Author: Ian Conway
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
TAYLOR WIMPEY (TW.) – Construction Price: 102.15p -3.4%P/E 33.1xMarket Cap: £3.75bnYield 8.6% Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey delivered a downbeat trading statement for the period from the end of June to 9 November. The opening comment on UK trading more or less sums it up: ‘Reflecting current uncertainty in the housing market ahead of the November Budget, we continue to experience softer market conditions in the second half of the year to date.’ Net private sales per outlet per week are down on last year, even including ‘bulk deals’ which are sales to buy-to-let operators or housing associations, plus the order book…
GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS (GAMA) – Technology Price: 970p -1.5%P/E: 10.2xMarket Cap: £908mYield: 2.2% Communications solutions group Gamma has revealed its CFO, Bill Castell, will leave the firm in March 2026 to take up a role at a private equity-backed business. When Castell, 47, joined Gamma at the start of May 2022 – just a couple of months before the arrival of new CEO Andrew Belshaw – the share price was £11.40. Since then, the price has been as high as £17 but it currently languishes close to a post-pandemic low. For the six months to June, the group reported a 12%…
SMITHSON (SSON) – Investment Trusts Price: £16.33 +6.9%NAV: £16.81Market Cap: £1.87bnYield: 0.4% Smithson, the closed-end fund focused on capital growth by investing in high-quality small and medium-sized companies, sprung a major surprise on the market this morning by announcing it would switch to an open-ended structure. The reason for the move is to eliminate the ‘entrenched’ discount to NAV (net asset value) which has dogged the fund almost since inception. The new fund will continue to be run by Fundsmith, with Simon Barnard as portfolio manager, there is no dilution or capital gains charge for shareholders who want to roll…
FULLER, SMITH & TURNER (FSTA) – Travel & Leisure Price: 644p +3%P/E: 16xMarket Cap: £342mYield: 3.4% Pub group Fuller, Smith & Turner posted strong results for the six months to the end of September with revenue up 6.9% to £207.5 million and adjusted EPS (earnings per share) up 37% to 30p. The firm flagged ‘industry-leading’ LFL sales growth of 4.6% with drink sales up 6.5%, food up 2% and accommodation up 3.3%. Moreover, sales to 8 November have continued to rise at 4.6% on a LFL basis. Christmas bookings are up 16% on the same period last year, and the…