Shares in Dunelm (DNLM) improved 1% to 946p after the UK homewares retailer reported stronger Q3 sales growth and declared a 25p special dividend. The stock sold off heavily in January after the cushions-to-curtains seller lowered full-year profit guidance citing ‘softer’ Q2 trading. Share price: 946p (+1%)PE: 11.5xMarket cap: £1.9bnYield: 5% However, investors cosied up to ‘The Home of Homes’ today after Dunelm maintained its FY26 pre-tax profit guidance. The company-compiled average of analysts’ expectations is £214m, with a range of £210m to £221m. Pricing discipline Dunelm’s H1 pre-tax profits in came in 7.5% lower year-on-year at £114m, reflecting weaker…

Sharesify’s countdown of the most-viewed trusts of 2025 on the website of The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) concludes with the big reveal. Leapfrogging JPMorgan Global & Growth & Income (JGGI) into the number one spot was City of London (CTY), the UK Equity Income sector’s biggest trust. Large and liquid, with more than £2.9 billion of total assets, City of London garnered the most views during a year in which it delivered a near-30% share price total return. The fund is popular with investors for its record-setting annual dividend increases as well as the diversification it provides across almost…

Makeup supplier Warpaint London (W7L:AIM) has acquired value cosmetics brand Barry M for £1.4 million, expanding its retail reach. Shares in the company were marked 2.5% higher to 205p after it guided for a modest uplift in FY25 revenue at improved gross margin. Share price: 205p (+2.5%)PE: 9.6xMarket cap: £162mYield: 6% However, investors’ enthusiasm towards the W7 brand owner was tempered by guidance for a 12% year-on-year decline in adjusted EBITDA. AIM-listed Warpaint blamed the downgrade on factors including a ‘challenging consumer and customer environment’. Negative revenue impacts Warpaint is now guiding to FY25 adjusted EBITDA of approximately £22 million.…

In this article we continue our rundown of 2025’s most-viewed trusts on the The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) website Three large and liquid global trusts occupied 4th, 3rd and 2nd spots. A growth champion returned to form, the first-ever investment trust to shift up the table, while a popular global equity income option lost the top spot. Going for growth Scottish Mortgage (SMT) Share price: £12.12 Discount: 2.2% Yield: 0.4% Retaining 4th spot was Scottish Mortgage (SMT), Baillie Gifford’s flagship trust. The fund aims to ‘identify, own and support the world’s most exceptional growth companies’. Scottish Mortgage is the…

Shares in Stellantis (STLAM) plunged 20% to €6.7 in Milan after the car manufacturer warned it had taken €22 billion of electric vehicle-related charges for H2 2025. The struggling automaker warned that in recognition of losses racked up in full year 2025, it won’t pay a dividend for 2026. To shore up its balance sheet, Stellantis plans to raise up to €5bn by issuing hybrid bonds. Share price: €6.7 (-20%)PE: 6.4Market cap: €23.6bnYield: 4.5% Having succeeded Carlos Tavares in the hot seat last summer, CEO Antonio Filosa is attempting a turnaround of the automaker. This includes a focus on its…

Sharesify’s countdown of the most-viewed trusts of 2025 on the website of The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) continues. A trio of AIC ‘Dividend Heroes’, trusts which have increased payouts for at least 20 consecutive years, attracted the gaze of investors and made it into 7th, 6th and 5th place. SEEKING TO REGAIN MOMENTUM Alliance Witan (ALW) Share price: £12.54 Discount: 4.6% Yield: 2.2% Global trust Alliance Witan (ALW) retained its top 10 most-viewed position, albeit with a retreat from 3rd to 7th place. The multi-manager fund is seeking to regain momentum following its transformational 2024 merger with rival Witan. 2025…

Shares in Playtech (PTEC) rallied 3% to 289p after the gaming industry technology provider upgraded FY25 guidance on a stronger-than-expected Americas performance. The FTSE 250 firm’s adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be ‘at least €195m’. That is significantly ahead of the mean consensus estimate of €177m. Share price: 289p (+3%)PE: 18.1xMarket cap: £949mYield: n/a Calling out its strong prospects in regulated markets, notably the Americas, Playtech remains confident in its FY26 outlook. The firm also reiterated its medium-term targets of €250m-to-€300m of adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow in the €70m-to-€100m range. Playing to win Playtech delivers software, services,…

Catering colossus Compass (CPG) delivered better-than-expected Q1 earnings after a ‘strong start’ to the year and reaffirmed FY26 guidance. Which begs the question, why were the shares down 2.5% to £21.69 in early dealings? Share price: £21.69 (-2.5%)PE: 21.5xMarket cap: £51.6bnYield: 2.4% Well, investors were disappointed by the absence of a guidance upgrade. News that Compass is finding it harder to push through price increases as inflation cools also weighed on sentiment toward the stock. Organic growth beats The self-styled ‘global food services leader’ delivered better-than-expected organic sales growth of 7.3% for the quarter to December. Unfortunately, that represented a…

In this article, Sharesify counts down the most-viewed trusts on the website of The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) in 2025, delving into the top 10 positions for the first time. IN THE ASCENDANT The funds occupying 10th, 9th and 8th position all offer compelling income propositions for yield-starved investors and their number includes one trust with a unique twist. Henderson Far East Income (HFEL) Share price: 246.5p Premium to NAV: 4.6% Yield: 10.1% Shifting up from 13th to 10th spot was Henderson Far East Income, the quarterly-dividend paying trust which looks to maximise opportunities for high-income investing in Asia-Pacific. Admittedly,…

US retailer Walmart (WMT:NASDAQ) burst through the $1trn market cap barrier on 3 February. In crossing this threshold, the groceries-to-general merchandise seller joined an elite club dominated by tech giants including Alphabet (GOOG:NASDAQ), Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ) and Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ). Share price: $127.7 (+3%)PE: 44.8Market cap: $1.02trnYield: 0.74% How did Arkansas-based Walmart became the first-ever retailer to reach a $1trn valuation? By taking market share in groceries and general merchandise, then spreading its tentacles into areas such as ecommerce and advertising. Walmart’s a winner Walmart’s elevation to the $1trn club was fuelled by the year-in, year-out acquisition of new customers. It won…