B&Q-to-Screwfix owner Kingfisher's (KGF) shares are down roughly 11.5% over the past month with investors fearing a slowdown in consumer spending in the second half of 2025 which would delay the recovery in 'big-ticket' spending. Kingfisher's smaller home improvement rival Wickes (WIX) recently observed (10 September) that UK consumer confidence has 'remained subdued' and savings rates remain...

Third-quarter trading in line Interim dividend of 3.6p Share buyback ongoing Shares in Wickes (WIX) shares advanced as the home improvement retailer reported an adjusted pre-tax profit of £27.3 million for the 26 weeks to 28 June, an increase of 16.7% year-on-year. The company reported a 5.6% increase in total revenue for the period to £847.9 million and said trading in the third quarter to...

Sometimes reviving an old brand can be fun ? like Starburst sweets being rebranded as Opal Fruits for the summer ? but there's usually a good reason why brands vanish into obscurity and stay there. So, when Victorian Plumbing (VIC) announced it was reviving the MFI brand ? which collapsed into administration in 2008 because it could no longer compete effectively ? with a relaunch planned for...

UK retail stocks came under pressure on Tuesday (26 Aug) after analysts at Deutsche Bank downgraded the sector citing an anticipated slowdown in consumer spending. The analysts highlighted discretionary spending growth falling to 3% in the second half from 7% in the first half, which was buoyed by sunny weather. The bank believes the back end of 2024 and the first half of 2025 may turn out to...

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...

Stocks in London continued to trade mainly higher at midday Tuesday, while stocks in New York were called to open lower as the US-China tariff pause rally has faded, ahead of US consumer price index inflation data. The FTSE 100 index was up 11.40 points, 0.1%, at 8,616.38. The FTSE 250 was up 107.52 points, 0.5%, at 20,734.90, and the AIM All-Share was up 1.27 points, 0.2%, at 730.57. The Cboe...

'Good growth momentum' across business Warm weather tailwind Market backdrop remains 'challenging' Shares in Wickes (WIX) rose 10% to a three-year high of 215p after the home improvement retailer reported a 'strong start' to 2025 with first-quarter sales boosted by warmer weather. There was also relief as the DIY-store operator said it remains 'comfortable' in meeting the £47.7 million...

Weaker trends across broader marketGains in UK & Ireland, France, Poland'Encouraging' big-ticket sales in Q4Kingfisher (KGF) shares were the FTSE 100's biggest faller on 25 March, slumping 12% to 246.5p after the home improvement retailer reported declines in full-year revenue and profit amid weaker demand for big-ticket items.The B&Q-to-Castorama owner faced particular challenges in France,...

Earnings at top of estimate rangeCompany sees return to growth£20 million shares buyback to comeInvestors in home improvement retailer Wickes (WIX) were celebrating after the firm posted full-year earnings at the top of expectations and announced a £20 million buyback.The shares, which have been in a steady uptrend since the middle of 2024, jumped as much as 14p or 7% to a new 12-month high...

European stocks were higher on Tuesday afternoon, with New York stocks set for a quieter start after a tumultuous Monday trade which saw tech stocks dive.The FTSE 100 index added 51.82 points, 0.6%, at 8,555.53. The FTSE 250 was up 190.59 points, 0.9%, at 20,560.09, and the AIM All-Share rose 3.37 points, 0.5%, at 714.76.The Cboe UK 100 was 0.6% higher at 857.38, the Cboe UK 250 rose 1.0% at...

Wickes raises full year 2024 guidanceHalfords upgrades full year 2025 profit expectationWickes shares up 11%, Halfords shares up 19%Shares in Wickes (WIX) gained over 11% to 170p in morning trading as the DIY retailer reported a strong trading update for the six months ending 28 December.The company delivered continued sales and volume growth in retail with revenue up 3% year-on-year.Wickes...

Q3 like-for-likes down 9.7%But signs of sales stabilisation'Significant' online gainsTopps Tiles' (TPT) shares slid 4.2% to a 52-week low of 39p after the UK's leading tile specialist reported a 9.7% plunge in third quarter like-for-like sales as 'challenging' market conditions persisted.The share price reaction might have been harsher had Topps not stressed that sales stabilised through the...

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,...

Like-for-like sales trend worsensProfits to be second-half weightedLiberum halves FY24 estimatesLike-for-like sales tumbled 11.3% in the second quarter at Topps Tiles (TPT) amid persistently subdued demand in the UK RMI (repair, maintenance and improvement) market, especially for bigger-ticket projects.Shares in the UK?s market-leading tile retailer cheapened 3% to 42.7p on a warning...

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...

SIG downgrades full year profit to lower end of market expectationsImplies 12% lower profit as demand weakensUncertain timing of recoveryBuilding materials group SIG (SHI) lowered full year guidance for underlying operating profit to the lower end of current market expectations implying a 12% downgrade.The shares fell roughly in line with the downgrade dropping by a tenth to 31p taking the...

An under-the-radar constituent of the IA UK Equity Income sector that is delivering stellar returns despite difficult market conditions is VT Tyndall Real Income Fund (BYX0D61). Small at £18.9 million of assets, it is big on ambition under the stewardship of manager Simon Murphy and competitive on cost, with a lowly annual management charge of 0.35%.Murphy took over the fund right before the...

The common factor across the latest trading updates from the big housebuilders is they are all forecasting fewer completions and land purchases this year.That could spell trouble for the various trades which support the new-build home industry, from legal services to building materials and equipment hire to fitted kitchens and bathrooms.With mortgage costs soaring after repeated interest rate...

- DIY retailer delivers flat core sales- Maintains full year profit guidance- Liberum says shares are far too cheapShares in Wickes (WIX) weakened 7% to 116p after the home improvement retailer reported flat third quarter like-for-like sales in its core business as the pandemic-induced DIY boom lost momentum and hard-pressed UK consumers deferred big ticket projects.However, there was some...

Recent trading updates from various builders' merchants and building supplies companies suggest homeowners are no longer spending as freely on 'doing up the house' as they were during the pandemic.When everyone was cooped up at home in the first half of 2020 with cash to spare and DIY stores were classed as 'essential' and were therefore allowed to open, spending on home improvement...