This feature explores spin-offs or de-mergers, looking at the rationale for them and how they have performed, and asks if they can be a promising hunting ground for investors.One of the UK?s largest recent spin-offs was GSK?s (GSK) demerger of its consumer healthcare division in 2022.GSK reportedly rebuffed a £50 billion offer from personal goods giant Unilever (ULVR) to buy the division, named H

Stock prices opened mixed on Monday, with the FTSE 250?s landscaping products company Marshalls plunging amid a profit dive, as investors prepare for a week full of interest rate decisions.The FTSE 100 index opened up 3.59 points at 7,731.01. The FTSE 250 was down 39.45 points, 0.2%, at 19,473.46, and the AIM All-Share was down 2.29 points, 0.3%, at 736.02.The Cboe UK 100 was up slightly at 774.01

London stocks were mixed but broadly positive at midday Thursday, as Bank of England data showed an unexpectedly large increase in UK mortgage approvals.The FTSE 100 index was up 19.99 points, 0.3%, at 7,644.97. The FTSE 250 was up 82.15 points, 0.4%, at 19,095.73, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.44 of a point, 0.1%, at 737.60.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 766.43, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.6% at

Broad-based growth delivered in 2023Slow first quarter expected£500 million buyback launchedShares in Haleon (HLN) were marked 6% higher to 332.1p on Thursday after the consumer health colossus reported a robust finish to 2023, with fourth quarter organic sales growth of 7%, and said it will allocate £500 million to share buybacks in 2024.Despite competitive market conditions, the FTSE 100 firm

Stock prices in London were mostly in the green on Thursday morning following a slew of earnings releases, ahead of a key US inflation reading.The FTSE 100 index opened up 19.31 points, 0.3%, at 7,644.29. The FTSE 250 was up 53.29 points, 0.3%, at 19,066.87, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.68 of a point, 0.1%, at 737.36.The Cboe UK 100 was up 0.4% at 766.62, the Cboe UK 250 was up 0.3% at 16,429.

Stock prices in London fell on Thursday morning before the European Central Bank?s interest rate decision, with the market pricing in a third hold.The FTSE 100 index opened down 11.17 points, 0.2%, at 7,516.50. The FTSE 250 was down 51.79 points, 0.3%, at 19,119.89, and the AIM All-Share was down 0.77 of a point, 0.1%, at 744.08.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.2% at 751.02, the Cboe UK 250 was down 0.2

As we approach the end of the year it is an opportune moment to shine a light on some of this year's least-loved stocks.Rather than look at the stocks which have lost the most, we have collected together those trading at or near their lows for the year along with those with the fewest friends in the analyst community and those which the hedge fund community thinks are outright shorts.If we first t

Volumes decline in Q3But sales continue to growResilient Haleon reiterates 2023 guideConsumer health colossus Haleon's (HLN) shares slipped 2.7% lower to 322p after the Sensodyne and Panadol supplier reported a third quarter sales growth slowdown and a worse than expected volume decline.The absence of an upgrade to full year sales and profit guidance also weighed on sentiment towards the FTSE 100

Californian Zantac cases agreedVolatility likely until all cases are settledGSK bags £885.6 million from Haleon saleShares in global pharmaceutical company GSK (GSK) hit a new 12-month high on Wednesday, rising 2% to £15.43, after the firm reached a confidential Zantac litigation settlement in California.The drug maker said it had also settled three remaining breast cancer bellwether cases in th

Spin-offs, demergers and disposals are often good news for investors, although it's not often a firm sees its share price rise when it has to pay someone to take assets off its hands, especially when those assets were previously thought to be earnings positive.In the case of hospitality firm Restaurant Group (RTN), however, that is exactly what happened.The group, best known for its Wagamama chain

Following our look at Microsoft (MSFT:NASDAQ), this is the second instalment in the Shares mini-series aimed at arming readers with an easy-to-use five step framework which can be applied to most popular types of company.Hopefully the structure we've provided will allow you to quickly assess if a stock looks right for you, with built-in rest-stops at each stage where you can decide to hop off for

Organic growth and operating profit guidance raisedFirst half growth led by flu and pain medicines55% of Haleon's business gained or maintained market shareConsumer health giant Haleon (HLN) raised its full-year organic sales growth and operating profit guidance following a strong first-half performance driven by a reassuring combination of price increases and volume growth.The FTSE 100 company sa

Shares jump 8% after ground breaking US commercial deal with HaleonFirst over-the-counter erectile dysfunction treatment in the USUS is the world's largest ED market affecting 22 million menPharmaceutical company Futura Medical (FUM:AIM) hasn't wasted any time getting its innovative gel for erectile dysfunction MED3000 into the US market after revealing a 'ground-breaking' commercial agreement wit

Quickly grasping the fundamental strengths and weaknesses of a company can save time when you are researching stocks. Narrowing the universe to a small set of names means you can be more focused and only have to dig deeper for the most promising investment candidates.HOW TO CALCULATE THE FIVE RATIOS Return on equity = (net income / equity) x 100Gearing = (net debt / equity) x 100Gross profit to as

A share price pause for breath at GSK (GSK) spin-out Haleon (HLN) is a buying opportunity for investors.This is a high-quality, large cap company with a strong brand portfolio and a long trajectory of global growth and progressive dividends ahead.The consumer health outfit behind headache tablet and toothpaste brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne and Advil boasts earnings resilience and offers exposu

Canadian court dismisses proposed class actionLack of scientific evidence Zantac causes cancerSuccessful placing of £840 million Haleon sharesShares in global biopharma giant GSK (GSK) jumped 1.7% to £14.68 on Friday following news that a Canadian Supreme Court has dismissed a proposed class action suit claiming heartburn drug Zantac causes cancer.GSK also announced it has agreed to sell around

The consumer health spin-out from Johnson & Johnson (JNJ:NYSE), Kenvue (KVUE:NYSE) enjoyed a positive stock market debut on 4 May, with shares in the company surging 22% to $26.90 in a move valuing the business at about $50 billion.Behind iconic brands rooted in science including Listerine mouthwash, Tylenol painkillers and Band-Aid adhesive bandages, Kenvue raised $3.8 billion at $22 a share - th

- Consumer health colossus reports strong start to 2023- Margins squeezed by cost inflation- Confident of full year 2023 guidanceConsumer health giant Haleon (HLN) reported a strong start to the year with organic revenue up 9.9% in the first quarter to March 2023, with volume growth positive at 2.8% despite the FTSE 100 company hiking prices by 7.1%.However, shares in the supplier of trusted heada

- Strong start to 2023 for GSK spin-out- Organic growth guidance upgraded- Respiratory health sales surge due to bad cold and flu seasonShares in Haleon (HLN) traded 2.1% higher at 351p after the consumer health colossus said it now expects organic revenue growth for 2023 to be towards the upper end of the 4% to 6% guidance range given in March.This follows a strong start to the year from the FTSE

The 7.1% share price discount to net asset value on investment trust Brunner (BUT) provides an opportunity to buy a balanced global portfolio for less than the value of the underlying assets.The trust has delivered consistent returns across the market cycle and has particular appeal during the current period of uncertainty. A quarterly dividend payer, Brunner is one of the Association of Investmen