S&U - Impairments drag FY24 PBT, moderation in FY25

In its trading update between December 2023 and January 2024, S&U announced that FY24 PBT will be 10% to 15% below consensus of c £38m. The key reason is lower collection rates in Advantage of 90% (H123: 94%) have prompted an increase in provisions. Management expects the collection rate to partially recover in the following months. Underpinned by an improving real estate market, Aspen continues to grow steadily with net receivables just over £130m (FY23: £114m). Elevated borrowing, at £224m, al

S&U - Maintaining cautious approach

In its update for the August to December period, S&U posted good growth in its net receivables balances in both Advantage and Aspen. Advantage reported a drop in live collections to 91% (H123: 94%), but bad debts and voluntary terminations remain below budget. Aspen continues to experience good volume with transactions improving in the quarter, while repayments remain above budget. Additionally, group borrowings reached £209m as S&U continues to fund its growth initiatives. Management announced

S&U - Resilient despite macroeconomic uncertainty

Advantage and Aspen both performed well and broadly in line with our expectations. PBT in H124 was £21.4m, 2% above H123. Impairments were better than expected, particularly at Aspen, but costs were affected by the inflationary environment and a more than twofold increase in finance expenses. Profit after tax came in at £16.2m, 5% below H123 as the tax rate rose. The group declared a dividend of 35p/share, in line with H123. S&U also increased its funding facilities by £70m to £280m in anticipat

S&U - Softer volumes but solid EBITDA growth expected

S&U held a cautious approach to new lending in H124, emphasising higher-quality customers and avoiding competition directly on price. Consequently, net receivables were 5% below our expectations in H124. Encouragingly, S&U has experienced a rise in transactions and new customer pipeline in the past two months in the Advantage motor business, but weakening consumer confidence, higher interest rates and paydowns are likely to curtail the usual rate of growth in Aspen for FY24. Despite this, impai

S&U - Results on track to meet FY24 expectations

S&U, the specialist motor and property finance lender, reported a good start to the financial year with profit before tax (PBT) up £0.3m in the period to 24 May despite group borrowing costs increasing by £3m versus the same period last year. A new £230m funding facility has increased total funding facilities to £280m, giving the group just under £100m to fund its growth plans over the next two years. Although rising interest rates are a headwind, credit quality remains strong, and S&U expects

S&U - Confident but remaining prudent in approach

As a specialist lender, S&U is sensitive to the economic background, but in its main motor finance business it has a strong track record of managing and growing through bumpy conditions. The newer property bridging business is maturing and shares a focus on customer service and a conservative underwriting approach. This provides the group with a sound basis for sustainable long-term growth.

S&U - FY23 results set to meet expectations

S&U’s year-end trading update confirmed that trading for both Advantage motor finance and Aspen property bridging has remained excellent since its last update in December. Full-year results, due on 28 March, are expected to meet expectations and be above budget. The economic background and tightened lending criteria are likely to have an impact in FY24, but there is still scope for more measured, responsible growth in S&U’s areas of specialist lending expertise.

S&U - Positive trading update

Lending growth in the August to December period has been ahead of our expectation, while credit quality in both motor finance and property bridging remains strong. S&U is sensitive to the macroeconomic background and continues to adjust its lending criteria accordingly to protect customers and credit performance. This provides a sound basis for further sustainable growth.

S&U - Experienced specialist lender performs well

With macroeconomic clouds gathering, it is not surprising that a small specialist non-bank lender such as S&U has been derated. However, the main business has a long track record and the group is managed in a conservative way focusing on customers, targeting sustainable long-term growth and employing relatively low gearing.

S&U - H1 growth ahead of expectations

S&U’s lending growth has been ahead of expectations in H123, despite relatively weak consumer confidence and a conservative underwriting policy. Credit quality has also remained high and the group continues work to underpin this for the future. This and the group’s experience of previous credit cycles should stand it in good stead to address the potential pressures arising from economic headwinds.

S&U - Positive update despite macro uncertainties

S&U has started its current financial year well with Advantage motor finance and Aspen property bridging making steady progress and achieving profit ahead of budget in the period since the end of January. Credit quality remains strong and while the group acknowledges rising cost of living pressures and reduced consumer confidence, it notes that it is currently on track and has funding in place (£180m facility) to meet its growth targets for FY23. Our estimates are unchanged.

LIBERUM: Plus500: Strategic progress pays dividends

Tatton Asset Management (TAM LN) - Record net inflows

Tatton, the leading on-platform discretionary fund manager (DFM) and IFA support services Group has released a trading update ahead of its results to 31 March 2024, due on 18 June 2024.

Hardman & Co Insight: 2023 was an annus horribilis for Quoted UK Infrastructure and Renewable Energy

The focus of Hardman & Co Research is on the nine quoted Infrastructure Investment Companies (IICs) and on the 22 Renewable Energy Infrastructure Funds (REIFs): the stocks analysed are all members of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). We are updating our publication of January 2023, assessing both the lacklustre share price performances during 2023 and the key issues, including interest rates, inflation and power prices. As a 31-strong group, its combined market capitalisation is no

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Ondo InsurTech FY24 Trading Update

Ondo InsurTech has released a brief post-YE update revealing its good progress continued through 2H24 and consequently FY24 will be in line with market expectations.

Lowland Investment Company - Is the tide turning?

Lowland Investment Company’s (LWI’s) unconstrained, multi-cap investment policy differentiates it from most peers in the AIC UK Equity Income sector. It offers investors broad market exposure, outside of the large, traditional ‘income stocks’ at a 13% discount to NAV. The underperformance of small- and mid-cap companies versus larger peers has slowed and a turnaround would be very positive for LWI. Portfolio returns are already benefiting from acquisition activity, spurred by low valuations, and

NextEnergy Solar Fund – High- and growing-income opportunity?

NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF) is almost 10 years old. Since launch, it has built a £1.2bn, 933MW portfolio of 100 operating solar assets, powering the equivalent of over 330,000 homes, declared dividends totalling £333m, and avoided the emission of about 2.2 Mt CO2e. NESF is on track to pay 8.35p in dividends, with forecast dividend cover of about 1.3x. Share price weakness that has afflicted the whole sector means that dividend translates to a yield of 11.1%, one of the highest in its sector, a

abrdn Private Equity Opportunities – On the way to greener pastures?

Despite navigating through what its managers considered to be challenging conditions in 2023, abrdn Private Equity Opportunities (APEO) was able to report both positive NAV growth and double-digit share price returns in its recently published annual results. APEO’s discount has narrowed by more than 10% in recent months, so that it is trading on a 28.9% discount currently, narrowing from about 45% last October. These figures were generated over a period that saw a slowdown in activity in Europea

LIBERUM: Speedy Hire: Weakness in FY 24 but recovery in FY 25

Primary Health Properties - Strategic and accretive Irish expansion

Primary Health Properties (PHP) has agreed to acquire Ireland’s first Enhanced Community Care (ECC) facility for a total consideration of €30m. With its interim results, PHP highlighted its continued plans for strategic expansion in Ireland, where higher yields support accretive investment in an expanding market. Alongside low-risk, value-creating asset management schemes and accelerating organic rental growth, this represents a key opportunity for continuing growth in income. Our forecasts are

Building a robust platform for growth - FY24 pre-close statement

Against a tough trading background in FY24, Speedy Hire has taken steps to build a platform for long term sustainable growth through the launch of its Velocity strategy. While progress has been more strategic than financial in the year – although we note positive underlying cash flow was achieved - new business wins, the acquisition of Green Power Hire and a transitioned B&Q model all suggest that profitability is likely to move ahead again from FY25 onwards. Speedy’s FY24 pre close statement e

Vanquis Banking Group+ (VANQ, House Stock, 47p) - Deep value

UK Equities: Overlooked, oversold, and over here

In this note we look at the gap between perception and reality in the UK equity market, the opportunities and threats in the economic and market outlook, and the emerging consensus that the valuation discount versus other major markets is at or close to an inflection point. We consider the benefits of UK equity strategies both for income investors and for those seeking exposure to the higher growth potential of smaller and mid-cap companies.

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