Looking Ahead At The Next Week
Companies: ALU, BRW, DWF, FTC, FDEV, SONC, SONG, IDOX, JHD, PMI, SGE, SLE, WJG
Company news, such as Interim results, Final results, AGM statements, Trading Updates, Capital Markets Days and Live Events, are all recognised by active investors as being spurs that generate interest and dealing activity.
This column highlights some company news that will be announced in the week ahead.
Check out any of the companies mentioned by using the Research-Tree Companies Research link.
A quick assimilation of what various brokers have to say about a particular company, can justify the requirement to delve even deeper into how it operates, its markets and its potential.
Monday 1st February
Interims: Hargreaves Lansdown (HL),
Finals: Porvair (PRV),
Trading Updates: James Halstead (JHD),
AGM/GMs: San Leon Energy (SLE),
Live Event: None declared
Research Tree Comment:
Manufacturer and international distributor of commercial floorcoverings James Halstead (JHD) stated at its mid-November AGM that it had continued its robust performance in the first four months of its year. Analyst John Cummins at WH Ireland considered that the group was well positioned to deliver even during these difficult times, seeing 550p as ‘fair value’ for the shares.
Oil and gas exploration and production group San Leon Energy (SLE) delayed its investment in Decklar Petroleum and the Oza Field in Nigeria in mid-December, a deal that SP Angel reckons could provide a long-term cash generative dividend to the company. Analyst Peter Dupont at Allenby Capital is excited about the potential value of SLE’s ‘hidden gem’, its interest in the Barryroe oil and gas field in the Celtic Sea Basin. This day’s EGM is to seek approval to migrate its electronic settlement for its shares from CREST to Euroclear Bank.
Tuesday 2nd February
Interims: Filtronic (FTC), NWF Grp (NWF)
Finals: Foxtons Grp (FOXT), Idox (IDOX), Sureserve Grp (SUR),
Trading Updates: Gem Diamonds (GEM),
AGM/GMs: None declared
Live Event: None declared
Research Tree Comment:
Telecoms hardware supplier Filtronic (FTC) could well see its guidance declared upon its interims on this day. Lorne Daniel and Michael Hill at finnCap will be waiting to put out an update on the figures. They were impressed at the recent contract news with a new major UK defence customer announced a couple of weeks ago.
In the software and computer services sector Idox (IDOX) sells technology to UK Public Sector and global Engineering clients. Its finals on this day are anticipated by analysts Gareth Evans and Ian Poulter at Progressive Research. They are looking for an update on the group’s positive momentum going into 2021.
Wednesday 3rd February
Interims: Frontier Developments (FDEV),
Finals: None declared
Trading Updates: Glencore (GLEN),
AGM/GMs: Codemasters Grp Hldgs (CDM), Premier Miton Grp (PMI), Stobart Grp (STOB),
Live Event: None declared
Research Tree Comment:
Earlier this month Liberum Capital noted positively on the Trading Update, from games group Frontier Developments (FDEV), that the first half revenues were up 16% and stronger than expected holiday season sales at the start of the group’s H2.
The same broker Liberum rates the shares of Premier Miton Group (PMI) concluding that the improving outlook is not reflected the asset management group’s shares. The Q1 update highlighted an encouraging trend for flows, will this day’s AGM give a further update on trading.
Thursday 4th February
Interims: Alumasc Grp (ALU), NCC Grp (NCC),
Finals: Royal Dutch Shell (RDSA),
Trading Updates: Severn Trent (SVT),
AGM/GMs: DCC (DCC), Hostelworld Grp (HSW), Microsaic Systems (MSYS), Sage Grp (SGE), Ten Lifestyle Grp (TENG),
Live Event: Watkin Jones Grp (WJG),
Research Tree Comment:
Alumasc Group (ALU), the building products supplier, surprised analyst David Buxton at finnCap when the company announced an Update earlier this month that its H1 trading was ahead of expectations. The broker considers that the shares have plenty of upside and increased its target price from 130p to 178p.
Analyst Helene Coumes at AlphaValue reckons that the share price of Sage Group (SGE) is at a bottom and should recover progressively. Her comments follow the application software group’s Q1 Trading Update. Reckoning that its shares have a 17.7% upside she rates them as a Buy.
At 4pm on this day Progressive Research is holding an Investor Presentation on Watkin Jones Group (WJG).
Friday 5th February
Interims: None declared
Finals: None declared
Trading Updates: On The Beach Grp (OTB),
AGM/GMs: Brewin Dolphin Hldgs (BRW), Countryside Properties (CSP), DWF Grp (DWF), Hipgnosis Songs Fund (SONG), On The Beach Grp (OTB), Smurfit Kappa Grp (SKG), Total Produce (TOT),
Live Event: None declared
Research Tree Comment:
Following the late November announcement of Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW) finals to end September analyst Rahim Karim at Liberum Capital was extremely positive about the company, suggesting that it will become a ‘leading advice-focused digitally enabled Wealth Manager’ by 2025. The benefits of its advice led offering is not reflected in the group’s valuation.
Mike Allen at Zeus Capital concluded after the early December H1 Update that the DWF Group (DWF) ‘is making good progress and a more settled economy could allow this to accelerate next year. In the meantime, we believe the tone of “increasing confidence” is an encouraging stance to take in the current environment.’
Hipgnosis Songs Fund (SONG), which owns and manages songwriter royalties, is considered by analyst William Heathcoat at Kepler Trust Intelligence to offer opportunity for capital growth from industry trends as well as active management. The EGM on this day is to approve the issue of new shares to fund the acquisition of a Pipeline Catalogue.
