With more than half of S&P 500 companies having reported Q4 earnings, around three quarters have beaten forecasts. This is according to FactSet Research, which monitors US and global earnings data. Period% of earnings beatsAverage earnings beatQ4 to date76%7.6%5-year average78%7.7%10-year average76%7.0% Source: FactSet Research, data correct as of 6 February 2026 Double-digit earnings growth So far, 59% of companies in the index have reported, with 76% beating estimates, in line with historic averages. The average beat is 7.6%, which again is in line with history for the index as a whole. Most of the beats since the start of February…

In this article we explore everything you need to know as a retail investor in bonds. With equity markets having become more volatile, many investors are looking for a more stable home for their money. We look at the UK government bond or ‘gilt’ market, and the corporate bond market. We also look at how to spread your bets by owning a broad mix of bonds through funds and trusts. What is a bond? Unlike an equity share, which is literally a share in the future of a company, a bond is a financial obligation. Companies and governments issue bonds…

Shares in Nat West (NWG) continued to sell off despite the bank reporting better than expected Q4 results. The early sell-off took the week’s losses to around 60p or 11% despite an ostensible improvement in the business. Share price: 588p (-1.2%) PE: 9.2x Market cap: £47.4bn Yield: 5.4% Full house For the quarter, NatWest posted net interest income of £3.44 billion, above the consensus of £3.33 billion. The net interest margin of 2.45% was also above the 2.39% average forecast. Pre-tax profit of £1.94 billion was down 11% on Q4 2024 but comfortably ahead of the £1.72 billion forecast. For…

Shares in Morgan Sindall (MGNS) hit a new all-time high after the firm raised its FY26 financial outlook. The FTSE 250 firm is involved in construction, urban regeneration and fitting out and refurbishing office buildings. Share price: £53.50 (+6%)PE: 14.5x Market cap: £2.4bnYield: 3% Leading role in Fit Out The group said all divisions performed well in 2025 and it was ‘on track’ to deliver results in line with expectations. The current Stockopedia FY25 consensus is for revenue of £5.1 billion, net profit of £355 million and EPS of 355p. Morgan Sindall also said it made ‘significant strategic progress’ across…

FTSE 100 wealth manager Schroders (SDR) has agreed a £10 billion takeover by US asset manager Nuveen. The offer represents a 34% premium to last night’s price and will create a group with $2.5 trillion of assets. Share price: 592p (+29.5%)PE: 18.4xMarket cap: £9.3bnYield: 4.7% Strong support Nuveen is offering 612p per share for Schroders, a 34% premium to Wednesday’s price and a 47% premium to the three-month average. The offer comprises 590p in cash and dividends of 22p to be paid before the deal takes effect. The US firm has already received support from shareholders representing 42% of Schroders…

Shares in wealth manager St James’s Place (STJ) slumped 12% to £12.74 on fears AI could disrupt its business. The FTSE 100 firm was among a group of European asset managers suffering losses including France’s Amundi and Germany’s DWS. Share price: £12.74 (-12%)PE: 19.5x Market cap: £6.6bn Yield: 1.4% Broad sell-off After software companies were pummelled last week on fears of their business models being upended by AI, this week it was the turn of financial stocks. On Wall Street, shares in firms like Charles Schwab (SCHW) and Raymond James (RJF) have suffered a major sell-off. Schwab CEO Rick Wurster…

Shares in creative and celebrational products seller IG Design (IGR) soared 30% on the firm’s unexpectedly positive FY26 outlook. Revenue is now seen above the upper end of guidance while operating profit is also seen topping the consensus. Party time The AIM-listed group makes greetings cards, wrapping paper, gift bags, picture frames and other gifting products. It also makes goods not for resale like recyclable paper bags which reduce waste in the retail industry. For the nine months to December 2025, the group’s performance was in line with the board’s expectations. Consequently, FY revenue is now seen between $280 million…

Housebuilder Barratt Redrow (BTRW) delivered a disappointing H1 trading update, sending its shares down 7% or more. ‘A resilient performance in a subdued market’ was not what investors wanted to hear at this point. Share price: 360p (-7.6%) PE: 15x Market cap: £5.1bn Yield: 4.25% Flat reservations For the six months to December, home completions were 7,444, a 4% increase on the previous year. Average selling prices were £365,000, also up 4%, while operating profit was down 0.3% at £210 million. Pre-tax profit for the period was down 13.6% at £200 million, while net cash amounted to £174 million. Although…

Somewhat predictably, losses have continued into 2026 for investment trust Finsbury Growth & Income (FGT). The company’s latest factsheet shows it posted a 5.6% drop in NAV and a 5.7% share price drop in January. That compares with a 3.1% gain for the month for the FTSE All Share index, the trust’s benchmark. The trust also got off to a poor start to February, losing over 6% on the first day of the month. Share price: 735.3pDiscount to NAV: -10.4%NAV/Share: 820.4pNet yield: 2.5% AI headwinds The top three detractors from the company’s performance in January were Experian (EXPN), RELX (REL)…

Shares in Bellway (BWY) rose 3% to £26.26 after the housebuilder said there were ‘clear signs’ of improving H1 demand. The positive sentiment helped lift shares in rival Barratt Redrow (BTRW), which reports earnings tomorrow. Share price: £26.26 (+3.2%)PE: 13.8x Market cap: £3bn Yield: 3% Reservations rising In a trading update covering the six months to the end of January, Bellway sounded upbeat about its performance. Total completions rose 3% to 4,702 homes, while average selling prices rose 4% to £322,000. The weekly private reservation rate, a closely watched indicator, rose slightly to 0.46 units excluding bulk sales. The forward…