ADVFN UK Market News

Author: Fiona Craig

  • Victrex raises FY26 profit guidance to £45 million-£47 million

    Victrex raises FY26 profit guidance to £45 million-£47 million

    Victrex (LSE:VCT) has raised its full-year 2026 underlying profit before tax guidance to between £45 million and £47 million, from its previous range of £42 million to £44 million, following improved trading into the fourth quarter.

    The high-performance polymers group reported year-on-year revenue growth across aerospace, value-added resellers and electronics, with the company highlighting demand in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Victrex said its previously announced 10% reduction in headcount has been completed and is contributing to profit performance.

    The company has also appointed Chris Gilbert as interim chief financial officer. Victrex said Gilbert has experience in finance transformation.

    Separately, Victrex has completed the disposal of its US-based Kleiss Gears business. The transaction will result in an exceptional loss of approximately £3 million.

    The company said the disposal follows its work to develop the market for PEEK gears and forms part of a strategy to focus resources on its core polymer operations.

    Victrex is scheduled to hold a capital markets event later this month.

    More about Victrex

    Victrex plc is a UK-listed manufacturer of high-performance polymer materials and products.

    The company supplies polymers, semi-finished products and finished components for markets including automotive, aerospace, energy and industrial, electronics and medical applications.

    Victrex has more than 40 years of experience in high-performance polymers and operates across multiple international markets.

  • Pebble Beach Systems H1 revenue rises 10% as recurring revenue increases

    Pebble Beach Systems H1 revenue rises 10% as recurring revenue increases

    Pebble Beach Systems (LSE:PEB) reported revenue of £6.5 million for the six months ended 30 June 2026, an increase of 10% from the prior-year period, while adjusted EBITDA rose 25% to £2.5 million.

    The broadcast and streaming software provider reported a 260% increase in statutory profit before tax to £1.8 million.

    Project revenue increased 19% to £3.1 million, while recurring support and maintenance revenue rose 6% to £3.4 million. Annualised recurring revenue increased 20% to £8.1 million, supported by service-level agreement renewals, contract expansions and new customers.

    Net debt excluding leases declined 76% to £0.8 million during the period. Management expects the company to move into a net cash position by the end of 2026.

    Pebble added four major customers during the first half, including streaming businesses in the US and Romania and Tier 1 broadcasters in Singapore and Australia. It also secured a contract in the Middle East and completed installations for broadcasters in North America, Dubai and Europe.

    The company reported £6.3 million of new orders and said it continued to invest in employees and technology during the period.

    Pebble said second-half margins are expected to normalise as higher-margin software licence sales are anticipated to account for a smaller proportion of the revenue mix.

    The company also plans to update its capital allocation policy in the new financial year.

    More about Pebble Beach Systems

    Pebble Beach Systems Group, trading as Pebble, provides software for broadcast and streaming operations.

    Its products include playout automation and integrated channel technology and are used to control more than 1,000 channels for broadcasters across more than 60 countries.

    The company’s revenue includes software projects alongside recurring support and maintenance income generated through service-level agreements.

  • Carclo maintains full-year guidance as aerospace supports Speciality growth

    Carclo maintains full-year guidance as aerospace supports Speciality growth

    Carclo (LSE:CAR) has maintained its full-year expectations, reporting underlying operating profit and return on sales in line with its forecasts despite slightly lower year-to-date revenue.

    The precision engineering group said the revenue performance reflected the phasing of tooling programmes and a slower first quarter for its U.S. Manufacturing Solutions business. Volumes increased during the second quarter, particularly within Manufacturing Solutions.

    In EMEA, Manufacturing Solutions continued to report revenue growth and margins from its automated, high-volume operations. Carclo said some life sciences diagnostics customers were experiencing lower demand as they reduced inventory levels.

    The Speciality division recorded volume growth, supported by demand from aerospace customers. The group has also added precision machining capacity in France as part of its European operations.

    Design and Engineering revenue was broadly unchanged year-on-year, while margins improved. Carclo said customer activity in the U.S. was increasing following a higher level of activity in the second half of the previous year, while it expects its EMEA operations to recover later in the current financial year.

    The company reported working capital outflows and higher net debt as of July. Management expects these movements to reverse by the end of the second quarter, with net debt excluding leases anticipated to be broadly in line with the prior-year level.

    Carclo expects trading to be weighted towards the second half of the financial year, based on anticipated demand through late 2026 and early 2027, order activity and new programme launches. The board left its full-year expectations unchanged.

    The group is scheduled to publish interim results for the six months ending 30 September 2026 in November.

    More about Carclo plc

    Carclo plc is a London-listed precision engineering group serving the Life Sciences, Aerospace and Safety & Security markets.

    Its operations include Manufacturing Solutions, Design & Engineering and Speciality components, with manufacturing activities in EMEA and the United States.

    The group provides automated manufacturing, tooling, design and precision machining services for customers including civil and defence aerospace and life sciences companies. Its current corporate strategy is known as Precision 2030.

  • Frontier Developments FY26 revenue rises 16% as operating profit reaches £25 million

    Frontier Developments FY26 revenue rises 16% as operating profit reaches £25 million

    Frontier Developments (LSE:FDEV) reported revenue of £104.8 million for FY26, an increase of 16%, while operating profit rose to £25.0 million from approximately half that level in the previous year.

    Adjusted operating profit increased 62% to £21.4 million. The video game developer ended the financial year with cash of £44.0 million after conducting share buybacks during the period.

    Frontier said its cash balance subsequently increased to £51.4 million by August and announced a £5.0 million special dividend.

    The company attributed FY26 performance to Jurassic World Evolution 3 and continued contributions from its Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo franchises.

    Frontier also outlined its upcoming game release schedule. Planet Zoo 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Deathwatch are planned for FY27, while a new Planet creative management simulation title based on Frontier’s own intellectual property is scheduled for FY28.

    The company is targeting the release of one new creative management simulation game each year as part of its longer-term development strategy. Its future pipeline also includes projects associated with a new licensing agreement with Disney.

    Frontier announced leadership changes alongside its results, with Jo Cooke becoming chief executive officer and founder David Braben moving to a non-executive role.

    More about Frontier Developments

    Frontier Developments plc is a Cambridge-based developer and publisher of video games.

    The company develops creative management simulation titles, with franchises including Planet Coaster, Planet Zoo and Jurassic World Evolution. Its games are developed using Frontier’s proprietary COBRA technology.

    Frontier’s business model includes new game releases, additional content and sales from its existing catalogue of titles.

  • Mortgage Advice Bureau lowers 2026 profit guidance to around £38 million

    Mortgage Advice Bureau lowers 2026 profit guidance to around £38 million

    Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc (LSE:MAB1) has lowered its full-year 2026 adjusted profit before tax guidance to approximately £38 million, below current market consensus, citing softer housing market conditions and delays in lead flows at its Fluent subsidiary.

    The group also marginally increased its estimate for first-half adjusted profit before tax to approximately £14.8 million.

    Mortgage Advice Bureau now expects full-year profit growth of around 5% compared with 2025. Management said refinancing activity and operational efficiencies from centralisation and automation are expected to contribute to the year’s performance.

    The company said it does not expect a meaningful recovery in mortgage purchase activity in the near term, reflecting conditions in the UK housing market.

    At Fluent, delays affecting expected lead flows have resulted in the anticipated increase in profit contribution being deferred. Mortgage Advice Bureau now expects the associated profit uplift to occur in 2027 rather than 2026.

    More about Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings)

    Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) plc is a UK property finance intermediary providing mortgage, specialist lending, protection and general insurance advice through a network of partner firms.

    The group has a network of more than 2,100 advisers and provides its Appointed Representative firms with services including recruitment, lead generation, training, compliance support and digital marketing.

    Mortgage Advice Bureau also operates proprietary technology and digital services connecting customers, advisers, lenders and insurers across the mortgage and homeownership market.

  • ECR Minerals reports gold soil anomalies at Lolworth project

    ECR Minerals reports gold soil anomalies at Lolworth project

    ECR Minerals (LSE:ECR) has reported soil sampling results from its 100%-owned Lolworth gold project in North Queensland, including 31 samples containing more than 100 parts per billion gold and a peak result of 608 ppb gold.

    The company said the results have provided additional information on the structural controls of mineralisation at Lolworth and indicate that previously identified gold-bearing structures extend beyond areas tested during the project’s maiden drilling programme.

    ECR’s geological interpretation identifies a principal north-northwest-trending gold-bearing structural system, as well as a second parallel gold trend to the northeast of the Uncle Terry prospect.

    The sampling also identified northeast-trending silver-bearing shear structures. ECR said the new anomalies, together with gold and silver intercepts from previous shallow drilling, will be used to refine targets for further exploration.

    The company is planning a larger diamond core drilling programme to test the identified structural trends and other priority targets.

    ECR’s geologists also interpret the principal gold trend as potentially extending south towards Gorge Creek West. Further exploration will be required to assess the continuity and extent of mineralisation across the area.

    More about ECR Minerals

    ECR Minerals PLC is an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company focused on gold projects in Australia.

    Its portfolio includes the Lolworth Project in North Queensland, which covers approximately 946 square kilometres. Exploration at the project is targeting gold and silver mineralisation associated with identified structural trends.

    ECR uses exploration techniques including soil geochemistry, reverse circulation drilling and diamond core drilling to identify and evaluate mineralised structures and prospective targets.

  • Reabold says West Newton A-2 preparatory works to begin as data centre study progresses

    Reabold says West Newton A-2 preparatory works to begin as data centre study progresses

    Reabold Resources (LSE:RBD) said preparatory work for the recompletion, stimulation and testing of the West Newton A-2 well in East Yorkshire is expected to begin shortly.

    Rathlin Energy, the operator of West Newton, has notified Reabold that authorities for expenditure have been issued covering access road works and key long-lead items required for the programme.

    The total gross cost of the planned work is estimated at approximately £2.5 million. Reabold holds an economic interest in West Newton through its investment in Rathlin Energy and a direct interest in the associated licence.

    The programme is intended to generate additional data on the West Newton project. Reabold said it expects the results to assist with further assessment of the field and its potential development.

    Reabold raised £4.16 million through an equity placing earlier in 2026, providing funding as work on the project progresses.

    Separately, a feasibility study is examining the potential for co-located power generation and data centre infrastructure using natural gas from West Newton. The study is assessing whether gas produced from the field could be used for power generation serving data centre operations. No decision to proceed with such a development was disclosed in the supplied update.

    Rathlin also plans to establish a community benefit fund associated with the West Newton project.

    More about Reabold Resources

    Reabold Resources is a UK-based upstream oil and gas investment company with interests in gas projects in the UK and continental Europe.

    Its portfolio includes West Newton in East Yorkshire, where it has exposure through interests in operator Rathlin Energy and the project licence.

    The company’s strategy involves investing in undeveloped hydrocarbon discoveries and pursuing potential routes to development and monetisation, while allocating proceeds from asset sales between reinvestment and shareholder returns.

  • James Cropper reports Paper & Packaging growth in first 22 weeks

    James Cropper reports Paper & Packaging growth in first 22 weeks

    James Cropper plc (LSE:CRPR) reported growth in its Paper & Packaging division during the 22 weeks ended 28 August 2026, while revenue from Advanced Materials was broadly unchanged year-on-year.

    The AIM-listed company said its performance during the opening months of the financial year reflected the continued implementation of its strategy and changes in performance across the group.

    Paper & Packaging recorded revenue growth during the period, supported by demand from existing customers and new business wins. No specific revenue figures or growth rates for the division were provided in the supplied trading update.

    Advanced Materials, which supplies specialist nonwoven materials and electrochemical coatings, reported revenue broadly in line with the comparable period of the previous year.

    Based on trading to date, the board expects the group’s full-year performance to be in line with current market expectations.

    James Cropper is scheduled to report its interim results in November 2026.

    More about James Cropper

    James Cropper plc is an AIM-listed manufacturer operating through its Advanced Materials and Paper & Packaging businesses.

    Advanced Materials produces specialist nonwoven materials and electrochemical coatings for applications in sectors including aerospace, clean energy and defence. Paper & Packaging manufactures creative papers and moulded fibre packaging, including products incorporating recycled fibres.

    The group is headquartered in Burneside, UK, and also operates manufacturing facilities in Crewe and Launceston in the UK and Schenectady in the United States.

  • ASA International H1 net profit rises 70% as loan portfolio expands

    ASA International H1 net profit rises 70% as loan portfolio expands

    ASA International (LSE:ASAI) reported net profit of USD 45.6 million for the first half of 2026, an increase of 70% from the prior-year period, while underlying profit rose 42%.

    Gross outstanding loans increased 12% year-on-year to USD 603.9 million. The group reported portfolio at risk for loans more than 30 days overdue of 2.4%, while its number of clients increased 6%.

    ASA International continued to reduce its exposure to India during the period, while management highlighted activity in Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya and the broader East African region.

    Equity increased 41% to USD 192.6 million, while total funding rose 13% to USD 751.8 million. The group also reported a funding pipeline of USD 305 million.

    ASA International increased its interim dividend by 43% compared with the prior-year period.

    Management said it expects full-year 2026 profit to be slightly ahead of current market expectations, while continuing to target growth across its operating markets.

    More about ASA International Group PLC

    ASA International Group plc is a London-listed international microfinance institution serving approximately 2.7 million clients across 13 countries in East and West Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.

    The group provides small working-capital loans, primarily to underserved entrepreneurs, through a branch-based operating model. It is reducing its exposure to India while expanding activities in markets including Pakistan, Uganda and Kenya.

    ASA International finances its operations through a combination of equity, deposits and debt. Its strategy also includes digitalisation and a planned consolidation of its Asian regional reporting from 2027.

  • Corero H1 revenue rises 42% as full-year outlook increases

    Corero H1 revenue rises 42% as full-year outlook increases

    Corero Network Security (LSE:CNS) reported revenue of $15.5 million for the first half of 2026, an increase of 42% from the prior-year period, as the company recorded new customer wins and contract expansions.

    EBITDA was $2.6 million, compared with a loss of $1.4 million a year earlier. Annualised recurring revenue increased 12% to $24.1 million, while order intake rose 14% to $14.3 million.

    Customer retention was 96% during the period.

    Corero, which provides distributed denial-of-service protection technology, reported contract extensions and new multi-year agreements with Tier-1 telecommunications providers in the U.S. and U.K., as well as a NeoCloud operator.

    The company has also expanded its product portfolio to include web application security offerings as part of its broader cyber-security services.

    Management said trading during the second half of the year had started positively and cited its sales pipeline and channel partnerships. Corero now expects full-year 2026 revenue and EBITDA to exceed current market consensus.

    The company said demand for its services is being supported by developments in DDoS attacks and regulatory requirements relating to cyber resilience.

    More about Corero Network Security

    Corero Network Security plc provides distributed denial-of-service protection technology designed for automated detection and mitigation of attacks.

    Its products include the SmartWallONE platform and CORE resiliency ecosystem, which are deployed across inline, edge and hybrid cloud environments. Customers include data centres, telecommunications operators, NeoCloud providers and AI data centres.

    Corero is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and Edinburgh and is listed on London’s AIM market and the U.S. OTCQX market.