FTSE 250 builders’ merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) issued a disappointing Q1 trading update, missing market expectations. Shares in the Northampton-based group dropped 5% to a new 12-month low of 518p. Volumes remain weak For the three months to March, the group posted a 3.1% drop in revenue with organic revenue down 1.7%. The balance of the decline was due to changes in the number of stores over the last 12 months. Breaking down the like-for-like figure, volumes were down 2.8% while the firm managed to raise prices by 1.1%. Toolstation UK, which accounts for around 15% of sales, was the…

Shares in Taylor Wimpey (TW.) hit their lowest level in over a decade after the firm’s latest trading update. The stock dropped 5% to 79p, taking year-to-date losses to 26% and marking its lowest level since 2013. Margin squeeze In a statement ahead of its AGM, the company revealed its order book at 26 April was down on FY25. It also warned selling prices were falling while input costs were rising. Overall pricing in the order book is 1% lower than last year, with prices most impacted in Southern England. This where affordability is most stretched, and where the firm…

High street lender Barclays (BARC) posted disappointing earnings for Q1 due to a rise in bad loan charges. The shares slumped 5p or 4.5% to 109p in early trading, taking losses to 14% year-to-date. Impairments to blame For the three months to March, the bank reported net interest income of £3.74 billion, slightly above the £3.41 billion consensus. Similarly, Q1 net fee income of £4.43 billion was slightly ahead of the £4.28 billion forecast. However, group operating costs of £4.55 billion were above the £4.46 billion forecast partly due to higher motor finance claims. Also, credit impairment charges of £823 million were…

Energy giant Shell (SHEL) has accelerated its push in the gas market with the $13.6 billion purchase of ARC Resources (ARX). The deal provides the UK firm with an extra 4% annual production through to 2030 against its 2025 base. High quality, low cost ARC is focused on the Montney shale basin in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The deal increases Shell’s exposure to long-duration, low-cost, top-quartile shale gas and liquids, ‘delivering value for decades’ the firm said. The acquisition combines Shell’s 440,000 net acres of reserves in the Montney formation with ARC’s over 1.5 million acres. Therefore it adds around…

Land regeneration and development firm Harworth Group (HWG) moved a step closer to building a data centre campus for tech giant Microsoft (MSFT). The site, at Skelton Grange in West Yorkshire, comprises around 500,000 quare feet in total. Work in progress Harworth announced that the Leeds local planning committee had passed a resultion to approve the scheme at Skelton Grange. The application asks for full planning permission for a data centre campus and associated infrastructure, and outline planning permission for a warehouse. The site will house three data centre ‘halls’ and auxiliary buildings on two plots. It will also feature…

AIM-listed buisness services firm Christie Group (CTG) posted ‘very strong’ FY25 results and sounded an upbeat note on FY26. The shares jumped as much as 37% in early trading before settling up 12.5% at 135p. Operating profit nearly doubles For FY25, the firm reported 19.2% growth in revenue to £70.6 million and a 95.5% jump in operating profit to £6.9 million. The group raised guidance in December 2025 and again in January after stronger-than-expected Q4 invoicing. Professional and financial services revenue rose 22% to £59.6 million while stock and inventory systems revenue rose 5.4% to £11 million. The group mainly…

With Q1 reporting season upon us, we flag crucial earnings incoming next week. UK lender Barclays (BARC) posts earnings on Tuesday, as does global coffeehouse chain Starbucks (SBUX), followed by personal and household goods group Unilever (ULVR) on Wednesday. Remember, if you value this content, or any of our analysis features and stories, let us know at editorial@sharesify.com. Also, like us on X, Bluesky, Facebook or LinkedIn and be sure to click that ‘follow’ button. And don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you’ll find a wealth of investing podcast material. Barclays (BARC) Having been one of the best performing UK sectors…

Shares in AIM-listed specialist chipmaker EnSilica (ENSI) hit a three-year high after the firm announced two new contracts. The company has signed ‘landmark’ contracts to develop new chips for next-generation satellites for a leading European operator. Largest ever contracts The contracts cover satellite payload and user terminals incorporating ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) and ASSP (Application Specific Standard Part) technology. EnSilica’s ability to deliver both solutions was key to securing the contracts, which are the largest to date. Based on just the user terminal elements, the order could be worth over $30 million from 2030. The firm will receive initial…

After strong Q1 trading, LSE Group (LSEG), the operator of the London Stock Exchange, has raised its FY26 revenue outlook. The firm now sees growth towards the top end of its range of guidance, while confirming its operating margin target. Record revenue For Q1, the group posted a 9.8% increase in revenue, marking an acceleration from last year’s 7.3% increase. As a result it has lifted its growth forecast to the top half of its 6.5% to 7.5% range of guidance. Revenue from Data & Analytics, which represents 44% of the total, increased by 5.1% in Q1 in line with…

Precision engineering group Senior (SNR) posted a positive Q1 update and said its FY results will be ‘comfortably’ above expectations. The update comes almost three months to the day since Senior revealed FY25 results would be ‘comfortably above’ forecasts. Positive momentum Senior, which makes high-tech components and systems for aerospace, defence and energy customers, said it had a ‘good start’ to FY26. Overall, Q1 group revenue increased 2.5% on Q1 2025 driven by the Aerospace business. Aerospace, which represents 58% of revenue, sustained last year’s positive momentum with a 9.7% increase in Q1 revenue. As well as strong defence demand,…