TRAVIS PERKINS (TPK) £11.30 Gain to date: 11.3% Original entry point: Buy at £10.15, 30 April 2020 The latest trading update from building supplies firm Travis Perkins (TPK) was upbeat on current trends in its industry, but less positive than hoped on the outlook for the UK economy in general and its end markets for the rest of this year and 2021. While average weekly ...

While no firm wants to be seen publicly to be ‘having a good crisis’, given the gravity of the threat to the economy and public health from coronavirus, the fact is some firms are doing rather well despite, or in some cases as a result of, the pandemic. Some have been in the right place at the right time – think of healthcare, sanitation and hygiene firms – while others have been less ...

There are flickers of light at the end of a very long tunnel. Doctors are learning more about Covid-19 every day; how it spreads, which treatments are showing promise, and how to create effective testing methods. Inevitably, after being cooped up during many weeks of lockdown, restrictions are slowly being lifted and consumers and businesses are focusing on how they can transition back to ...

Builders’ merchants such as Travis Perkins (TPK) could be among the first businesses to return to something approaching ‘normal’ levels of activity in the next few months. Having been shut to all but essential services since mid-March as construction work ground to a halt across the country, depots are reopening as homebuilders such as Persimmon (PSN), Taylor Wimpey (TW.) and Vistry ...

The FTSE 100 bounced strongly on Friday, rising 4.6% to 5,389 points following gains in Asian markets overnight and expectations of more stimulus actions from around the world to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Stocks which have been hardest hit over the last two weeks bounced back strongly with share prices in Flutter (FLTR), Whitbread (WTB) and Royal Dutch (RDSB) all up double digit ...

Travis Perkins (TPK) £14.95 Loss to date: 6.3% Original entry point: Buy at £15.96, 16 January 2020 Considering that we recommended Travis Perkins (TPK) just days before the coronavirus outbreak hit the headlines in January, we aren’t deterred by the small loss in the shares to date. As the latest results showed, the core merchanting business is outperforming the market with ...

After a strong recovery overnight in US markets, with the S&P500 gaining 4.6% and the Dow Jones index gaining 5%, European markets posted increases of 2% or more in early trading on Tuesday. The FTSE 100 rallied 1% to 6,728 with every sector registering gains although notably defensive areas such as Tobacco and Utilities were still among the best performers suggesting investors are hedging ...

The FTSE 100 opened higher on Wednesday morning as investors expect US interest rates will remain on hold when the Federal Reserve meets later today. Unlike the hotly anticipated Bank of England meeting tomorrow, today’s Fed meeting is expected to be a quiet affair with a strong likelihood of no change in its policy. Shortly after the market open, the UK’s benchmark index was up 21.66 ...

Shares in builders’ merchant and tool-hire firm Travis Perkins (TPK) had a bumpy ride last quarter thanks to negative sentiment in its sector caused by profit warnings from building supplies firm SIG (SHI) and a drop in UK housebuilding activity amid uncertainty over Brexit and the general election. With the election out of the way and Brexit due to be formalised later this month, the ...

Some of the best investment opportunities are found when fundamentally good companies temporarily come a cropper. This is exactly the case with Luceco (LUCE), which continues to enjoy strong orders and has the scope to repair profit margins from the high single digits of today to the mid-teens of the past. Having sorted out the disastrous stock and currency mis-management problems of a ...

Begbies Traynor (BEG:AIM) Insolvency specialist and property services company Begbies Traynor (BEG:AIM) derives two thirds of its revenue from activities which are counter-cyclical, which means that in any future slowdown or even recession the business will see rising demand for its insolvency services. The company’s shares therefore provide a compelling hedge against future ...

TEMPLE BAR INVESTMENT TRUST (TMPL) £13.48 Gain to date: 15.2% Original entry point: Buy at £11.70, 29 August 2019 Shares in investment trust Temple Bar (TMPL) have surged higher since our late summer ‘buy’ call, leaving our recommendation a handsome 15.2% in the money. In anticipation of a rotation from growth to value, other investors have cottoned on to the attractions of this ...

Shares in builders’ merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) climbed 3.4% to a new 12-month high of £15.40 following a positive third quarter trading update. Like-for-like sales for the three months to the end of September were up 3.4% with a strong contribution from the Wickes retail business up 9.7% and an even stronger performance from the Toolstation division up 15.4%. New chief executive ...

UK stocks opened weaker today as the market awaits another key vote in parliament tonight. The FTSE 100 was down 15 points at 7,151 while the FTSE 250 was down 38 points at 20,270. Durex to Dettol maker Reckitt Benckiser (RB.) cut its full-year guidance for the second time this year sticking the blame on cautious retail purchasing ahead of the flu season in the US for its Mucinex product ...

Investors typically get to know companies well if they follow their story through trading updates and financial results. That doesn’t always give you the full picture. Several quoted businesses have unusual assets which aren’t front and centre of the investment case. There is often logic behind these quirky assets and you may be interested to read about a few examples. We’ve spotted a ...

Investors seeking a portfolio of cheap, dividend-paying stocks and selling on a 6.3% discount to net asset value (NAV) should look to Temple Bar Investment Trust (TMPL). This fund has a lot of attractions but isn’t suited to someone who is impatient and wants to see immediate gains. Value investing is currently out of fashion so anyone buy Temple Bar needs to understand that its shares are ...

Shares in builders’ merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) rallied 6% to £14.03 after reporting more first half sales and earnings momentum being driven by operational improvements. But the more interesting news surrounds Wickes, its largely consumer DIY chain. Management have confirmed plans to spin-out the business to shareholders over the next 12 months as part of ongoing plans to simplify the ...

UK stocks are lower on Wednesday, dragged down by weakness in Europe as US-China trade talks end abruptly and seemingly without resolution. Despite a further fall in the pound, the FTSE 100 is down 0.2% to 7,636 led by banks, beverages and personal goods, easing off 2019 highs of 7,686.61 recorded on Monday. Shares in Lloyds Banking (LLOY) drop 4.7% to 52.5p despite a solid first half ...

Home improvement giant Kingfisher (KGF) announces a modest-but-most-welcome rise in first quarter sales amid tough retail market conditions. Reassuringly, the FTSE 100 retailer also leaves full year guidance unchanged, yet the shares are 2.6% easier at 235.6p in early dealings. The reverse reflects the ongoing challenges facing the French business and disappointment on the absence of any ...

Builders' merchant Travis Perkins (TPK) is one of the top performers in the FTSE 350 mid-cap index today, up 2.6% to £14.41 following its strong first quarter trading update. Group sales for the three months to the end of March were up 7.3% on last year on a like for like basis driven by 10.6% growth in the Merchanting business and a 25% jump in sales at Toolstation. Last year’s revenues ...