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.
In one of the strangest stock market stories of the year-to-date, shares in shoe brand Allbirds (BIRD) soared 580% on 15 April. The catalyst was the company’s announcement of plans to pivot from footwear to artificial intelligence (AI). A firm whose stock had collapsed from over $500 post-IPO to under $3, with no track record in data centres or enterprise infrastructure, is now an AI infrastructure player. Allbirds’ meteoric one-day rise evokes memories of the ‘meme stock’ phenomenon that gained prominence during Covid. The lockdown period saw shares in video games retailer Gamestop (GME), cinema chain AMC Entertainment (AMC) and…
Shares in Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) plunged to a 52-week low after the consumer health and hygiene giant’s Q1 sales missed estimates. The FTSE 100 company pinned the blame on disruption in the Middle East, a weak finish to the cold and flu season and ‘challenging’ trading in Europe. The company also warned of a possible £130 million-to-£150 million cost hit should oil prices stay high due to the Iran war. And the Strepsils-to-Gaviscon maker said consumer demand would also be impacted if commodity prices remain elevated. Q1 sales disappoint ‘Core Reckitt’ like-for-like sales rose 1.3% in the quarter to March…
Shares in Gear4music (G4M:AIM) gained ground after the online musical instruments retailer’s FY26 results breezed past recently-upgraded market expectations. The guitars, drums and pianos seller also insisted its strong revenue growth has continued into April 2026. As such, the York-based company remains confident of building on ‘the substantial financial progress achieved in FY26’. Beat across the board Gear4music hailed a strong year to March 2026 performance with significant revenue, EBITDA and pre-tax profit growth ahead of recently raised market expectations. Total sales ticked up 30% to £190.7 million in Fy26. That was comfortably above the £186.4 million consensus estimate and…
Conglomerate Associated British Foods (ABF) has decided to spin off budget fashion chain Primark. The retail arm’s demerger from the food business follows years of speculation regarding a breakup of the FTSE 100 group. The decision to demerge Primark was taken after a review of ABF’s structure in a bid to improve returns. Shares in ABF fell on the news, though the other catalyst for selling was the group’s H1 earnings miss. ABF also warned of ‘a risk to Primark sales’ if the Middle East conflict persists and consumer spending deteriorates. In addition, the company has become ‘more cautious’ on…
Shares in Advanced Medical Solutions (AMS:AIM) surged to a two-year high after the tissue-healing tech specialist confirmed it is in takeover talks with TA Associates. The Cheshire-based business was responding to recent press speculation surrounding a potential private equity bid. However, the company cautioned there can be no certainty a firm offer will be made, or on what terms. Last year, Advanced Medical Solutions held talks with Montagu Private Equity before the prospective suitor walked away. Another private equity player, Bridgepoint (BPT), has also been linked as a potential buyer for this fast growing and dividend-paying company. Predator turned prey Led…
Shares in Supreme (SUP:AIM) gained ground after the fast-moving consumer goods supplier upgraded FY26 sales and earnings guidance. The Manchester-based group attributed the upgrade to the ‘significant growth’ seen in vape sales in the year to March 2026, as well as the positive impact from acquisitions and new products. Earnings ‘significantly ahead’ Guided by entrepreneurial founder and CEO Sandy Chadha, FY26 was a record year for the vapes, drinks, batteries and lighting business company. Supreme now expects revenue and adjusted EBITDA to be ‘significantly ahead’ of consensus estimates. Analysts were calling for sales in the £245 million ballpark and adjusted…
In today’s Podcast, the Sharesify team talk profit warnings, AI meme stocks, streaming, beauty, alternative fuels and much more. James dissects the latest retail updates including solid figures and a fresh share buyback from Tesco (TSCO) and another downgrade from curtains-to-cushions seller Dunelm (DNLM). He explains why a profit warning from flexible office space firm Workspace (WKP) gave Saba Capital a bloody nose. James also wonders aloud if the meme stock craze is back after US shoe brand Allbirds (BIRD) took flight on plans to pivot from footwear to artificial intelligence (AI). Next up, Steven explains why Netflix (NFLX) stock took a pounding despite…
Greencoat UK Wind (UKW) warned the UK government’s change to the inflation link in renewable subsidies could reduce net asset value (NAV) by between 3p and 5p per share. In Parliament yesterday, the government announced plans to remove the carbon price support (CPS) tax on fossil fuels used in electricity generation from April 2028. This has put more pressure on the valuations of renewable energy trusts. High yielder blown lower A quarterly dividend-payer offering a 10% yield, Greencoat UK Wind has increased its shareholder reward for 12 consecutive years by at least the rate of retail price inflation. Greencoat UK…
Shares in Workspace (WKP) plunged after the flexible office space firm warned of a ‘substantial step down’ in FY27 profits. Investors headed for the exits as Workspace also rebased the dividend due to the need to invest in its portfolio to reposition the business. The stock price slump left activist shareholder Saba Capital with a bloody nose. The US hedge fund has been pushing for a managed wind-down of the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Saba has argued Workspace should sell assets and return capital to shareholders, citing a wide and persistent discount to net asset value (NAV) as well…
Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco (TSCO) delivered sales growth across all markets in FY26. The supermarkets giant is now sitting on its highest UK market share in over a decade. FY26 results revealed better-than-expected profits. And Tesco also treated investors to a fresh £750 million share buyback. While the groceries goliath warned about the ‘uncertainty’ arising from the war in Iran, the shares ticked higher in early dealings. Profit beat For the year to February 2026, group sales excluding fuel grew 4.6% to £66.6 billion with like-for-like sales up 3.5%. Tesco reported growth across the board. UK like-for-like sales rose by…