Onward Opps Share Price (ONWD)

10 Companies to follow in 2026

2025 was the year AIM showed its resilience, rising nearly 10pc after enduring years of higher interest rates in the wake of the pandemic and continued economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

It’s been the market’s best year for fundraising since the boom year of 2021: by the end of August AIM-listed companies had raised £2.1bn from IPOs and secondary fundraisings (shares sold by current shareholders rather than issued by the company itself), more than double the £889m raised in the previous 12 months.

AIM has continued to dominate Europe’s growth markets, accounting for 53pc of all capital raised across European small cap indices over the past five years: more money than its five nearest European rivals combined. IPOs on London’s junior market rebounded through the 2024/25 financial year, 16 companies listing so far against just nine last year. The average amount of new money raised per IPO was £9.9m, up from the low of £6.8m recorded in 2022/23.

And there are good grounds for believing the revival will gather pace in 2026. The brutal shakeout over the last few years has left a core of higher quality, better capitalised companies better able to inspire investor confidence. As a junior market AIM is particularly well positioned to benefit from the prospect of lower interest rates that will ease the debt burden of smaller companies. And it is a particular focus of ongoing efforts by policy makers (across all major parties) and regulators to improve the competitiveness of London’s markets and direct more investment into UK assets.

In his annual review of the small cap sector Investors’ Chronicle associate editor Simon Thompson notes that UK equities continue to be undervalued relative to US shares, particularly AIM-listed tech. Plenty of opportunities exist for canny stockpickers amid the many small caps with low earnings multiples.

The prospect of lower interest rates and – in due course – market reform augur well for AIM’s continued recovery in 2026. And though investors rightly look to the junior market for short-term gains they should not lose sight of one of the most well observed market patterns, frequently highlighted by TMS: the tendency of small caps to outperform their larger counterparts over time. The pattern has asserted itself in recent history, small and mid-sized companies generating a return premium over their larger peers of 6pc between 2009 and 2021. AIM was designed precisely to provide a framework for small cap growth over extended periods.

For investors willing to do their homework, manage risk, spread their money over different sectors, and hold on to promising shares through tough times, AIM offers as many opportunities as it ever has.

Here, we look at 10 Companies from a variety of sectors that have performed in 2025 or which may be positioned for a better year ahead. Also look out for our roundup of new year selections for Oil & Gas plus mining sto

Megasteel, which is currently arranging a RTO into TMOR, also looks to fit ONWD's criteria well:-

17th Apr 2023 7:00 am RNS Update on Proposed RTO

"Further to the announcement on 23 September 2022 regarding the proposed acquisition by More of Megasteel Limited ("Megasteel") (the "RTO" or the "Proposed Acquisition"), the Company is pleased to confirm that preparations for the publication of a prospectus and admission of the enlarged group to trading on the London Stock Exchange are now well advanced.

The Directors of More are also pleased to confirm that the Company and Megasteel are currently undertaking an investor roadshow as part of the Proposed Acquisition.

Rod McIllree, Executive Director of More Acquisitions plc, said:

"We are pleased to report that the RTO is progressing well. We are particularly encouraged by the strong level of interest that has been being shown in Megasteel by the UK investment community to date. We are increasingly confident that shareholders can expect completion of the RTO within this quarter, subject to FCA and other relevant approvals."

Nigel Roberts, CEO of Megasteel Limited, said:

"We are very pleased that we are are now in the final stages of the proposed RTO of Megasteel Ltd by More Acquisitions PLC. I have met with several existing shareholders of More and also potential shareholders and I look forward to concluding the process speedily and successfully.""

https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/TMOR/update-on-proposed-rto-54ucf4fr63oezdz.html

The Amocri Group, which is currently arranging a RTO into ROC, also looks to fit ONWD's criteria well:-

15th Nov 2022 3:56 pm RNS Potential Reverse Takeover & Suspension of Listing

"Rockpool Acquisitions Plc, the Special Purpose Acquisition Company ("SPAC") formed to undertake the acquisition of a company or business headquartered or materially based in Northern Ireland or alternative transactions with suitable targets, including those that may not have a direct connection with Northern Ireland, has entered into heads of terms ("Heads") relating to the proposed acquisition (the "Acquisition") of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Amcomri Group Limited ("Amcomri"), the holding company of a fast-growing, acquisitive group of quality UK Engineering and Manufacturing businesses.

The group consists of nine SMEs acquired over the past five years in those industrial sectors, and has a wealth of experience in optimising business performance.

The Group primarily provides a range of specialist engineering and equipment services to the power, rail, petrochemical, process and production electronics industries in the UK and Ireland. Within these sectors it offers a range of services and equipment to allow asset owners to extend the operating life of key high value critical assets or associated infrastructure.

More recently it has established a second focus area in specialist printing in which it owns a further two operating companies, its most recent acquisition in this sector being Bex Design & Print Limited, a 35-year-old specialist screen and digital print business supplying into the electronics and other industries. ...

Mike Irvine, co-founder and Non-Executive Director of Rockpool, said: "I am delighted that we are able to announce the potential acquisition of Amcomri which is intended to see Rockpool transform from a SPAC into a profitable trading enterprise. Amcomri's track record of successfully acquiring businesses and its wealth of experience in optimising business performance when combined with the opportunities for further acquisitions that a listing should provide, make the Acquisition a transaction that should create value for both the Rockpool and Amcomri shareholders.""

https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/ROC/potential-reverse-takeover-suspension-of-listing-ryf9u6tg0kix1sg.html

This new UK small cap. investing company floating recently is an indicator of currently depressed valuations in good opportunities.

And the checklist of characteristics they are looking for seems to fit NWT (Newmark Security) to a T:-

Newmark Security (NWT) 56.5p Market cap. £5.3M.
https://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?shareprice=NWT&share=Newmark-Security

30th Mar 2023 7:00 am RNS Admission to AIM and First Day of Dealings

... Investing policy

The Company will seek to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in equity and equity-related securities of UK smaller companies that are predominantly listed or admitted to trading on markets operated by the London Stock Exchange, and where it is considered that there is a material potential valuation upside that can be delivered from catalysing strategic, operational or management initiatives.

In order to ensure that the Company is able to maintain its approach of active engagement with investee companies, and to encourage and support value creation, the Company will typically target meaningful minority stakes in investee companies of between 5 per cent. And 25 per cent. Of the issued share capital.

Whilst the Company has no limitation on the size of the companies in which it can invest, the Company typically expects to invest in companies with market capitalisations of no more than £250 million (with a particular focus on those below £100 million) at the time of investment. The Company will therefore focus on investments in the ''micro'' smaller companies sector and on companies admitted to trading on AIM.

Investee companies will typically have certain of the following characteristics:

• balance sheet asset backing;

• a competitive advantage and/or strong management track record;

• attractive cash flow potential;

• visibility of earnings/future earnings improvement;

• potential for liquidity and/or exit in line with the Company's targeted hold period;

• scope for an active shareholder to trigger value creation; and/or

• foreseeable events and catalysts to unlock intrinsic value.

Investments may be either direct investments made by the Company, or indirect investments made by the Company through similar funds or investment vehicles. The Company may make its investments for cash or for share consideration.

Although investments will not be restricted to specific sectors, the Company does not expect to pursue or make investments into companies in the biotechnology sector or in companies directly involved in extractive industries (such as mining or oil and gas).

Whilst the Company will initially seek to take minority stakes in investee companies of between 5 per cent. And 25 per cent. And will not typically seek to take majority positions in investee companies, it will not be restricted from taking a majority position if considered appropriate by the Portfolio Manager.

The Company's portfolio is expected to be relatively concentrated, with a typical investment being between 2 per cent. And 10 per cent. Of Net Asset Value at the time of investment. ...

Whilst the Company will target an investment holding period of three to five years ...

https://www.lse.co.uk/rns/ONWD/admission-to-aim-and-first-day-of-dealings-s4hxfb7rn6fpy7i.html