Small Cap Breakfast

Block Energy— UK based oil exploration and production company whose main country of operation is the Republic of Georgia. Raising £4m. Mkt cap £9.3m. Due early June. Codemasters Group— video game developer and publisher, specialising in high quality racing games. Offer TBA. Seeking £15m in primary. Due 1 June. Strongbow Exploration (TSX:SBW) intends to dual list on AIM. Holds rights to the South Crofty underground tin mine, a former producing tin mine located in the towns of Pool and Camborne,

UK Food to Go

Ongoing labour cost challenges, higher input costs, sustained brisk organic sales volume growth and further room for innovation at both product and distribution level were the key investment features of the 2018 British Sandwich & Food to Go Association AGM and Conference, which was held in London yesterday. Moreover, the association had strong messages on food waste reduction and CSR, both of which are important as the industry body continues to lobby the UK government hard ahead of Brexit. The

Digging in Well

Produce Investments’ (PIL LN, BUY, T/P 240p) released FY2017 results on 28th September 2017 where revenue beat expectations and matched EPS estimates. In this Quick Sharpener we update our forecasts and take the opportunity to increase our price target from 210p to 240p. BUY. Exhibit 1 details our changes to forecasts. We maintain revenue at £203m, FY2018 and £206m, FY2019. EBIT is increased 18.8% to £9.6m in FY2018 and 16.9% to £10.0m in FY2019. The rise in EBIT margin from 4.0% to 4.8% reflect

“Assembled Here Together”

A debate about why major US food manufacturers’ margins appear consistently higher than those achieved in Europe is, in our view, worth having. In particular, should greater willingness to outsource production processes and focus more on marketing, new product development, finance and strategic M&A be the answer, there could be significant revenue growth opportunities for those who act as food industry solution providers.

Core Organic Strength Central to Opportunity

Produce Investments’ (PIL LN, BUY, T/P 210p) FY2017 results were ahead of both our own and market expectations at the revenue level but matched consensus on EPS. On 21st September 2017 the company stated that trading remained in line with Board expectations whilst it announced key Board changes – i.e. Chairman Neil Davidson and NED Sean Christie will retire from the company this calendar year.

Core Organic Strength Central to Opportunity

Produce Investments (PIL LN, BUY, T/P 210p) announced yesterday that Chairman Neil Davidson and Non-Executive Director Sean Christie intend to retire from their respective roles at the time of the company’s AGM in November. The company is due to release preliminary FY2017 results on 28th September. Trading remains in line with Board expectations according to today’s press release.

Eyeing Up Opportunity

Produce Investment’s (PIL LN, BUY, T/P 210p) interim profits were well beneath inferred market expectations as delays in the recovery of ex-farm potato prices coincided with unusual costs associated with the company’s implementation of a new ERP system. Interim EBIT fell to £0.2m from £3.4m last year.

Small Cap Breakfast

K3 Capital Group—Schedule 1 from the Group of business and company sales specialists across business transfer, business brokerage and corporate finance. Admission date and fundraise details TBC. Integumen— Schedule 1 from the personal health company developing and commercialising technology and products for the human integumentary system. Raising £2.16m at 5p. Expected market cap £8.16m. Admission expected 5 April. Sentinel—Investment company expecting NEX admission/introduction on 24 March. £

FY2016 Profits in line despite modest revenue beat

Produce Investments (PIL LN, BUY, T/P 210p) reported FY2016 preliminary results ahead of both our own and market expectations at the revenue level but with operating profits in line. Net revenue advanced to £185.1m from £178.4m in FY2015 – we were looking for £181.5m - while adjusted operating profits rose from £8.0m to £9.2m. Proposed full year dividend is 7.32p, a 2.2% gain on last year. The company is confident that despite challenging trading conditions, it is in “a strong position to grow.”

UK FMCG winners and losers from Brexit

The British referendum on EU membership is scheduled for 23rd June 2016. While opinion polls and bookmaker odds still bias towards “remain,” it makes some sense to assess briefly potential the FMCG winners and losers in the event of Brexit happening.

Digging up cash

Produce Investments is well placed to prosper, both in its core mainland GB potato business and in such useful additions as Jersey Royals and daffodils. A proven positive M&A track record is a major plus for a cash generative company with clearly achievable targets. In our view, valuation is attractive. BUY

Produce Investments/SAB Miller

Produce Investments - Jersey Analyst Visit | SABMiller – Trading update | Diageo – Trading update

Premier Foods+ (PFD, House Stock, 139p) - Pension cash contributions suspended

Greggs - Showing us how it's done

The second full year of Greggs’ five-year growth plan to double revenue by FY26 should be marked down as very successful, especially so given the challenging external environment. Unlike many consumer-facing companies, high selling price inflation was accompanied by volume growth, leading to good market share gains. The consumer is responding well to new initiatives to grow revenue in new dayparts and digital channels. Profitability was well-managed with better recovery of input cost inflation t

LIBERUM: Genus: Time to go the whole hog?

Carr's Group - An enhanced value creation strategy

Carr’s Group has announced an updated strategy that offers the potential for value realisation and creation from a number of avenues. These include: value realisation of the Engineering Division; the ability to significantly reduce central costs; and longer-term value creation in the Agriculture Division as a focused business with recovery potential and a strategy to leverage its strong market positions for growth.

Hardman & Co Healthcare Index: 2023 – Capital demands dent performance

The Hardman & Co Healthcare Index (HHI) has been running since 2009. Its main function is to highlight the attractions of life sciences investments over the long term. For the second year running, apart from global economic influences affecting world markets, performance in 2023 was dented by the capital-intensive nature of the sector. The HHI fell 3.7%, to 483.8, underperforming the main London markets – FTSE 100 (+3.8%) and FTSE All-Share (3.8%) but outperforming the FTSE AIM All-Share Index (

BWMX: 1Q Preview: Moving to the Offensive; Reiterate Buy, $22.50 PT

We are reiterating our Buy rating, projections and $22.50 price target for Betterware de Mexico with the company announcing 1Q24 (March) results after the close on Thursday. We believe, with momentum returning at the Betterware division, JAFRA remaining on a new product and marketing focus, the United States market becoming a larger emphasis and BWMX continuing to offer a compelling (and secure) dividend yield of 8.5%, BWMX remains well positioned to reward investors on multiple levels, and we r

Cake Box Holdings+ (CBOX, House Stock at 161p) - Robust trading - a modest upgrade

Greggs - A strong finish to FY23

Greggs (GRG) enjoyed a stronger-than-expected end to FY23 with sales ahead of our estimates and consensus forecasts, enabling GRG to meet its profit expectations for the year. GRG’s strong revenue growth and an improved profit performance in FY23 means it has fared better than many other consumer-facing names during the year. With lower inflationary pressures, the company enters FY24 in a better place with respect to its selling price versus cost inflation than at the start of FY23, when it was

Hybridan Small Cap Feast - 11 Jan 23

11 January 2023 @HybridanLLP Status of this Note and Disclaimer This document has been issued to you by Hybridan LLP for information purposes only and should not be construed in any circumstances as an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any security or other financial instrument, nor shall it, or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract relating to such action. This document has no regard for the specific investment object

FY19 in line but Middle East excise duty headwind

Nichols’s trading update signals an in-line FY19 outcome driven by UK market share gains and good international progress. The main news today is the recent 50% excise tax on non-carbonated drinks in Saudi Arabia/UAE. This is a headwind going into FY20 which at this juncture is extremely difficult to quantify given c.80% of in-country sales of Vimto in the Middle East are made during the one month of Ramadan. Our analysis shows a potential c.£2.5-£4m PBT hit. Given the uncertainty we prudently fa

Growth Companies - Share & share alike Sell in May?

Anpario+ (ANP) - House Stock (from Buy), 208p - Appointment as NOMAD & Broker leads to withdrawal of recommendation.

Wynnstay Group+ (WYN, House Stock, 385p) - CEO to take leave of absence

Morning Note – 23 January 2024

Morning Note – 27 February 2024