Identifying companies which have an edge over their competitors which they are able to maintain is an important component of investing. After all, it is the companies which possess these qualities which can deliver above average returns for longer than might otherwise be expected. In this context, legendary investor Warren Buffett popularised the idea of an 'economic moat' which is the...

Shares in WH Smith (SMWH) slumped 42% on 21 August, the second worst one-day fall ever among the current batch of UK-listed mid and large-cap retailers according to analysis by AJ Bell, after the travel retailer said it had uncovered a £30 million accounting error in its North America operations. This major accounting gaffe and associated profit warning represent a big blow to the credibility...

They say that mood follows price, and in this respect, it is easy to see why private markets, and private equity in particular, are garnering so much attention, from Downing Street downwards. Even as the FTSE 100 crosses the 9,000 mark for the first time and flirts with new all-time highs, the capital return from the UK's leading index over the past five years is 50%. By contrast, the S&P 500...

UK grocery sales continue to tick along nicely over the summer with the latest data from Worldpanel showing a 4.5% rise in take-home shopping in the 12 weeks to 10 August, with market leaders Sainsbury (SBRY) and Tesco (TSCO) outperforming the market. However, in the last four weeks at least, all of the increase in value was down to higher prices rather than higher volumes, as inflation...

Chain outperform rivals Inflation has accelerated Revival in branded goods UK grocery sales continue to tick along nicely over the summer with the latest data from Worldpanel showing a 4.5% rise in take-home shopping in the 12 weeks to 10 August, with market leaders Sainsbury (SBRY) and Tesco (TSCO) outperforming the market. However, in the last four weeks at least, all of the increase in...

A recent report from consultants McKinsey explored the subject of what long-term 'intrinsic investors' want from companies and how in return companies can benefit from the presence of a strong a stable shareholder base. The bottom line is a strong, stable shareholder base tends to lead to higher returns, not just for businesses but for their investors too, creating a kind of virtuous circle....

Heatwaves hit H1 sales Concerns over 'peak Greggs' resurface Contract win with Tesco Following its surprise profit warning earlier this month, food-on-the-go retailer Greggs (GRG) confirmed guidance for full-year 2025 earnings to drop below last year's levels as the value sausage rolls-to-sandwiches retailer continues to grapple with tougher trading conditions. With inflation biting into...

In Sainsbury's (SBRY) last set of results for the 52 weeks ending 1 March, the company impressed investors with double-digit growth and an underlying operating profit topping £1 billion. The company also said it had completed a £200 million share buyback and increased its full-year dividend by 4% to 13.6p. However, Sainsbury's can't ignore the 'elephant in the room' which is the supermarket...

Haleon (HLN) 390.9p Market cap: £35.6 billion Geopolitical turbulence and Donald Trump's tariffs mean uncertainties abound for investors, with the outlook for global markets and economies likely to remain unclear for some time to come. Given this backdrop, savvy portfolio builders should increase their exposure to high-quality, cash-generative large-caps whose earnings have a defensive bent....

UK like-for-likes up 5.1% Full-year guidance unchanged Market remains 'intensely competitive' Grocery giant Tesco (TSCO) delivered robust first-quarter sales growth as what CEO Ken Murphy dubbed its 'powerful value proposition' drove further market share gains across the board for Britain's biggest retailer. Tesco's shares ticked up 2.3% to 394p on the positive news, although the absence of a...

Hilton Food (HFG) 870p Market cap: £779 million A share price pause for breath at Hilton Food (HFG) presents a buying opportunity for investors seeking a high-quality international business with defensive attributes, robust cash generation and a tasty long-term growth runway. This meat and fish packing business is taking market share around the globe and has positive trading momentum, yet the...

Warm Easter holiday weather boosted seasonal sales of outdoor and gardening products and encouraged consumers to get out and spend on 'big-ticket' projects. Among the beneficiaries was DIY chain Wickes (WIX), where revenue grew 6.9% in the 17 weeks to 26 April 2025. The specialty retailer highlighted 'strong volume-led' retail sales, up 9.2% on a like-for-like basis. Wickes, which opened its...

Business at value-focused shopkeeper B&M European Value Retail (BME) should be booming when households are watching every penny, so the fact the company isn't on a growth tear suggests tweaks to the strategy and customer proposition could be needed under new broom Tjeerd Jegen. The recently appointed CEO will provide an experienced hand at the tiller for the variety goods retailer, whose...

JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust (JCH) 760p Market cap: £419.9 million Investors seeking to inflation-proof portfolios and tap into the re-rating potential of the undervalued UK equity market, with further Bank of England rate cuts among the catalysts, should consider putting to money to work with JPMorgan Claverhouse (JCH). This UK Equity Income sector mainstay boasts a 52-year track...

Record sales and profits Continued margin expansion 35th year of dividend growth Premium food producer Cranswick (CWK) reported record full-year revenue and pre-tax profit, ahead of market forecasts, sending the shares up more than 4% to a new high of £54.90. Despite a 10% pullback in the shares on 12 May following an investigation into animal cruelty at a Lincolnshire farm, the shares are up...

FY26 retail profit guidance below consensus Investors cheer buyback and special dividend Reaction in sharp contrast to Tesco last week Investors in the UK's second-largest supermarket group Sainsbury's (SBRY) were treated to a triptych of good news with better-than-expected full-year results, a new £200 million buyback and a special dividend. This seemed to overshadow the news retail profit...

Since taking over the helm at Tesco (TSCO) four years ago, chief executive Ken Murphy and the rest of the team have done a fine job of steering the grocery giant to record profits and its highest market share in a decade. It was a surprise, therefore, when the shares dropped 6% on the day the company posted its 2024/25 annual results, but the reaction was based on what was to come rather than...

Supermarket Income REIT (SUPR) 77.1p Market cap: £959 million Experts reckon we could survive three days or nine meals with empty supermarket shelves before a full-blown societal collapse. That's how vital supermarkets are to our everyday existence. So, invest in shares of Tesco (TSCO), Sainsbury's (SBRY) or Marks & Spencer (MKS) during times of market turbulence? That is a possible option,...

These days it seems as though every company and their dog are buying back shares, if the morning flood of RNS (regulatory news service) announcements is anything to go by. Out of 300-odd news stories each day from 7am, by our reckoning over a third are 'transaction in own shares'. Although it remains to be seen whether that trend will continue in the face of market turbulence. Notably Tesco...

UK stocks posted their biggest gains since the pandemic on Thursday after the US paused new reciprocal tariffs, as investors welcomed a break from recent volatility and easing price pressures in the US. The FTSE 100 index closed up 233.77 points, 3.0%, at 7,913.25. The FTSE 250 ended 626.77 points higher, 3.5%, at 18,517.41. The AIM All-Share advanced 17.96 points, 2.9%, at 644.97. The Cboe UK...