Author: James Crux
James Crux
James Crux writes extensively about funds and investment trusts and also specialises in retail, food and beverage sector stocks. He has spent 25 years working in the industry and was named Best Financial Consumer Journalist at the AIC Media Awards 2024 and 2025 for his work at Shares magazine (owned by AJ Bell). Before that, he was the editor of Growth Company Investor and a writer for investment and business titles What Investment and Business XL. James is a long-suffering West Ham supporter and a big fan of The Sopranos.
Popular investment trust Scottish Mortgage (SMT) is the best share price total return performer in the Association of Investment Companies’ (AIC) Global sector over the past year. It is also the only trust in the sector trading a premium to net asset value (NAV). One key reason for the global growth trust’s premium rating is the mounting excitement surrounding the launch of Elon Musk’s SpaceX onto the public markets. Scottish Mortgage is one of the few ways retail investors can gain exposure to SpaceX ahead of an IPO later this year. The blockbuster flotation is expected to value the whole…
Shares in Tate & Lyle (TATE) surged after the food producer confirmed that Ingredion (INGR) has proposed a cash offer for the company. Led by CEO Nick Hampton, Tate & Lyle also revealed its US ingredients peer had made a number of earlier approaches for the business. Tate & Lyle has struggled to serve up top-line growth in recent years. The absence of growth and other challenges have depressed the FTSE 250-listed firm’s share price. Back in February, Tate & Lyle said its Q3 sales performance was crimped by the persistence of subdued market demand. What’s the offer on the…
Healthcare trust RTW Biotech Opportunities (RTW) outperformed its major biotech benchmarks in April. The fund delivered a 7% month-on-month increase in net asset value (NAV) per share to $2.59. That return beat the 0.4% gain from the Nasdaq Biotech Index. It also exceeded the 3.7% return generated by the Russell 2000 Biotech Index. The FTSE 250-listed fund is benefiting from a resurgence in initial public offerings (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in the biotechnology sector. 2025 marked a decisive turning point for biotechnology, bringing a four-year sector bear market to a close. Record biotech IPO In its latest monthly…
British luxury goods group Burberry (BRBY) strutted in with forecast-beating profits for the year to March 2026 as well as better-than-expected Q4 sales. The trench coats-to-cashmere scarves seller insisted its turnaround strategy has reached a ‘meaningful inflection point’ to boot. That comment will delight Finsbury Growth & Income Trust’s (FGT) manager Nick Train, who has consistently championed Burberry’s attractions and stuck with the position through thick and thin. Why then, did shares in the FTSE 100 fashion house drop in in early dealings? While Burberry expects to deliver revenue growth and margin expansion in FY27, it didn’t give a specific…
In the latest edition of the Sharesify Podcast, the chaps talk markets, tech stocks, trench coats, Tenerife and upcoming earnings from ITV (ITV). Ian breaks down the latest results from tobacco titan Imperial Brands (IMB) and specialist engineer Spirax (SPX). Our housebuilders scrutineer also explains why shares in Vistry (VTY) plunged to a 15-year low. Next up, tech expert Steven previews results from networks giant and AI infrastructure enabler Cisco Systems (CSCO) and semiconductor technology supplier Applied Materials (AMAT). It’s been another busy week for retail reporting too. James explains why UK baker Greggs (GRG) is taking its sausage rolls and sandwiches…
Automotive retailer Vertu Motors (VTU) delivered ‘solid results’ for the year to February 2026. The Gateshead-based company also reported ‘positive current trading’ despite the multiple pressures facing the car retail sector. Steered by CEO Robert Forrester, Vertu said trading in March and April has been strong and ahead of the prior year period. Given this strong start to FY27, Forrester is confident of matching market expectations for FY27. He also insisted his charge is ‘excellently positioned to take advantage of the inevitable opportunities that will arise as the sector continues to consolidate.’ Shares in the AIM-listed firm fell as investors…
Smaller companies can play a valuable role in investors’ portfolios. They enhance diversification and typically have higher growth potential compared to large caps. Young, nimble companies are often at the foothills of their growth trajectory. And small caps tend to have more room for expansion compared to their large cap brethren. Generally speaking, they are more agile, less burdened by bureaucracy, and more innovative, allowing them to adapt quickly and drive growth through new technologies or products. Prime targets Smaller firms receive less coverage from sell-side analysts, which means diligent investors prepared to do their homework can find undervalued gems…
Fishing tackle retailer Angling Direct (ANG) reeled in record UK sales for FY26. The AIM-listed company also netted pre-tax profits of £2.9 million, up almost 50% year-on-year. In addition, the Norfolk-headquartered firm demonstrated confidence in its ability to continue taking market share by upgrading medium-term growth targets. These include growing UK sales and EBITDA to £125 million and £8 million-plus respectively, whilst building a sustainable European business. So why did the shares slide in early dealings? Well, Angling Direct warned it has seen ‘softer trading’ since the onset of the Middle East conflict. And the UK’s biggest specialist fishing tackle…
Shares in Greggs (GRG) rallied after the food-to-go retailer reported improved trading for the first 19 weeks of 2026 and left full-year guidance unchanged. Led by CEO Roisin Currie, Greggs highlighted ‘encouraging profit progress’ during a challenging opening four-and-a-bit months of 2026. This partly reflected weak sales comparatives but also the FTSE 250 firm’s ‘good operational cost control’. Investors were also intrigued by news the sausage rolls-to-salads seller has picked holiday hotspot Tenerife as the location for its first overseas airport outlet. This suggests management believes the quintessentially British Greggs brand can travel overseas. Sales growth strengthens The Newcastle-based baker’s…
The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG) is the latest clean energy fund taking bold steps to bring in a wide discount to net asset value (NAV). Ahead of its continuation vote (30 June), ‘TRIG’ has bumped up its asset disposals target by £300 million to £400 million. The proceeds will help the fund prioritise share buybacks, tackle a stubbornly wide NAV discount and reduce borrowings. TRIG has been in the spotlight since a rebellion by shareholders in InfraRed Capital Partners stablemate HICL Infrastructure (HICL) scuppered a £5.3 billion merger with TRIG last year. Critics argued the deal was motivated by InfraRed’s desire…