WINNERS & LOSERS: Critical Metals new CEO; On the Beach swings to loss

Tue, 12th May 2026 10:58

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

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Main Market small-cap winners

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abrdn Property Income Trust Ltd, up 16% at 2.38 pence

African Pioneer PLC, up 15% at 1.03p

Tullow Oil PLC, up 8.2% at 16.38p

Critical Metals PLC, up 7.9% at 10.25p, appoints Danilo Lange as CEO with immediate effect

Headlam Group PLC, up 7.3% at 52.80p

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Main Market small-cap losers

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Kendrick Resources PLC, down 18% at 6.25p

On the Beach Group PLC, down 17% at 140.20p, swings to interim loss amid "challenging environment"

Cloudbreak Discovery PLC, down 14% at 0.63p

DeFi Development Corporation UK PLC, down 13% at 26.00p

Oberon AIM VCT PLC, down 13% at 20.50p

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AIM winners

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Frontier Developments PLC, up 20% at 393.75 pence, ups revenue and profit view

Tern PLC, up 17% at 0.70p, notes Device Authority's new strategic partnership with Xalient

Autins Group PLC, up 13% at 13.00p, repays remaining GBP750,000 balance on loan facility with Maven Capital

Mycelx Technologies Corp, up 12% at 51.00p, wins third offshore water treatment contract in Gulf of Mexico

Great Western Mining Corp PLC, up 11% at 5.00p

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AIM losers

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Braime Group PLC, down 19% at 850.00p

Novacyt SA, down 14% at 66.80p

EnSilica PLC, down 11% at 104.50p

Midwich Group PLC, down 9.9% at 148.30p, Q1 trading excluding Middle East in line with expectations

IQE PLC, down 8.1% at 50.08p

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Small-cap and AIM movers in focus:

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Critical Metals PLC, up 7.9% at 10.25 pence, 12-month range 3.00p-21.00p. Appoints Danilo Lange as chief executive officer on a permanent basis with immediate effect. The mining company says Lange, who has served as interim CEO since December 2025, has more than 25 years of leadership experience across mining, consumer goods and marketing sectors. Adds the appointment supports its strategy of investing in low-capex, near-production critical metals projects, including the Molulu copper/cobalt project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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On the Beach Group PLC, down 17% at 140.20, 12-month range 139.00p-304.50p. Swings to a pretax loss in the first half of its financial year despite reporting record booking volumes, as competitive pricing and disruption linked to conflict in the Middle East weigh on revenue. Pretax loss for the six months ended March 31 is GBP3.2 million, compared with a GBP4.5 million profit a year earlier, while revenue falls to GBP52.2 million from GBP59.4 million. Booking volumes rise 7% year-on-year to a record 324,000, ahead of the wider market, while travelled volumes increase 22%. The company says reduced revenue reflects competitive pricing in a challenging environment and later booking patterns across the industry. On the Beach maintains its interim dividend at 1.0 pence per share and says bookings over the last six weeks since the half-year end are up 9% year-on-year. The group says it remains well positioned to manage ongoing volatility and reinstates full-year guidance for adjusted pretax profit of GBP18 million to GBP25 million. Chief Executive Shaun Morton says: "However, whilst the group has limited exposure to destinations in the Middle East, the ongoing conflict has impacted consumer demand since March 1 and led the group to withdraw its guidance, as announced in the AGM trading update. Second-half booking activity has stabilised to a more consistent trading pattern and bookings over the last 6 weeks are up 9% as we approach the key Summer departure months. As a result, we have today reinstated guidance and the board is confident in delivering financial 2026 adjusted pretax profit in the range of GBP18 million to GBP25 million."

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Frontier Developments PLC, up 20% at 393.75 pence, 12-month range 185.00p-588.56p. Raises full-year guidance following stronger-than-expected trading. The Cambridge, England-based video game developer and publisher says it now expects annual revenue of around GBP103 million and adjusted operating profit of around GBP16 million.

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Tern PLC, up 17% at 0.70 pence, 12-month range 0.29p-2.00p. Notes portfolio company Device Authority has entered a strategic partnership with Xalient. The technology investment company says Xalient is a provider of identity-led cybersecurity services and adds it holds a 25.3% stake in Device Authority.

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Autins Group PLC, up 13% at 13.00 pence, 12-month range 4.28p-14.00p. Enters a new GBP1.0 million four-year term loan facility with Maven Capital Partners. The automotive acoustic and thermal insulation supplier says it has also repaid the remaining GBP750,000 balance on its existing loan facility with Maven.

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By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News reporter

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