Cenkos Securities - Uncertain background but resilient model

After a very strong H121, Cenkos recorded slightly higher revenues in H221 and made a strong start to FY22 with transactions including two IPOs and an introduction. The succession in management completed last year has been accompanied by a greater focus on collaboration within the business and the longer-term development of the franchise. Underpinning this is a willingness to invest selectively to ensure high levels of client service. This should be positive for the group even if the near-term m

Cenkos Securities - Reinvigorated and looking to the long term

A strong first half, continued transaction activity in the second half and a promising pipeline are positive near-term factors for Cenkos shares. On a longer view, the reinvigoration provided by management succession, a willingness to invest for growth and greater focus on building the franchise for the long term are encouraging factors, regardless of likely short-term swings in market sentiment and activity levels.

Cenkos Securities - Strong FY20 and positive outlook

Cenkos delivered a good performance in 2020, with revenue growth of over 20% and reduced fixed costs contributing to a rebound in profitability. The reformed executive committee is focusing on developing the existing strengths in corporate finance and broking while ensuring increased collaboration between teams. Timing of delivery of the transaction pipeline is always uncertain, but the focus on service delivery for clients should help generate long-term returns.

Cenkos Securities - Strong activity and lean cost base

Cenkos’s first half results demonstrated the benefits of its flexible operating model and strength of its client relationships. While challenges related to COVID-19 are set to continue, Cenkos’s focus is on growth companies and its fund-raising year-to-date has had a greater emphasis on corporates financing M&A and growth opportunities rather than for defensive purposes. This should prove more sustainable although, as always, the timing of transactions in the encouraging pipeline reported remain

Cenkos Securities - Uncertainty and opportunity

Cenkos benefits from a flexible business model that rewards staff and shareholders in periods of strong activity and revenues but limits the downside when the level of transactions is depressed. Fixed costs have been further reduced, which will help sustain profitability prospectively, while the strong balance sheet and surplus regulatory capital are important supportive features for both clients and investors.

Cenkos Securities - Costs adjusted to protect profitability

2019 was a difficult year for UK equity capital markets activity, and Cenkos demonstrated the strength of its flexible business model and the client relationships sustained by its staff, achieving full year profitability despite one-off restructuring costs. Lower fixed costs will benefit future earnings and Cenkos reports a positive start to 2020 with a strong pipeline. Conservatively, we have reduced our revenue/earnings assumptions for this year, but improved market/investor confidence could g

Cenkos Securities - Resilient broker with a substantial track record

Cenkos has a record of successful fund-raising for clients and maintaining annual profitability since its inception in 2005. This reflects its focus on client outcomes, a well-established network of business relationships and flexibility in its cost base. Its client relationships should stand it in good stead when market conditions become more favourable. In the meantime, the company’s strong balance sheet, with substantial capital headroom, provides reassurance and Cenkos would not need to atta

Adapting to market conditions

Cenkos has not been immune from the challenging market conditions in the first half of 2019. This is evidenced by a decline in revenues of 41% to £10.6m and a loss before tax of £0.2m. Net cash also declined from £34m at December 2018 to £14.7m reflecting the reduced trading, the payment of the 2018 bonus and dividend, and a share buy-back programme. On the upside we note that the second half has ‘started well…with an encouraging pipeline’. In addition, the interim dividend was maintained at 2p,

Strong 2H – dividend yield of over 6% in 2018

Cenkos has continued its tradition of always reporting a profit and paying a dividend. A strong second half in 2018 enabled it to report full year revenue and PBT of £45m and £3.2m respectively. This was ahead of our forecasts published in July 2018 of £42m and £2.1m. In addition, the dividend at 4.5p was ahead of our expected 4p and the cash balance at December 2018 of £33.6m contributed to a strong regulatory capital surplus. Looking at 2019, trading in Q1 was better than last year and with a

Cenkos: Healthcare Sector - Ward Round

Weekly round-up of AIM-listed healthcare news. Venture Life Group, GENinCode, Kromek, Alliance Pharma, Polarean Imaging, Benchmark Holdings, Ondine Biomedical, Verici Dx, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Avacta Group, Abingdon Health, Open Orphan, Belluscura, Hutchmed (China), Oxford Biodynamics

SHORE CAPITAL - H&T Group+ (HAT, House Stock, 322p)

Earnings in line, NAV ahead, caution being exercised

Urban Logistics REIT (“ULR”) has delivered a solid FY22 performance – deploying capital apace and driving strong returns through active asset management. Earnings and dividend are both in line vs SCMe. EPRA NAV is 190p (+7% vs SCMe); as yield compression came as a bonus. Caution is being exercised in deploying remaining capital, which impacts FY23e earnings only. We upgrade EPRA NAV by 14-20% incorporating some (but not all) recent yield compression. We increase our Target Price to 210p (FY23e E

Right Tech, Right Touch, Right Service Level

Argentex Group (“AGFX” or the “Group”) is a regulated, commercial FX specialist, offering a range of service-led and technology-enabled FX products to corporate, institutional and HNW clients. The Group’s core business has a strong growth track record and we expect a normalising market environment post-COVID to support organic growth within this. Additionally, we see attractive opportunities across its newly launched platform with a range of technology-enabled products as well as its continuing

Morning Note – 6 July 2022

FY22 – Strong Operating Result & On Track for Targets

Mercia Asset Management reported FY22 results, with a significant uplift in adj. operating profit to £8.4m, driven by strong management fee margins of >2% on stable FuM as well as strong finance income during the year. Group AuM has grown to >£1bn post period end, driven by fundraises across the Northern VCTs. The Group is well set to achieve its Mercia 20:20 Vision, with ~£27m (~46%) of its cumulative three-year PBT target delivered in year one. We increase our adj. EBITDA forecasts by 1-26% on

LIBERUM: Real Estate Investors* - Further profitable sales set to drive capital return strategy

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 01/07/22

1 July 2022 @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 objectives

Auctus on Friday - 01/07/2022

AUCTUS PUBLICATIONS ________________________________________ Arrow Exploration (AXL LN)C; Target price of £0.45 per share: Another well delivers flow rate above expectations – The RCS-1 well was flow tested at oil rates of up 1,872 bbl/d (936 bbl/d net to Arrow) of 30 API crude from the C7B sands. The zone was tested for 33 hours at an average oil rate of 1,076 bbl/d (538 bbl/d net to Arrow) with no formation water. Production will start next week at ~1,000 bbl/d (500 bbl/d net) in order to mini

2H22 – Good NAV Growth & Attractive Opportunities

Augmentum Fintech has delivered a strong finish to FY22, with NAV per share up 19% YoY and +9% HoH to 155.2p, driven by both investments and positive fair value changes across the majority of its portfolio companies. The 23% IRR since IPO is above the Group’s 20% Internal Target Return, demonstrating overall attractive investment performance. Post-period end The Group has invested £4.0m in new portfolio company Kenbi and the £43m proceeds from the sale of its stake in ii strengthens AUGM’s cash

Cenkos: Marlowe Plc -- Record organic growth

Marlowe delivered an impressive set of FY22A results, with underlying organic revenue growth of 9%, Adj EBITDA margins up 240bps to 18.6%, and Adj EBITDA of £54.4m (ahead of our £50.7m forecast). We make minor updates to our FY23E forecasts (Adj Diluted EPS increases 1% to 49.6p) and release new FY24E forecasts. Given the strength of Marlowe's business model, its defensive nature (non-discretionary products and services; 85%+ recurring revenue), the group's continued positive momentum (including

Hybridan Small Cap Feast 30/06/2022

Dish of the day Joiners: Visum Technologies has joined the AQSE Growth Market. The Company's business is to own and operate an "on-ride" video and photographic camera system that it sells and/or licenses to customers (being theme parks, ride manufacturers, souvenir imaging providers, and other leisure operators). Leavers: No Leavers Today. What’s cooking in the IPO kitchen? Immediate acquisitions (IME.L) is to re-join AIM via a Reverse Takeover of Fiinu Holdings Limited. Once complete the Compan

Palace Capital* - Strategy sharpened, 5% buyback commences

Further to its strategic review, Palace Capital intends to focus on becoming an ESG driven, regional office market specialist. To that end the company has announced a new £46.5m property disposal programme including its entire industrial property portfolio with the proceeds to be reinvested into the office sector. Palace Capital has also announced a buyback for up to 5% of its shares and continues to review its cost base. The outcome of the strategic review is to sharpen the focus on themes mana

Copyright Royalty Board III Decision

The final decision on CRB III (see below) on streaming revenues is positive for Songwriters, Music publishing and Hipgnosis (SONG). The decision will result in addition revenues being paid to SONG over the coming periods. We view the ruling as positive and evidence of a continuing shift in the understanding of the value of a Songwriter’s contribution to a hit record and the willingness of industry stakeholders to recognise it. YTD SONG has de-rated significantly and currently trades on a 23.8% d

Cenkos: Professional Services -- The week that was

Stocks in focus this week are Personal Group, Johnson Service Group, Capita and Mears