It must be maddening for analysts that every time they?ve put forecasts for Darktrace (DARK) into the market, they?re forced to tear them up and start again. It happened for the third time already this year earlier this month (11 April), in the wake of a surprisingly strong third fiscal quarter update (to 31 March) that the company predicts will mean an extra $2.4 million of ARR, or annual recurri

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

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (LLY:NYSE) is due to report first-quarter earnings before the market opens on 30 April. Wall Street is expecting EPS (earnings per share) of $2.54 which represents a 57% increase compared with the first quarter of 2023.All eyes will be on sales momentum in Lilly?s diabetes treatment Mounjaro and obesity treatment Zepbound following the latter?s launch in November 202

Digital coupons business jumps 17% post New York IPOJoins Reddit and Astera Labs as major new listings this yearAt $103.25 day one close, Ibotta market cap over $3 billionThere?s been plenty of talk about an IPO (initial public offering) market revival this year, and Ibotta?s (IBTA:NYSE) blistering New York debut will only bolster that narrative.On its first day as a public company, shares in the

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

Final quarter exceeds guidanceOperating profit up sharplyFurther £50 million buybackFacilities management and business service firm Mitie Group (MTO) surprised the market with stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and a fresh £50 million share buyback.The shares climbed 6p or 5.5% to a new five-year high of 117.5p on above-average trading volume. STRONG DEMAND FOR SERVICESIn its t

Mitie (MTO) 105pMarket cap: £1.4 billionFounded in 1987, Mitie Group (MTO) is the UK?s largest facilities management company looking after two and a half million assets for more than 3,000 customers.The firm takes care of buildings from banks to retailers, schools, hospitals and critical government sites, as well as the people who work in them, helping make them safer, more efficient and greener.

Stocks prices in London fell into the red on Friday, as unexpectedly high US jobs growth squashed hopes of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve sooner rather than later.The FTSE 100 index closed 64.73 points, 0.8%, at 7,911.16. The FTSE 250 ended down 147.25 points, 0.7%, at 19,725.94, and the AIM All-Share closed down 2.53 points, or 0.3%, at 740.05.The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.9% at 790.22,

Stocks in London slumped as increased geopolitical tensions and interest rate uncertainty added to investor nerves ahead of the US jobs report.The FTSE 100 index was down 77.03 points, 1.0%, at 7,898.86. The FTSE 250 was down 202.97 points, 1.0%, at 19,670.22, and the AIM All-Share was down 3.61 points, 0.5%, at 738.97.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.9% at 789.74, the Cboe UK 250 was down 1.0% at 17,12

Stocks in Europe had a weak start on Friday, as the threat of more Middle East sabre-rattling and doubt of US interest rate cut timing damaged investor morale.Perhaps in a sign of the times, BAE Systems was among only a handful of large-caps in London to trade higher.A red-hot US jobs report could damage sentiment further later. The data is reported at 1330 BST.The FTSE 100 index opened down 73.44

Many investors had high hopes going into 2024. The market?s robust first-quarter rally still managed to surprise them. Resilient corporate profits, enthusiasm around AI and hopes that the Fed will cut rates have given investors plenty of reasons to keep on buying and keep buying they have in the run-in to Easter.Everything from stocks to bitcoin to gold have marched to new records in the first qua

1. Semiconductors in focus: The semiconductor sector, as represented by the Philadelphia semiconductor index, posted a 10% gain in February. This reflected renewed optimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) chips and their associated applications. Asian chipmakers, which are responsible for manufacturing most of these chips, posted similarly strong gains in the month. This blistering pace o

The idea behind our investment philosophy is quite simple. We?re living on a planet of around eight billion people ? that planet is finite, and its population is growing but also demanding higher standards of living.The necessary switch to a more sustainable way of running the global economy is being facilitated by new technologies, smart entrepreneurial activity, and government actions to shape n

Blue chip stocks in London were up at the start of Friday afternoon, while mid-caps lost ground, after there were no surprises from UK and US central banks this week.Amongst individual stocks, Phoenix Group got a boost thanks to its 2023 results. Retail stocks were lower on the back of February?s ?downpour?.The FTSE 100 index was up 52.26 points, 0.7%, at 7,934.81. The FTSE 250 was down 18.04 poin

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE An equity income option to suit all tastesEquity income offers a breadth of investment options, depending on the regionThe UK is an option for recovery, Asia for growth, and the US for diversificationEquity income strategies may have a tailwind from falling interest ratesThere remains considerable debate over when and by how much interest rates could fall this year.

Full year revenue up 13% to £206.4 million£450 million special dividend expectedShares up 18% over the past yearShares in Ascential (ASCL) were up nearly 3% to 307p in morning trading as the events outfit and information provider reported a 13% rise in revenue to £206.4 million for the year ending 31 December.Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest taxation depreciation and amortisation) was

THIS IS AN ADVERTISING FEATURE Imran Sattar, Portfolio Manager of Edinburgh Investment Trust, and Emily Barnard, Deputy Portfolio Manager, take a flexible investment approach because investment styles come in and out of fashion, with economic and market cycles impacting them positively and negatively. They seek to find companies that can grow profits and dividends over the next three to five year

One of the most popular investment trusts with AJ Bell?s ISA millionaires, City of London (CTY) is a favourite with investors seeking long-term income and capital growth and a gateway to large international companies.However, while the long-run performance record is strong, Curtis? cautious approach means the fund can underperform in some market conditions. On a 10-year share price total return ba

Investors have regained an appetite for sandwich, salad and sushi-maker Greencore (GNC) with the shares up 12.3% to 106.7p year-to-date, extending their one-year rally to 28%. Building on a profit upgrade delivered in October, the Dublin-headquartered soup-to-sauce supplier served up encouraging first-quarter results (25 January 2024) with outstanding customer service levels underpinning a 5.8% ri

UK enterprise cybersecurity firm Darktrace (DARK) is rediscovering its mojo after unveiling surprisingly strong growth and margin expansion in the six months to end December 2023. Against a backcloth of intense geopolitical tension, governments and corporate clients are becoming increasingly wary of the threat of hacking attacks, while AI (artificial intelligence) tools are making it easier for