Shares in Ocado (OCDO) have fallen by 20% over the past month as the online grocer continues with its fractious relationship with joint venture partner Marks & Spencer (MKS).Despite reporting average orders per week of 414,000, an 8.4% increase compared with the first quarter of 2023, and a 10.6% rise in revenue for Ocado Retail for the 13 weeks to 3 March, trouble is brewing for the online grocer

UK stocks look cheap on so many different valuation metrics, not just one or two, suggesting a robust, genuine investment opportunity is available to long-term investors. So why does nobody seem convinced?This article explores the scepticism surrounding the UK?s market?s attractive valuation and examines the underlying evidence to support it. Shares concludes UK stocks really are a compelling inve

The FTSE 100 came off session lows but still struggled to find its groove heading into Tuesday afternoon, with share price falls for miners meaning it underperformed continental peers.The FTSE 100 index was up just 3.00 points at 7,920.57. The FTSE 250 was up a more convincing 90.13 points, 0.5%, at 19,703.66, while the AIM All-Share was down just 0.02 of a point at 737.24.The Cboe UK 100 was marg

Average orders of 414,000 per week grew 8.4%Average basket value up 2.1%, basket size stableOcado shares down 37% year-to-dateShares in Ocado (OCDO) were marginally higher at 463p this morning as the online grocer reported a 10.6% rise in revenue for its Ocado Retail joint venture to £645.23 million for the 13 weeks to 3rd March 2024Average orders per week of 414,000 grew 8.4% compared with the f

Shares down 32% year-to-dateTech solutions revenue up 44%Ocado Retail revenue up 7%Shares in Ocado (OCDO) ripened 1.7% to 499p this morning after the online grocery specialist reported a group adjusted profit of £51.6 million for the 53 weeks ended 3 December 2023 compared with a £74.1 million loss in the same period a year ago.Total revenue was up 9.9% to £2.8 billion for the year.And the onli

The retail sector accounts for £104 billion of the FTSE 350 index by value of its 22 constituents, making it of significant importance to the UK stock market and to any investor with exposure to UK equities.The fortunes of retailers can tell us about the state of the consumer and in turn provide clues on economic activity. Therefore, even if you do not have exposure to individual stocks in this s

Cranswick (CWK) £40Profit to date: 11%In November 2023, we said investors hungry for positive earnings momentum and an unbroken 33 years of dividend growth should take a closer look at pork and poultry products supplier Cranswick (CWK).We saw scope for further earnings forecast upgrades based on strong UK food trading highlighted by leading grocer Tesco (TSCO).There is also underappreciated upsid

Twentysomething Beth started her investment journey during the pandemic after chatting with her dad who is an experienced investor. Prior to that investing was ?never on her radar?.Beth?s parents opened a Stocks & Shares ISA for her with investment platform AJ Bell and this is how she primarily invests. She also has a Lifetime ISA ? a tax free savings product available to the under-40s which can b

Ocado.com average basket value up 3.8%Shares down 18% over the past yearRecord Christmas sales for Ocado RetailShares in Ocado (OCDO) were up over 6% to 661p in morning trading as the online grocery retailer said retail revenue for the 13 weeks to 26 November 2023 grew by 10.9% to £609.4 million.The 50-50 joint venture between Ocado and Marks & Spencer (MKS) added that volumes of total items ?gre

Momentum sustained over ChristmasFood the standout performerGrowth slowdown, outlook caution weigh on sentimentOne of 2023?s best performing stocks, Marks & Spencer (MKS) sustained its positive sales momentum over the Christmas period with total sales up 7.2% to £3.86 billion and UK like-for-like sales up 8.1% in the 13 weeks to 30 December 2023.However, shares in the retail bellwether, which had

Rolls Royce tops the momentum listInvestors reward Marks & Spencer turnaroundOn The Beach sees strong forward bookingsMomentum is widely considered a powerful driver of stock returns and there are many ways to incorporate it into different trading strategies.There is more to momentum than share price strength, and it can include earnings revisions, earnings surprises, and analysts? recommendations

Firm rakes in money on higher ratesPanama and Suez passages chokedUK retailers could be affectedShares in shipbroking and shipping services group Clarkson (CKN) were the stand-out performer in the FTSE 250 after chief executive Andi Case raised the outlook for full-year earnings.Clarkson shares jumped as much as 9.5% to £35.95, taking them to a new 12-month high and straight to the top of the mid

Aldi sales up 8% year-on-yearLidl GB delivers best-ever ChristmasTesco gains on festive feelgood factorDiscount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have both reported ?record? Christmas trading after consumers on a budget flocked to their stores for cheap food and drink over the festive period.Neither of these grocers are listed on the stock market.However, shares in Tesco (TSCO) and Sainsbury?s (SBRY) tic

Next kicks off festive reporting seasonScope for upbeat news from B&MPotential Christmas winners include CurrysRetail bellwether Next (NXT) kicks off the post-Christmas reporting season on 4 January followed by discounters B&M European Value Retail (BME) and Shoe Zone (SHOE:AIM) on 9 January.Investors will be eager to learn if the sector benefited from some last-minute festive shopping when all th

Hard-pressed fashion retailer warns againLike-for-like sales down 7% in last six weeksCost-saving programme on trackEmbattled clothing and footwear retailer Superdry (SDRY) has disappointed the market yet again, warning trading has been ?significantly below? management expectations with full year profits to fall short of forecasts as a result.Shares in the hard-pressed hoodies, jackets and sweatsh

It has been an up and down year for the UK stock market but some names have really shone over the course of the last 12 months. In this article we go through the market cap ranks to identify the best performing large-, mid- and small-cap stocks in 2023.£5 billion+ market capWhile Nvidia (NVDA:NASDAQ) has dominated headlines globally as excitement around AI (artificial intelligence) helped drive i

There were several trends in the UK stock market this year which, if you managed to identify them, served you well.Most obviously, although it may not have seemed it at the index level, large-cap stocks generally performed better than small- and mid-caps, although for the lucky few the small-cap space has been rife with takeover activity.In terms of sectors, aerospace and defence topped the FTSE 3

Trust returns to long-run outperformance trendBenchmark-beating 17.6% returnUK mid-caps cheaper than large-capsJean Roche-run investment trust Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP) returned to form in style over the year ended 30 September 2023, delivering a net asset value total return of 17.6% versus the disappointing 30% decline in the previous year.This beat the 13.6% total return from the benchmark

We are now a little more than a fortnight away from Christmas Day with TV adverts pushing festive products, high streets adorned with Christmas decorations and shops flush with discount offers.The so-called 'Golden Quarter' including Black Friday is the most hotly contested period of the year amongst retailers and those that suffer disappointing sales or resort to overly-promotional strategies typ

Strong first half with sales up 12% and pre-tax profit rising 24%Adjusted operating margin improves to 6.8%Full year pre-tax profit upgraded to top of market forecastsPremium food supplier Cranswick (CWK) was one of the top gainers in the mid-cap FTSE 250 index on Tuesday, rising 2% to £37 after delivering tasty first half results and raising full year guidance.The shares notched-up a new 12-mont