Research Tree | Equity Research for Investors

Level the playing field with real-time Equity Research

Research Tree offers both private and institutional investors access to the latest UK investment research from over 35 Brokers and Research Providers, offering comprehensive coverage of small and mid-cap stocks.

The Equity Research Platform

Equity research, broker reports, target prices, and valuations on UK-listed companies in real-time.

Our platform learns which sectors, industries, and markets you're intersted in to help you discover new stocks.

20 Jan 20

Rapid growth confirmed

Kape have announced a full year trading update confirming the expected strong growth in top-line and adjusted EBITDA. Kape’s sales growth accelerated sequentially to 19% h/h in H2 (H1: 7%), supported by continued growth in the Group’s core Digital Privacy segment. Full year revenues of c.$66m (N1S: $68.9m) were achieved after some reallocation of marketing investment towards Digital Privacy (sales recognised over time), which has in turn led to an improvement in revenue visibility for future periods. Adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be ahead of expectations: ($14.5m; N1S: $13.9m) as a result of a higher than expected proportion of Digital Privacy sales. Management guidance targets revenue growth of 85% and adjusted EBITDA growth of >150% in FY’20E (inc acquisition of PIA), in-line with expectations, and we make no changes to forecasts at this time. FY’20E OpFCF yield is forecast at 5%, ahead of comparative high-growth peers.

Companies: Kape Technologies

22 Jan 20

Q4 ahead of expectations, boosting cash and dividend

The FY update highlights a stronger Q4 than expected, with a rebound in US sales after a weak H1 and initial SkyScreed sales. This results in an uplift in revenue, profit, and cash guidance for the year, thereby also boosting the underlying and supplemental dividend. This results in an eye-catching current year yield of 7.3% and undemanding P/E of 9.4x. We maintain our 380p price target, which offers good upside potential.

Companies: Somero Enterprises

20 Jan 20

Kape Technologies

Strong trading update; Buy

Companies: Kape Technologies

20 Jan 20

The Industrial Revelation

US factory output rises in Dec better than expected, Schlumberger sees continued weakness in North America, Fastenal saw a continued slowdown in Q4

Companies: HEAD HILS HTG JHD RNO SCPA TRI ZTF SOM

20 Jan 20

Cenkos: Seeing Machines Ltd -- The DMS challenge palpable at CES2020

Interior and Occupant Monitoring was a notable theme of CES2020 with around fifteen different concepts demonstrated, up from three in 2019. However, these did not outnumber Driver Monitoring System (DMS) demonstrations and did little to deflect from the openly discussed challenge of sourcing and designing reliable primary safety DMS at appropriate costs for the automotive mass market. This task is being exasperated by a confluence of factors including vehicle design complexity and regulatory time pressure, and especially in the absence of knowing what technical specifications are required to meet the forthcoming Euro-NCAP and EC certification standards. We view the many demonstrations of IMS/OMS and emotional analysis as a distraction from the DMS challenge and, in this respect, our primary thesis for Seeing Machines remains unchanged following what we saw at CES2020: We believe Seeing Machines remains on track to win the largest market share of the DMS safety system market. We maintain our Buy recommendation and 12p DCF derived price target which is based on a 16% discount rate.

Companies: Seeing Machines

20 Jan 20

Hurricane Energy - Updated drilling campaign for 2020–21

In December 2019, Hurricane Energy provided a trading and operational update on its activities, announcing a strong ongoing performance of the Lancaster early production system (EPS), with well tests supporting guidance of 20,000bopd for FY20 (before operational downtime). Hurricane was also granted a five-year extension to its P1368 licence, covering Lancaster and Lincoln, which resulted in changes to its near-term work programme. One or more sub-vertical wells will be drilled on both Lincoln (in 2020) and Lancaster (in 2021) to determine the maximum vertical extent of each reservoir. Hurricane estimated FY19 revenue of c $165m and year-end unrestricted cash of c $150m, relatively in line with our estimates for the year. Our risked valuation stands at 109.9p/share (from 102.8p/share) as we roll forward our NAV, adjust our short-term oil price assumptions and update forecasts to reflect Lancaster EPS performance and the 2020–21 work programme.

Companies: Hurricane Energy

22 Jan 20

Somero Enterprises

FY19 trading update – significant upgrades to 2019 from better than-expected H2

Companies: Somero Enterprises

23 Jan 20

Another good performance despite the macro backdrop

Since listing in Aug 2017, Strix has consistently highlighted the resilience of its business through its ability to hit forecasts despite the uncertainty of trade wars, Brexit and slower consumer confidence. Today’s pre-close states it will again meet consensus profit expectations which is in the range of ZC’s estimates of £31.1m operating profit and £29.7m PBT. The controls business maintained its leading market share globally and in all regions with the market growing at a solid c. 4.5%. The Water division had a slower year growing at 6% but, as expected, performance improved in H2. Net debt of £26.3m is better than forecast due to a combination lower capex and better working capital. The shares have not participated in the Q4 rally partly because of the strong performance during the year (c. 38%). However, the valuation still looks compelling at 12.5x current year forecasts for a such a resilient business. The yield of 4.1% remains attractive with the company confirming it will increase the FY19 dividend by 10% to 7.7p

Companies: Strix Group

20 Jan 20

LIBERUM: AFH Financial Group* - Impressive growth and positive outlook

In FY19 AFH delivered 8% organic net flows and revenues are up 47% yoy. The revenue model change in Protection responds to investor concerns and leads to significantly increased cash conversion.

Companies: AFH Financial Group

21 Jan 20

Metronomic growth

dotdigital’s trading update to December reveals sales and adj. PBT growth in line with N+1 (and consensus) forecasts, while period-end net-cash of £22.5m infers >100% cash conversion. The company’s growth drivers remain consistent: geographical and ARPU expansion – here we flag 18% and 51% US and APAC growth respectively, meanwhile ARPU expanded 14% to £999/user/month. We expect ARPU to improve further, as more customers use the omnichannel functionality offered within the Engagement Cloud. Equally, international expansion should also remain a core theme, as here, DOTD’s low level of penetration in sizable markets provides a multiyear growth opportunity in our view. No changes to forecasts.

Companies: Dotdigital Group

20 Jan 20

A doubly-strong finish to 2019

Kape has today published a trading update for its 2019 year. The group, in addition to the November acquisition of PIA, has revealed a strong close to the year, with Adjusted EBITDA slightly ahead of expectations. We make no changes to our revenue and EBITDA forecastsfor 2020, which remain within the range of guidance provided, but take significant comfort from the fact that Kape has now delivered both strong organic outperformance and a transformational acquisition in recent months.

Companies: Kape Technologies

22 Jan 20

LIBERUM: NewRiver* - A resilient operating performance shows not all retail is the same

NewRiver's Q3 update confirms a resilient operating performance in a tough market overall, which should provide reassurance. Retail occupancy increased through Q3 to 96.1%, with lettings agreed 3% ahead of ERV.

Companies: Newriver Reit

17 Jan 20

Cenkos: Record Plc -- Upgrades arising from a positive update

Record achieved +8% growth in AUME to $65bn over Q3/20E. Favourable FX movements, further Passive inflows and a temporary inflow in the higher margin, multi-product strategy all underpinned the rise. These, combined with the delivery of the year's first performance fee of £1.8m, ahead of expectations, leads to material EPS upgrades in FY20E & FY21E.

Companies: Record

23 Jan 20

Success over peak delivers substantial uplift in profit margins

The work to improve operational performance and gross margin continued to deliver results over the all-important 2-month peak trading period, with sales growth accompanied by significant gross margin improvement. As operating efficiencies are also beginning to be delivered too, management now expects full year profits to be at least in line with expectations. In addition, the capacity solutions being implemented at its 3 existing DCs will provide the necessary headroom to achieve its medium term growth plans without the need for further significant investment. This, and the enhanced level of profitability, means management can focus on driving new growth orientated projects during FY21. Having fixed the mechanics, 2020 is shaping up to be a good year for the group. Our fair value estimate is now 432p

Companies: Gear4music

17 Jan 20

LIBERUM: Non-Standard Finance - CMD: Business as usual, but with less expensive funding

In December, NSF reduced its loan book growth targets for all three divisions. We believe that anyone who attended the Capital Markets Day will now be certain that this was a discretionary choice taken in order to allow profitability and returns to rise, and so, logically, to correct a very low valuation.

Companies: Non-Standard Finance

23 Jan 20

PPHE Hotel Group - Encouraging end to the year

PPHE’s FY19 trading update is solid, meaning that management is confident of meeting expectations. FY19 like-for-like (l-f-l) room revenue growth of 6.3% follows 6.7% growth in FY18. At this stage, typically, detailed commentary on the performance at individual country level is limited. Management has indicated that trading is benefiting from the £100m investment programme, and therefore the key drivers of growth in FY19 were London and the Netherlands. FY20 will continue to benefit from the two recently reopened Park Plaza hotels in the Netherlands. Longer-term growth will be driven by the £300m development pipeline, including key projects such as two art’otels in London and one in New York.

Companies: PPHE Hotel Group

23 Jan 20

ADM Energy CEO to use strong local knowledge to land deals

23 Jan 20

ADM Energy CEO to use strong local knowledge to land deals

23 Jan 20

New PPA and funding update from Tlou in Botswana

23 Jan 20

How Dekel Agri-Vision is diversifying its business

23 Jan 20

Polar Capital upbeat on the outlook for the healthcare sector

23 Jan 20

Low organic sales growth in Q4 19

In Q4 19, organic sales slowed significantly and came in short of expectation at +0.9% and +2.3% restated for the recognition of a tax receivable in Brazil in Q4 18. Sales growth was weak in Consumer (+0.4%) due to France, Germany and North America and despite a good performance in China (+15.4% including a positive effect from Chinese New Year) and the Professional business (+6.3%). The increase in the operating result from activity should be c.+6-6.5% (vs guidance of c.+6%)

Companies: SEB

23 Jan 20

Encouraging rebound

After several profit warnings since the end of 2018, Asos reported an encouraging start to the year. The strong sales volume during the Black Friday weekend across all regions pushed total sales growth to 20%, beating the upper range of consensus expectations.

Companies: ASOS

23 Jan 20

Bragg Gaming Group - German regulation looks positive (at last)

After years of uncertainty, all 16 German states have agreed in principle that the July 2021 Gambling Treaty will include a unified approach to allowing e-gaming (casino and poker). This follows recent news that e gaming was to be banned altogether. This new development is clearly a very positive step forward for the industry. The announcement is particularly important for Bragg, which derives c 40% of revenues from German facing operators. We will update our estimates at the FY19 results, when we expect further clarity.

23 Jan 20

Executive interview - Sureserve

23 Jan 20

Q4: good quarter, plenty of tailwinds to come

STM released another strong quarter, with every metric above guidance and expectation for this Q4, the best surprise for us coming at the profitability level. Going forward, STM expects to return to solid growth in 2020, although the next three months should be decisive in confirming this trend. We shall be upgrading our forecasts and see many catalysts for the stock in 2020.

Companies: STMicroelectronics

23 Jan 20

Executive interview - InMed: A leader in the development of cannabinol (CBN) therapeutics

23 Jan 20

bet-at-home - German regulation looks positive (at last)

After years of uncertainty, all 16 German states have agreed in principle that the July 2021 Gambling Treaty will include a unified approach to allowing e-gaming (casino and poker). This follows recent news that e-gaming was to be banned altogether. This new development is clearly a very positive step forward for the industry. The announcement is particularly important for bet-at-home (BAH), which derives c 20% of net gaming revenues (NGR) from German e-gaming. We will update our estimates at FY19 results in March, when we expect further clarity.

Companies: bet-at-home.com

23 Jan 20

EMIS Group - On track

EMIS’s FY19 trading update was reassuringly straightforward. H219 revenue and profit growth was similar to the rate in H119, which is within the company’s target for mid- to high single-digit growth. Both divisions made steady progress, with EMIS-X development ongoing and restructuring complete. We maintain our forecasts; FY19 results are due on 18 March.

Companies: Emis Group