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.
Shares in Dunelm (DNLM) dropped after the UK homewares leader warned FY26 profits are expected to be towards the lower end of consensus estimates. The cushions-to-curtains seller pinned the blame on a recent period of ‘broad-based softening’ in demand. And with war in the Middle East creating a ‘more uncertain external environment’, the ‘Home of Homes’ doesn’t see consumer confidence improving any time soon. Sales soften Total sales for the third quarter ended 28 March increased 2.1% year-on-year to £472 million with the proportion of digital sales ticking up to 43%. Q3 started well, following a good Winter Sale and…
In today’s Podcast, the Sharesify team talk US tech, chips, housebuilders, cruising, M&A, big oil and beauty tips. Steven discusses the role tech is playing in driving US indices higher, while Ian opines on Standard Life’s (SDLF) acquisition of Aegon UK. This deal will create the UK’s second-biggest player in both workplace pensions and retail pensions and savings. Ian is surprised by the market’s lukewarm reaction to the latest update from housebuilder Barratt Redrow (BTRW). He also highlights JPMorgan Chase’s (JPM) massive trading gains and discusses the cautionary comments from CEO Jamie Dimon. James talks about Saga (SAGA), the over-50s products company looking ship-shape…
Ten-pin bowling operator Hollywood Bowl (BOWL) reported a jump in H1 revenues thanks to resilient demand for affordable leisure activities. Investors were bowled over by the FTSE 250 firm’s reassuringly in-line H1 update. This showed 2.6% like-for-like growth in the core UK business. Broker Cavendish described this as ‘a good result’ given the challenging wider UK hospitality market. Affordable fun Hollywood Bowl, which also runs mini-golf centres, delivered a 9.5% rise in total revenue to £141.5 million for the half to March 2026. This robust performance was underpinned by ‘strong demand’ for its family-friendly and affordable leisure activities. UK revenue…
Shares in Saga (SAGA) sailed to a five-year high after the travel firm swung back into the black for FY26 amid strong performances from its travel and insurance businesses. The FTSE 250 company also expressed confidence in meeting its medium-term targets. The firm believes it can grow underlying pre-tax profits to ‘at least’ £100 million and reduce leverage to below two times by January 2030. There was also relief as Saga highlighted its ‘minimal exposure’ to the war-torn Middle East and made reassuring noises around oil and currency risk. Compelling growth saga Led by CEO Mike Hazell, Saga offers insurance…
HarbourVest Global Private Equity (HVPE) has agreed to hold a $400 million tender offer in the autumn to secure support for its first continuation vote in July. The tender is among a flurry of fresh initiatives to boost returns and address a near-30% share price discount to net asset value (NAV). Private equity fund investor HVPE offers exposure to exciting growth companies including Revolut, Databricks and SpaceX. But the FTSE 250 trust is under pressure from activists Asset Value Investors and Saba, the US hedge fund seeking to take control of Edinburgh Worldwide (EWI), Herald (HRI) and Impax Environmental Markets (IEM). Subject to HVPE…
Recruitment company PageGroup (PAGE) posted a drop in Q1 gross profit as subdued client and candidate confidence and heightened uncertainty weighed on hiring. The FTSE 250 staffer also warned the Middle East conflict is driving an ‘increasingly uncertain outlook’ for the rest of the year. So why did the lately-unloved shares rally 2.5% to 136p in early dealings? Well, there was relief that PageGroup’s quarterly update proved less bad than feared. Investors also welcomed news of continued growth in the Americas and Asia Pacific, which helped cushion the blow from tough market conditions in Europe and the UK. US &…
Shares in Marks Electrical (MRK:AIM) sparked up 3% to 49p after the online electrical retailer upgraded FY26 earnings guidance for the second time in a month. Despite the well-documented cost-of-living pressures facing consumers, Marks Electrical saw a stronger-than-expected end to the year to March 2026. And the dishwashers-to-televisions seller enters FY27 with ‘positive’ trading momentum and a strengthened cash position. In its latest unscheduled trading update, Marks Electrical maintained FY26 revenue guidance of £108.5 million but raised EBITDA guidance again to £2.65 million. This is up from the company’s 26 March outlook for EBITDA ‘in excess of £2 million’, which…
Specialist boutique Polar Capital (POLR:AIM) reported a forecast-beating 8% rise in Q4 assets under management (AuM) to £30.6 billion. The active asset manager also insisted it entered the new financial year with ‘positive net inflow momentum’, despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing market volatility. Shares in the company jumped 7.1% to a four-year high of 680p on the news. Inflows top £1.4 billion In the quarter to 31 March 2026, Polar Capital’s AuM grew thanks to net inflows of more than £1.4 billion and investment returns of £0.8 billion. This offset fund closures of £13 million. Established in 2001, Polar…
In today’s Podcast, the Sharesify team talk markets, this week’s absence of a Trump ‘tape bomb’ and why it’s deja vu across the pond with US tech firms driving the rally. Ian flags the significance of US stocks trading above their long-term averages again, while Steven lends us his view on ASML (ASML), the Dutch semiconductor equipment giant which also put up a strong showing. James explains why online electricals retailer AO World (AO.) is reaping the benefits of a ‘pivot to profit’ strategy. He also talks us through SDCL Efficiency Income’s (SEIT) decision to start a managed wind-down after shareholders rejected…
Shares in AO World (AO.) rallied 5% to 93.2p after the electricals retailer delivered another upgrade to FY26 profit guidance. Despite the tough consumer backdrop, AO World is reaping the benefits of management’s ‘pivot to profit’ strategy. CEO John Roberts said ‘the numbers speak for themselves again’ and he is ‘delighted to keep doing our talking on the pitch’. FY26 adjusted pre-tax profit is now expected to be at the top end of the previously upgraded £45 million to £50 million range. Gaining share That represents 15% year-on-year profit growth from AO World. This robust performance was underpinned by the…