered a 9.5% total return in 2024 and a 24% return last year. In terms of share price total return, the trust managed a 19.1% gain in 2024 and an extraordinary 45.3% gain last year. ‘Returns were primarily driven by stock selection rather than broader market movements,’ observed trust chairman Charles Cade. The performance reflected the managers’ focus on ‘company…

Pub operator JD Wetherspoon (JDW) posted a fall in H1 profit and warned FY earnings might miss expectations ‘slightly’. Despite higher sales, the firm is battling cost increases and the prospect of declining consumer confidence. Sales up, profits down For the six months to 25 January, Wetherspoon registered a 5.7% increase in sales to £1.09 billion. LFL sales growth of 4.8% was well ahead of the overall market, although it slowed after the period end. February LFL sales rose 3.2% against a 0.2% drop in industry LFLs, while in the seven weeks to 15 March growth was 2.6%. Operating profit…

Shares in oil giant BP (BP.) have surged to a post-2020 high today on the spike in crude prices. The stock price is up around 8% this week and more than 30% year-to-date as Brent crude has soared. Rising energy prices The price of oil jumped 6% to $115.70/barrel after more attacks on Middle East energy infrastructure overnight. Iranian missiles targeted Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, which produces some 20% of global LNG (liquid natural gas). The attack followed an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, which draws on the same natural gas reservoir. European LNG prices…