Here is our guide to 5 top UK games software stocks, with market caps from £100 million to £500 million. All five are listed on AIM, the junior market, which means there are additional IHT benefits to owning them. Global sales of games software grew 11% to $189 billion last year. To put that in perspective, the global box office for films came to just $34 billion despite several blockbuster releases. The games software market is predicted to grow by more than 9% per year to $300 billion by 2032. Mobile is the dominant medium, with 3 billion people playing…

Travel food and beverage retailer SSP Group (SSPG) maintained its full-year guidance after upbeat Q1 trading. The group said the positive momentum of the 8 weeks to 25 November had continued through the quarter. Share price: 197.6p (+1.3%)PE: 14.3xMarket cap: £1.57bnYield: 2.6% STRONG ORGANIC GROWTH Across the group, which runs restaurants and bars at train stations and airports worldwide, like-for-like sales rose 5%. Growth was almost a repeat performance of the same prior-year quarter when LFL sales increased 6%. North American growth was 1%, but the firm continued to expand its share in the 57 airports where it operates. As…

Shares in US consumer products firm Procter & Gamble (PG) rose after Q2 EPS beat forecasts by a couple of cents. Sales actually missed estimates marginally despite the firm raising prices to offset lower volumes. Share price: $149.20 (+2.1%)PE: 21.1xMarket Cap: $345bnYield: 3% VOLUMES DECLINE For the three months to December, P&G posted 1% growth in group sales to $22.21 billion. That was below the consensus forecast of $22.28 billion, with the company blaming weak US consumer spending for the miss. Organic, or like-for like sales, which strip out acquisitions, disposals and currency moves, were flat on last year. Volumes…

AIM-listed hospital disinfectant maker Tristel (TSTL) issued a positive H1 trading update and confirmed its FY outlook. It also announced CEO Matt Sassone would take up a post with a large US multinational from July 2026. Share price: 410p (+2.4%)PE: 24.3xMarket cap: £195mYield: 3.8% MARGIN EXPANSION Focusing on the H1 performance, revenue increased 14% to around £26 million with a gross margin of 81%. Adjusted EBITDA increase by 17% to just under £17.5 million, climbing to 28% of sales. For the full year, the company reiterated its guidance of an EBITDA margin ‘comfortably ahead’ of its 25%-plus target. Meanwhile, the…

Specialty materials maker Zotefoams (ZTF) raised its 2025 sales and earnings guidance after strong Q4 trading. The group now expects both metrics to beat both its own and market expectations. Share price: 420p (+3.5%)PE: 13.5xMarket cap: £203mYield: 1.9% ANOTHER ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ YEAR The group, which makes specialty foams for customers including German footwear giant Adidas, enjoyed strong sales growth last year. Revenue for 2025 is now seen around £158 million, above market expectations and ahead of 2024. Growth in EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) was 9% due to another ‘exceptional’ year in Consumer & Lifestyle, in particular footwear. The acquisition…

AIM-listed pub group Young & Co’s (YNGA) reported strong sales growth over the Christmas period as punters celebrated in style. Like-for-like revenue in the three weeks to 5 January was up 11.2% despite a tough prior-year comparative. Share price: 817p (+0.6%)PE: 13.1xMarket cap: £502mYield: 3% DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH Young’s said trading over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day was ‘particularly good’ with LFL revenue up 12.3%. Its City Pub estate performed even better with LFL revenue up 26% over Christmas and Boxing Day. Total managed revenue for the 14 weeks to 5 January was up 5.7% on a LFL…

Packaged grocery producer Premier Foods (PFD) surprised the market by raising its earnings outlook. For the year to March 2026, the firm now sees profit at the top end of expectations. Share price: 180.2p (+6.5%)PE: 12xMarket cap: £1.56bnYield: 1.7% BRAND POWER For the 13 weeks to 27 December, Premier’s group revenue increased 4.1% while branded revenue increased 5.2%. The firm recorded market share gains in both Grocery, up 5.8%, and Sweet Treats Branded, up 3.1%. Meanwhile, revenue from New Categories increased by an impressive 29% and acquired brands delivered double-digit growth. As a result, trading profit is now seen at…

Shares in credit scoring software firm Experian (EXPN) fell to a 2-year low despite a seemingly positive trading update. The shares fell as much as 216p or 6.7% to £30.11, taking out their April 2025 low in the process. Share price: £30.65 (-5%)PE: 27.7xMarket Cap: £27.9bnYield: 1.5% FORECASTS UNCHANGED The company, whose products help banks and credit card firms improve their loan quality, said Q3 trading met its expectations. For the three months to 31 December, group revenue was up 8% organically and 12% at current exchange rates. Growth in North America was strong at 11%, while Latin America outperformed…

Electricals retailer Currys (CURY) posted a strong Christmas trading update and raised its profit guidance. As a result, pre-tax earnings for the year to May 2026 are now seen comfortably above the consensus. Share price: 132p (+5.2%)PE: 10.8xMarket Cap: £1.4bnYield: 1.9% MARKET SHARE GAINS For the 10 weeks to 10 January 2025, Currys reported an acceleration in peak organic sales growth. Across the group, like-for-like revenue increased by 6% against 2%-3% over the summer. Growth in the UK & Ireland was 3%, with omnichannel sales growing at 11% during the period. The firm said it gained market share with strong…

Shares in pub group JD Wetherspoon (JDW) dropped 7% after the firm warned on the outlook for earnings. Despite solid trading, chair Tim Martin said higher costs mean this year’s profit may be lower than last year. Share price: 688.5p (-6.7%)PE: 12xMarket cap: £737mYield: 1.6% COSTS TO CRIMP PROFITS For the 25 weeks to 18 January, pub operator JD Wetherspoon posted a 4.7% increase in like-for-like revenue. Bar sales were up 6.9%, food up 1.3% and slot/fruit machines up 9.1%, but hotel sales dipped slightly. Encouragingly, like-for-like revenue increased at a faster rate in the second half of the period.…