Shares in water and climate management group Genuit (GEN) charged 10% higher to 336p on its FY25 results update. The shares had lost around 20% in the preceding week and a half as markets sold off. A year of two halves For the year to December, Genuit posted a 7.3% increase in sales to £602 million. Like-for-like growth was 3.2%, driven by new products and market share gains, with the balance due to acquisitions. Underlying operating profit rose 2.4% with flat underlying growth, in line with expectations. Growth was hindered by higher labour costs due to increases in NICs and…

Shares in housebuilder Persimmon (PSN) rallied 10% to £13.48 after the company confirmed FY26 earnings would meet expectations. The firm’s shares had dropped over 20% in the two weeks leading up to today’s announcement. Positive guidance The company said current market conditions were ‘supportive’ for the new-build market, with real wage growth and increased mortgage availability. In the first nine weeks of FY26, net private weekly sales per outlet rose 9% to 0.73 units. In addition, the average private selling price rose 6%, so the forward order book at 1 March was 9% higher £1.25 billion. Total forward sales as…

It has been a tough year already for investors and we are less than three months in. After a sudden sell-off in software stocks in February, we now look to be facing an energy price shock. Markets have followed the usual pattern of shooting first and asking questions later, resulting in heavy losses for several sectors. The question is, as a long-term investor, what is the best course of action? Keep calm Although it may sound counter-intuitive, to begin with the answer is to do nothing. Reacting on gut instinct when there is a sharp sell-off is rarely the right…

Shipbroking and logistics group Clarkson (CKN) successfully navigated a choppy 2025 and said 2026 had started with ‘strong momentum’. Market sentiment is positive, the firm has a healthy order book and pricing has improved according to CEO Andi Case. Steady as she goes Clarkson provides shipbroking services, research, logistical support and corporate finance to clients in the shipping and offshore sectors. Unsurprisingly, 2025 proved a testing year due to heightened political and economic uncertainty which undermined growth. The first half of the year was impacted by escalating rounds of tariffs and the increased use of sanctions against various countries. That…

Analysts have cut their estimates for S&P500 earnings growth for Q1 due to concerns over tariffs, inflation and AI disruption. That’s according to the latest research from FactSet’s senior earnings analyst John Butters. Before investors start wailing and gnashing their teeth, however, it’s worth noting this is all part of the forecasting process. According to FactSet, analysts have downgraded their Q1 growth estimates every year since 2021. Are more downgrades coming? In January and February, analysts lowered their EPS forecasts for the S&P 500 by -1.5% from $71.57 to $70.50. Since 2021, the average decline has been -3.1% but it…

AIM-listed Hargreaves Services (HSP) has sold a second plot of renewable energy land, generating a significant uplift to earnings. The group provides services to the environmental, infrastructure and property sectors in the UK. Pure profit The plot in South Lanarkshire, currently leased to a battery energy storage system, generates an annual rent of £0.5 million. The sale price of £6.8 million represents an uplift to the latest valuation of £6.4 million in July 2025. The sale will result in one-off benefits of £5.3 million to FY26 pre-tax profit and £6 million to net cash. The current consensus has FY pre-tax…

Shares in pest control and hygiene group Rentokil (RTO) surged 12% after the firm posted a recovery in FY25 sales and earnings. The company also confirmed its medium-term North America cost reduction and margin targets. Big improvement For the year to December, Rentokil increased revenue by 4.4% to $6.9 billion. The firm noted H2 LFL revenue growth accelerated to 3.5% against 1.6% in H1. Group operating profit increased 6.2% to $1.07 billion, representing a margin of 15.5% against 15.2% previously. Importantly, free cash flow increased 24% to $615 million with cash conversion reaching 98%, ahead of expectations. ‘2025 has been…

Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey (TW.) maintained its cautious earnings outlook for FY26 due to fewer completions and price pressures. The firm said it started the year with softer pricing in its order book so results would be H2 weighted. Affordability issues As of 1 March, Taylor Wimpey’s order book excluding JVs was 7,678 homes against 8,098 a year earlier. By value, forward orders were worth £2.18 billion against £2.28 billion at the same point in 2025. The firm said the Spring selling season had started well, although weekly net private sales were slightly down on last year. It also said while…

AIM-listed automotive parts supplier Surface Transforms (SCE) suffered the loss of its biggest customer this week. The company announced the news yesterday, sending its shares down 95% to 0.095p, although they have rebounded slightly today. GM slams on the brakes Surface Transforms makes carbon-ceramic brake discs and is one of only two mainstream companies in this field alongside Italy’s Brembo. Its products are stronger and more durable than most of its competitors’ with improved heat conductivity. The firm revealed yesterday afternoon that General Motors (GM), its largest customer, was terminating its contract as of 31 March. GM represented 84% of…

Shares in housebuilder Vistry (VTY) plunged 20% after the firm lowered its margin guidance for FY26 due to price incentives. The firm also announced it was putting buybacks on hold and CEO Greg Fitzgerlald was stepping down. Focus on cash The group said 2026 had started well with an average of 1.42 sales per site per week against 0.59 a year ago. Open market sales are 40% ahead of last year, ‘primarily reflecting the success of the targeted pricing initiatives’. The focus for 2026 is to increase cash generation and reduce housing inventory by driving Open Market sales with incentives.…