Shares in Shoe Zone (LON:SHOE) rallied after the budget footwear retailer said positive trading continued throughout July. Alongside strong inventory and cost control, this helped drive further outperformance in terms of cash generation. Leicester-based Shoe Zone said it will return excess capital to shareholders through a £3.5 million share buyback, sending the stock higher in early dealings. Shoe Zone launches £3.5 million buyback In a short-but-sweet trading update, the shoes, boots and slippers seller announced that trading ‘continued positively throughout July’. As a result of this, cash and equivalents as at 25 July 2026 ‘stood at approximately £7 million ahead…

Shares in Nichols (LON:NICL) rose after the Vimto-owner announced the £64 million acquisition of functional drinks brand VITHIT. The earnings-enhancing deal boosts Nichols’ position in the fast-growing health and wellness drinks segment. In addition, and to quote broker Singer Capital Markets, ‘a single brand story just became two’. A bit about VITHIT VITHIT was founded by Gary Lavin in Dublin in 2001. Over the past 25 years, the company has built leading positions in functional drinks. The company’s low-calorie, low-sugar beverages are fortified with vitamins and functional ingredients. Today, VITHIT ranks as the number one brand in Ireland. In addition,…

New Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) CEO Greg Abel has put the Warren Buffett-built conglomerate’s gigantic cash pile to work on share buybacks and stock purchases. According to the group’s latest filing, Berkshire Hathaway became a net buyer of equities in Q2. As a result, the Omaha-based company’s mammoth cash reserves declined significantly for the first time since early 2022. Cash pile put to work Abel took over from Warren Buffett as Berkshire’s CEO a the start of this year. He has begun to deploy the record cash haul amassed by his mentor on buybacks and stock purchases. During Q2, Berkshire bought…

In the latest Sharesify podcast, the chaps chew over another busy week for markets, big tech share price swings and investment trust news. Our tech whizz Steven gives us his analysis of debut results from SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). He also rounds-up a busy week for tech share price movers including AI-powerhouse Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) and memory stock Sandisk (NASDAQ:SNDK). James discusses H1 results from popular trust Allianz Technology (LON:ATT) and global equity income fund Murray International (LON:MYI). He also explains why Diageo’s (LON:DGE) latest update had investors popping champagne corks. And Ian explains why WPP (LON:WPP) is benefiting from self-help and a…

Global equity income trust Murray International (LON:MYI) delivered another robust performance in the six months to June. The fund generated a positive net asset value (NAV) total return of 10.5%. Admittedly, performance lagged the 12.4% delivered by the MSCI ACWI High Dividend Yield Index. However, Sharesify views this is as a respectable result for a value-oriented trust during a period dominated by the AI trade. Robust H1 performance Managed by Samantha Fitzpatrick and Martin Connaghan, Murray International is a global equity income trust that seeks to generate long term growth in dividends and capital ahead of inflation. During H1, the…

Investors raised a glass to Diageo (LON:DGE) after the alcoholic drinks giant’s CEO Dave Lewis delivered further details about his strategy to turn the business around. The unveiling of this restructuring plan overshadowed downbeat FY26 results and another dividend cut from Diageo. Shares in the Johnnie Walker-to-Smirnoff maker rallied in afternoon dealings. ‘Drastic Dave’ has a radical plan Lewis is living up to his ‘Drastic Dave’ nickname at indebted Diageo. He intends to extract roughly $1 billion in savings from the business over the next three years. Restructuring costs relating to the cost-cutting drive are estimated at $1.2 billion. The…

In our latest special podcast, Steven Frazer and James Crux welcome James Thom, manager of Aberdeen New India Investment Trust (LON:ANII). The fund seeks out world-class, well governed companies that are strongly positioned to benefit from India’s long-term structural growth. Our special guest tells us why investors should consider putting their money to work in India now. James talks us through the trust’s sector allocations including financials. And he flags some of the areas that he is most excited about today. James also explains the reasons why the trust trades on a double-digit discount to net asset value (NAV) and…

Consumer goods business PZ Cussons (LON:PZC) delivered forecast-beating profits for FY26. The Manchester-based company also reported a significant reduction in net debt and delivered a return to dividend growth, clear evidence that CEO Jonathan Myers’ turnaround strategy is paying off. Despite the pressures facing consumers, trading in FY27 has started in line with expectations. And PZ Cussons also highlighted the ‘good underlying momentum in the business’. So why were shares in the Carex-to-Imperial Leather marked lower in early dealings? Well, the absence of another earnings upgrade disappointed some investors and prompted profit-taking after a recent rally. Refreshed strategy delivering progress…

In the latest episode of the podcast, the Sharesify gang discuss markets at all-time highs, income stocks and a return to Earth for SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCX). Our tech guru Steven analyses the first quarterly earnings as a listed company from Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The numbers were impressive on the surface. However, they reinforce that SpaceX remains an outstanding company but not necessarily an outstanding investment at today’s valuation. Income guy Ian gives us his take on high-flying equity markets. He also talks us through updates from dividend stalwarts HSBC (LON:HSBA) and Legal & General (LON:LGEN) and energy majors BP (LON:BP.) and Shell…

Beverage bottler Coca-Cola HBC (LON:CCH) upgraded FY26 guidance after delivering volume-led growth for H1. Shares in the FTSE 100 company fizzed up 4% in early dealings on the palate-pleasing news. A strategic bottling partner of Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Coca-Cola HBC now sees FY26 organic operating profit growth in the 8% to 10% range. That is up from previous guidance of 7% to 10%. Organic revenue growth is now forecast to be ‘around the top end’ of the firm’s 6% to 7% guidance range. Plenty of bottle Switzerland-based Coca-Cola HBC bottles and sells the beverages of The Coca-Cola Company exclusively in 28…