SMALL-CAP WINNERS & LOSERS: Go-Ahead skids on UK rail franchise loss

Tue, 28th Sep 2021 11:01

(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Tuesday.

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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS

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Hunting PLC, up 3.6% at 228.50 pence, 12-month range 120.10p-297.00p. Tullow Oil PLC up 2.3% at 52.42p, 12-month range 13.42p-66.22p. Shares in the energy-related firms were tracking spot oil prices higher, with the North Sea benchmark Brent crude quoted at USD80.20 a barrel on Tuesday morning, up sharply from USD79.48 late Monday - its highest level in almost three years.

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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS

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Go-Ahead Group PLC, down 19% at 834.58p, 12-month range 533.70p-1,463.00p. The UK Department for Transport has decided not to renew the bus and train operator's Southeastern rail franchise when it expires next month, after it was found to have not declared more than GBP25 million of historic taxpayer funding. Go-Ahead, which owns operator London & Southeastern Railway alongside Keolis UK, says it regrets the decision, while acknowledging "errors". Go-Ahead also says Elodie Brian has resigned as chief financial officer, effective immediately. A search has begun for her successor, while Gordon Boyd has been appointed in the interim. Further, publishing of the group's financial year 2021 results, previously scheduled for September 30, has been postponed. Peer FirstGroup PLC was down 4.1% at 90.00p in a negative read-across.

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Clipper Logistics PLC, down 4.6% at 775.00p, 12-month range 411.00p-910.00p. Peel Hunt starts coverage on the e-fulfilment and returns management services provider with a Hold rating.

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Card Factory PLC, down 3.7% at 57.80p, 12-month range 30.10p-97.83p. The gift and greeting card retailer posts a first half earnings improvement but did not declare a dividend. In the six months to July 31, revenue rises 16% year-on-year to GBP116.9 million from GBP100.5 million. Its pretax loss narrows to GBP6.5 million from GBP22.2 million a year earlier. Like last year, the company will not pay an interim dividend. It has suspended payouts since the outbreak of Covid-19. Looking ahead, the company is "cautiously positive" about its second half prospects.

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AG Barr PLC, down 2.9% at 523.40p, 12-month range 442.50p-590.00p. The soft drinks maker reinstates its dividend after a first-half earnings surge, but flags growth will slow for the rest of the year. Revenue in the six months ended August 1 increases 20% year-on-year to GBP135.3 million from GBP113.2 million. Pretax profit jumps to GBP24.4 million from GBP5.1 million a year prior, when the company recorded GBP11.5 million exceptional charges. The Irn-Bru maker reinstates its interim dividend at 2 pence per share. "We do not expect to maintain the current level of operating margin in the second half, reflecting the rephasing of our increased marketing investment and our anticipation of increased cost inflation across the balance of the year," it says, looking ahead.

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By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com