Initial Equity Trading Comments - 19 February 2024

Initial Equity Trading Comments - 12 February 2024

Media - The story so far

In this edition of our biannual sector review, we summarise the manner in which recent results, trading statements and M&A activity have influenced our forecasts and recommendations. Most updates have met expectations/ provided reassurance on full-year prospects; however, recent share price performance has been disappointing and in many cases, primarily influenced by macro factors. We see value across a range of stocks (our top five positive picks are WPP, ITV, UBM, ITE and Quarto Group*) and re

Strong H1

MONY’s interim results support our bullish view of its long-term attractions. These include its market-leading position, exposure to growth in switching activity, ability to deliver significant savings and strong cash generation. We have upgraded our current year adj. PBT forecast by 6% and raised our target price from to 264p to 357p. This benchmark places the group’s stock on the cusp of an Add recommendation despite a strong run. We remain Neutral for now, but suggest investors use any share

Alphawave Semi: FY23 trading update, amended forward guidance

Alphawave Semi has reduced guidance for FY23 and prospectively citing lower revenues from China, changes in expected revenue recognition from long-term contracts, and continuing investment in R&D. The share price has reacted negatively, giving up most of the gains since the trading statement at the end of January. Current consensus, which is a good match for pre-existing guidance, should be reduced, most likely following release of the FY23 results and full 1Q24 trading update due on 23 April. H

Zeus Top Picks for 2024 - 2023 review and outlook for 2024

On 9 January last year, we set out our ten top stock picks for 2023, for what turned out to be another relatively poor twelve months for UK equities due to two wars, stubbornly high inflation and further tightening of monetary policy. This was even as other major markets, such as the US, largely recovered in the year. In the 2023 calendar year, the AIM All-Share index fell 8.2% and is still 42% off its 2021 high. From the release of our 2023 top picks note, the average total return (assuming div

Synectics + (SNX, House Stock at 185p) - Strong FY23A profit growth to continue

Maintel - Strong FY23 year-end TU continues trend of over-delivery

Maintel has reported a trading update for the year ending December 2023, indicating revenue in of at least £101m and adj EBITDA of “in excess of £9m”, compared with respective forecasts of £98m and £8.6m. Net debt of £18.1m also outperforms our expected year-end net debt of £18.6m. The group is continuing the trend established with the reintroduction of forecasts in April 2023, where growing confidence in delivery led to upgraded forecasts in both August and September, and still achieving outper

Morning Note – 4 April 2024

Auction Technology Group - H1/24 Trading update

ATG’s H1/24 trading statement indicates revenue for the six-month period to 31 March 2024 was $86m, a 6% increase on H1/23 (1% organic growth), helped by the addition of the EstateSales.Net (ESN) marketplace last year, which performed well in the period. Total marketplace revenue increased 2% (organic), driven by growth in value-added services (VAS) and event fees, offsetting a decline in commission revenue (mainly through lower asset prices).

Intelligent Ultrasound Group - GE Healthcare launches new Voluson Signature with

GE Healthcare has announced the launch of the Voluson Signature 20 and 18 ultrasound systems, with the related press release noting these systems ‘comprehensively integrate artificial intelligence’ to improve the ultrasound procedure for clinicians and the women being scanned. These ultrasound systems include SonoLyst, the AI which incorporates Intelligent Ultrasound’s ScanNav Assist and ScanNav AutoCapture AI software. The launch of additional Voluson systems including the SonoLyst suite of AI