(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Capital & Regional PLC, up 12% at 10.98 pence, 12-month range 54.00p-71.60p. The retail property investor restores its dividend after a swung to an interim profit on the back of strong leasing and robust rent collection. Capital & Regional returned to profitability, swinging to a pretax profit of GBP18.9 million for six months ended June 30 from a loss of GBP29.5 million in the same period last year. Revenue rose by 3.6% to GBP28.4 million from GBP27.4 million as rent collection was back in line with pre-Covid levels. Total dividend of 2.5 pence was declared, having skipped it in the prior year.
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Videndum PLC, up 7.2% at 1,483.82p, 12-month range 1,040.00p-1,665.00p. The content creation software provider posts improved interim profit on the back of strong market demand, despite component shortages and lockdowns in China. Videndum reported a pretax profit of GBP16.4 million in the six months ended June 30, up 8.6% from GBP15.1 million the previous year. Revenue jumped 23% to a record GBP223.6 million from GBP181.4 million a year prior. Videndum says it has a record order book heading into the second half of 2022.
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Empiric Student Property PLC, up 2.1% at 97.90p, 12-month range 80.10p-103.80p. The student accommodation provider posts significant rise in half-year profit and revenue as strong student demand drives increased occupancy rates for the upcoming academic year. For the six months ended June 30, pretax profit multiplied to GBP70.3 million from GBP7.0 million a year ago, due to the reduced impact of Covid on the academic year, increased rents and strong student demand. Revenue increased 37% to GBP35.6 million from GBP25.9 million a year prior. Looking ahead, the company expects to deliver revenue occupancy at the upper end of its guidance, between 90% and 95% for the upcoming academic year.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Ocean Wilsons Holdings Ltd, down 2.3% at 875.00p, 12-month range 830.00p-1,075.00p. The Bermudian investment company says it swung to an interim loss in the first half of 2022 due to a decline in its investment portfolio amid global supply chain challenges. Ocean Wilsons swung to a loss of USD9.7 million in the six months ended June 30, from a profit of USD66.2 million the previous year. Ocean Wilsons said this swing was primarily due to its negative return on its investment portfolio as well as increased finance costs.
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By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com
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Capital & Regional (CAL)
Ocean Wilsons (OCN)
Videndum Plc (VID)
Empiric (ESP)