Quarterly sales growth sluggishResults weighted to second halfShares erase recent rallyPest control and hygiene firm Rentokil (RTO) underwhelmed investors with its first-quarter trading update despite a more stable performance in its key North American market.The shares eased 13p or 3% to 433p, taking them to the bottom of the FTSE 100 leader board and eradicating almost all the gains since it pub

Stock prices in London remained mixed at midday on Thursday, as the interest rate decision from the European Central Bank due later this afternoon continued to hold attention.The FTSE 100 index was down 19.30 points, 0.3%, at 7,660.01. The FTSE 250 was up 103.41 points, 0.5%, at 19,576.63, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.18 points, 0.2%, at 738.81.The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 767.42, the Cboe U

Sales and profit jump 46% and 57% respectivelySynergies from integration of Terminix increased by $50 millionGood trading momentum continued into 2024Shares in Rentokil Initial (RTO) jumped 13% to 485p topping the FTSE leaderboard after the pest control and hygiene company said it expected higher cost savings from its $8 billion acquisition of Terminix.Also pleasing investors was news that the com

Normally, when a firm posts a 53% increase in quarterly revenues it doesn't result in its share price dropping by a third in a matter of days.However, in the case of FTSE 100 pest control and hygiene business Rentokil (RTO), the increase marked a slowdown from the first half growth rate of 70% and was accompanied by a warning over sales and margins in the group's key North American market.Most of

North American business slowingFull-year targets loweredUS rival Rollins outperformingPest control and hygiene firm Rentokil (RTO) disappointed investors with its third-quarter trading update and its weaker forecast for full-year revenues and margins in North America.The shares tumbled as much as much as 14% to a six-month low of 508p, making them the worst performer in the FTSE 100 index.

Imagine you've been given the choice of investing in three companies. You can choose one of two batches with the intention of holding them for at least five years.The first batch features a rat catcher, a provider of emergency telephones for lifts and a trucking company carrying small loads across the US. Sounds boring, right?The second batch features an American cruise line operator. You also get

- Benefits from Terminix merger- Pre-tax profit of £532 million for 2022- Dividend hike of 18% to 7.55p per shareHygiene and pest control firm Rentokil Initial (RTO) reported a 27.7% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to £532 million compared with £461 million for the full year lifted by the successful integration of Terminix and other M&A activity throughout 2022.The shares responded positively t

The classic definition of a 'defensive' stock is one which provides stable earnings and consistent returns in all market environments, but especially when market conditions are tough.They usually have a big installed customer base, so there is a constant demand for their products or services, and they tend to operate in what is known as an oligopoly or an area of limited competition.However, as we

- Volume growth and price rises drive sales - Bolt-on acquisitions continue to add value- Game-changing Terminix deal on trackHygiene and pest control firm Rentokil Initial (RTO) said it had seen 'excellent momentum' in the first half with strong revenue growth and pricing fully offsetting inflation.Investors responded positively, sending the shares up more than 3% to 519p, their highest level sin

After initially receiving garlands from the market with a rising share price, investors quickly became more circumspect on hygiene services and pest control firm Rentokil's (RTO) $6.7 billion deal for US rival Terminix.While the strategic logic of the deal is clear, creating a global market leader with a particularly strong footprint in the US and with annual cost synergies of $150 million identif

Both the blue chip FTSE 100 index and the FTSE 200 mid-cap index were unable to maintain their earlier gains and finished Tuesday's trading session in negative territory.This was despite the latest employment data which showed the UK jobless rate had fallen to 4.2% from 4.3% with the claimant count falling by a better than expected 49,700.Market sentiment was negatively impacted by a warning from

Both the blue chip FTSE 100 index and the FTSE 200 mid-cap index managed to hold onto their earlier gains at lunchtime, taking comfort from the latest employment data which showed the UK jobless rate had fallen to 4.2% from 4.3% with the claimant count falling by a better than expected 49,700.Investors are focused ahead of key interest rate decisions due from central banks later this week, with th

UK stocks opened higher on Tuesday as unemployment fell and investors continued to await interest-rate decisions due later in the week from a host of central banks. The UK jobless rate fell to 4.2%, down from 4.3% previously, with the claimant count falling by a better-than-expected 49,700.After falling back around 60 points on Monday, the FTSE 100 has recovered some of the lost ground in early tr

The UK equity markets ended Thursday's trading session in negative territory despite a series of positive trading updates from Barclays (BARC), Unilever (ULVR), and Relx (RELX). American equity markets provided little encouragement despite initial jobless claims dipping to a new pandemic low.According to official data just 290,000 individuals filed claims for unemployment insurance. This marks the

A rising list of economic worries kept investor sentiment firmly negative at Thursday lunchtime, while weakness in industrial commodities dragged down UK mining shares.At 12pm the benchmark FTSE 100 index, was 0.5% lower at 7,185 despite positive trading updates from Unilever (ULVR), and Relx (RELX).COMPANY NEWSAnglo American (AAL) lost 4.6% at £27.07 despite reporting a 2% rise in third-quarter

Leading UK stocks were pulled down by mining and bank stocks in early trade on Thursday, while Unilever (ULVR), which supplies all sorts of everyday goods we all use, like butter and tea, warned that inflation pressure could last far longer than many anticipate.The consumer brands firm saw its share price rise nearly 2% to £38.905 early on as its third quarter numbers proved to be resilient, with

Shares in global small and mid cap investment trust Smithson (SSON) traded sideways at £18.86, despite a decidedly sub-par performance in the first half and a shortfall in dividend income.For the six months to June, the total net asset value return per share was just 5.9% against a 12.4% return for the MSCI World Small and Mid-Cap Index.In addition, dividend income was lower than operating costs,

Major UK stocks enjoyed a strong day bolstered by hefty dividend payout announcements and largely upbeat earnings updates.At the close, the benchmark FTSE 100 had recorded a 0.85% jump to finish at 7,076.40, led by pest control company Rentokil Initial (RTO), with oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and miner Anglo American (AAL) also firmly up.The more domestically focused FTSE 250, which hit an i

Major UK stocks accelerated morning gains as markets moved into the afternoon session, bolstered by hefty dividend payout announcements and largely upbeat earnings updates.At 12.30pm, the benchmark FTSE 100 had jumped nearly 1% higher to trade at 7,079.18, led by pest control company Rentokil Initial (RTO), with oil major Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) and miner Anglo American (AAL) also firmly up.The m

Shares in pest control and hygiene group Rentokil Initial (RTO) jumped as much as 7% to 563p after the firm posted a sharp increase in first half sales and earnings and raised its full year profit forecast.For the six months to June, revenues rose 18.3% on a constant currency basis to £1.46 billion driven by strong demand for its core pest control and hygiene services, as one-off revenues from di