Author: Ian Conway

Ian Conway has worked in financial markets for over 30 years as a bond and equity trader, Extel-rated analyst and strategist, and partner of a stockbroking firm. He also founded a financial research company servicing institutional clients prior to writing for and editing Shares magazine. Ian is primarily an income investor although he also buys selected growth stocks. Find him at LinkedIn: Click Here

Segro posts record new lettings

Real estate company SEGRO (SGRO) reported its strongest year of lettings take-up in 2025. The FTSE 100 firm specialises in developing sites for logistics, warehousing and data centres. Share price: 801p (+0.4%)PE: 16.2xMarket cap: £10.8bnYield: 3.9% Strong momentum SEGRO recorded £99 million of new contracted rent commitments and 6% growth in LFL net rental income last year. The firm said momentum was building among occupiers with increasing levels of enquiry and active negotiations for pre-lets. The headline rent increase included £66 million of leasing and reversion capture in the existing portfolio, and £33 million of development signings. Of these, £26…

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AML losses widen

Sports car and F1 company Aston Marton Lagonda (AML) has cut its earnings guidance for FY25 again. The firm had already lowered its outlook for the year in its interim results statement. Share price: 59p (-1%)PE: n/aMarket cap: £600mYield: n/a Losses accelerating For the quarter to December 2025, AML sees EBIT ‘slightly below’ the bottom end of the range of forecasts. As of January 2026, the low end of the range was an EBIT loss of £184 million. In Q3 last year, AML said it expected an improved financial performance in Q4 ‘driven by increased core volumes’. Meanwhile, it forecast…

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Carvana results disappoint

Shares in used car retailer Carvana (CVNA) skidded 9% lower after the firm posted Q4 earnings which missed market expectations. The $47 billion company is popular with US retail investors and recently joined the large-cap S&P 500 benchmark. Share price: $329 (-9%)PE: 55xMarket cap: $47bnYield: n/a Higher costs impact margins For the three months to December, Carvana posted adjusted EBITDA of $511 million against $359 million a year earlier. However, Wall Street analysts had pencilled in $540 million of EBITDA. Q4 revenue was $5.6 billion, up 58% on the prior year and above the $5.27 billion consensus. With its eye-catching…

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Centrica suspends buybacks

Shares in Centrica (CNA) slid 8% to 180p after the British Gas owner halted its buyback programme. The firm made the announcement alongside lacklustre FY25 results which saw operating profits halve. Share price: 180p (-8%) PE: 16.1x Market Cap £8.8bn Yield: 3.0% From profit to loss Following £800 million of buybacks last year, Centrica said it was pausing repurchases to reflect ‘the quality of investment opportunities’. The firm is part-way through its ‘transformation programme’ and clearly needs to conserve cash for future profitability. The news was accompanied by a 40% drop in FY adjusted EBITDA and a 50% drop in…

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LSEG is under pressure

US activist investor Elliott Management is calling on London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) to review its operations and carry out a £5 billion buyback. This is according to unconfirmed press reports circulating in the market. Portfolio review and buyback There was speculation last week Elliott had increased its stake in the UK data and stock exchange business. However, there has been no regulatory announcement to back up this suggestion. According to Reuters, the US activist wants LSEG to ‘conduct a portfolio review’ while buying back £5 billion of shares. ‘While Elliott has not made specific requests on asset disposals, it…

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PPHE Hotel Group sells New York site

International hospitality group PPHE Hotels (PPH) has agreed to sell a New York development site, abandoning its US growth ambitions. The site in Manhattan was meant to be the springboard for the firm’s US business when it was acquired in 2019. Share price: £20.55 (-0.2%)PE: 45xMarket cap: £985mYield: 1.75% ‘No longer viable’ PPHE is selling a site near Hudson Yards, which it had originally planned to turn into a hotel and condos. The area was extensively redeveloped as New York’s art gallery district and was therefore the ideal location for an art’otel. On buying the site, PPHE said development costs…

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Law firm Keystone raises guidance

AIM-listed ‘challenger’ law firm Keystone (KEYS) raised its FY26 guidance alongside its latest trading update. The company said revenue and adjusted pre-tax profit for the year to January 2026 were marginally above market expectations. Share price: 608p (+4.8%)PE: 20xMarket cap: £193mYield: 3.7% Buoyant trading Keystone operates as a platform for lawyers, allowing them the freedom to work how, when and where they work. It provides full infrastructure and support via a central office and bespoke IT in exchange for 25% of billings. The firm said its business had performed ‘strongly’ during the year, helped by ‘buoyant trading conditions’. Good client…

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Build your wealth with compounding

In this article, we explain how compound interest works and why it is one of the cornerstones for growing wealth. Albert Einstein called it ‘the eighth wonder of the world’, adding ‘He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.’ Unlike simple interest, which is calculated just on the principal, compound interest is based on the principal and interest combined. Compounding can significantly increase the value of your investment over time, so it is worth taking the time to understand. Compounding explained If you put £1,000 in a bank account which pays 5% interest, after one year you…

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Green hydrogen producer ITM raises guidance

AIM-listed ‘green’ hydrogen producer ITM Power (ITM) has raised its revenue guidance for 2026. The Sheffield-based company cited ‘strong project progress’ and a shift in its accounting method for the uplift. Share price: 66p (+2.7%)PE: n/aMarket Cap: £400mYield: n/a Big jump in revenue For the year to April 2026, ITM now sees revenue reaching between £40 million and £43 million. That represents an uplift of 11% on the middle of the previous range of £35 million to £40 million. It also represents a jump of between 54% and 65% from 2025’s revenue of £26 million, itself a company record. As…

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IHG share buyback falls flat

Shares in Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) were flat despite the firm announcing a $950 million buyback alongside its FY25 results. The group owns the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Intercontinental chains, with revenue heavily weighted to the Americas. Share price: $144.60 (unch)PE: 27xMarket cap: $21.8bnYield: 1.3% Weak underlying growth For FY25, IHG posted a 7% rise in hotel revenue to $2.5 billion, slightly ahead of the $2.45 billion consensus. However, most of the gain was due to a 4.7% increase in new rooms, as global RevPAR (revenue per available room) increased just 1.5%. Average room prices across the group were…

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