TRADING UPDATES: Cohort interim loss widens, Yourgene loss narrows

Tue, 14th Dec 2021 18:01

(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Cohort PLC - defence and security markets-focussed technology company - For the six months ended October 31, pretax loss widens to GBP1.7 million from GBP370,000 a year before, due to higher administrative costs more than offsetting a 10% year-on-year increase in revenue to GBP60.0 million from GBP54.4 million. Order intake rose 18% to GBP105.3 million from GBP89.2 million, alongside a record closing order book of GBP285.8 million. Declares interim dividend of 3.85 pence per share, up 10% from 3.50p. Looking ahead, expects Chess order intake and delivery issues to affect the group's performance for the financial year.

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BMO Global Smaller Cos PLC - investment firm focused on on a portfolio of global smaller companies - As at October 31, net asset value per share increases 37% year-on-year to 183.62 pence from 134.49p. NAV total return for the period is 5.6%, compared to a 4.3% return from the benchmark, comprising 30% Numis UK Smaller Companies ex investment companies Index and 70% MSCI World All Countries ex UK Small Cap Index. Declares interim dividend of 0.57p per share, up 3.6% from 0.55p a year prior.

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Henderson Diversified Income Trust PLC - Janus Henderson managed trust seeking income and capital growth - As at October 31, net asset value per share increases 1.8% to 91.42 pence from 89.83p the same date a year before. NAV total return at 1.9%, compared to a 1.3% return from its benchmark, comprising 60% Global High Yield Credit, 25% Global Investment Grade Corporate Credit and 15% European Loans. Dividend per share for the six month period remains in line at 4.40p.

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GRC International Group PLC - Ely, England-based products and services for IT governance, risk management and compliance - For the six months ended September 30, pretax loss narrows to GBP492,000 from GBP1.5 million the same period a year before, on revenue which grew 22% year-on-year to GBP6.6 million from GBP5.4 million. Billings increases 27% to GBP7.1 million from GBP5.6 million, with the Software-as-a-Service rising on a boost in customers amid high demand. Looking ahead, expects strong trading momentum to continue into second half of the financial year.

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Miton UK MicroCap Trust PLC - investment firm focused on company's with market cap of less than GBP150 million - Net asset value per share as at October 31 increases 55% year-on-year to 96.67 pence from 62.32p. However for the six month period, NAV total return declined 7.8%, compared to 1.4% rise from the Numis 1000 Index.

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Begbies Traynor Group PLC - corporate restructuring specialist - For the six months ended October 31, pretax profit hikes to GBP2.7 million from GBP451,000 the same period a year before, on revenue which grew 39% year-on-year to GBP52.3 million from GBP37.5 million, through new acquisitions including MAF Finance and Fernie Greaves Chartered Surveyors and in comparison to a prior period affected by the lockdown. Declares interim dividend of 1.1 pence per share, up 10% from 1.0p the prior year. Looking ahead, expects annual results to be in line with market expectations.

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Surface Transforms PLC - Liverpool-based â€‹â€‹carbon fibre reinforced ceramic brake discs maker - Expects revenue for 2021 to be below GBP3 million, and significantly short of market expectations, due to a results of delays in the final commissioning of the upscaled production capacity at Knowsley. Although these capacity issues have been narrowed down to one complex furnace, which is on-track to be resolved immediately, Surface Transforms is unlikely to recover the sales gap in 2021, due to December being "a short month".

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Nuformix PLC - London-based pharmaceutical development firm focused on fibrosis and oncology via drug repurposing - For the six months ended September 30, pretax loss narrows to GBP449,022 from GBP475,874 the same period a year before, as lower costs more than offset revenue dropping to GBP50,000 from GBP195,550. Revenue came from the second instalment of the upfront payment from Oxilio on the full licensing agreement for NXP001. Company plans to raise GBP1.7 million through a subscription of 110.0 million shares by Lanstead Capital Investors LP at 1.5 pence each, the proceeds of which will go towards the development of NXP002 and NXP004.

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Trellus Health PLC - White Plains, New York-based digital health platform for complex chronic conditions - For 2021, company expects to incur a loss before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of USD5.9 million, on revenue of USD25,000. As at December 31, year-end cash is expected to be at least USD30 million, rising above market expectations.

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Yourgene Health PLC - molecular diagnostics firm - For the six months ended September 30, pretax loss narrows to GBP306,000 from GBP2.6 million the same period a year prior, due to revenue more than doubling to GBP17.5 million from GBP8.2 million through a sharp rise in Genomic Services through the high volume of Covid-19 testing services. Looking ahead, expects revenue for the financial year to further exceed market expectations. In addition, Yourgene wins a contract for the provision of genetic sequencing services by the UK Health Security Agency, which will run until March 31.

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Majedie Investments PLC - London-based investment trust - As at September 30, net asset value per share increases 16% year-on-year to 287.1 pence from 247.7p the same date the year before. For the annual period, net asset value total return was 20.6%. compared to the FTSE All-Share Index, which returned 27.9% and the MSCI All Country Index, which returned 22.1%. Declares final dividend of 7.0 pence per share, in line with year before.

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Jupiter Green Investment Trust PLC - investment firm focused on companies which have a significant focus on environmental solutions - Net asset value per share as at September 30 increased to 277.38 pence from 258.24p at the end of March. NAV total return is 4.6%, reflecting an underperformance against the MSCI World Small Cap Total Return Index, which returned 6.7%.

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By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com