Author: Fiona Craig

DCC plc (LSE:DCC) has reported continued strategic progress following the completion of the sale of its Healthcare and Info Tech divisions. The company returned £100 million to shareholders and announced plans for a £600 million tender offer, underscoring its commitment to capital efficiency and shareholder returns. While continuing adjusted operating profit declined by 5.4%, reflecting strong prior-year comparatives and milder weather conditions, trading improved during the second quarter, positioning the group for solid profit growth in the full year.

The company’s ongoing focus on expanding its liquid gas operations across Europe and streamlining its portfolio is expected to reinforce its market position and create new growth avenues. These efforts align with DCC’s broader strategy to strengthen its energy platform, simplify operations, and build resilience in evolving market conditions.

DCC’s outlook remains supported by its stable financial performance and disciplined capital allocation, though slower revenue and profit momentum present challenges. Technical indicators point to a positive short-term trend, while a moderate valuation and attractive dividend yield enhance its appeal to income-focused investors.

More about DCC plc

DCC plc is a Dublin-headquartered international energy solutions company listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100. The group specializes in the sales, marketing, and distribution of cleaner and more efficient energy solutions to commercial, industrial, domestic, and transport customers. For the financial year ended March 2025, DCC reported revenues of £16.1 billion and an adjusted operating profit of £609.7 million, reflecting its scale and strong presence across multiple European energy markets.

Hilton Food Group PLC (LSE:HFG) reported a resilient performance for the third quarter of 2025, navigating a challenging inflationary environment that continues to weigh on consumer demand and operating costs. The company achieved solid volume growth across its red meat and convenience categories, demonstrating operational strength and market adaptability. However, the UK seafood division remained under pressure from elevated raw material costs and cautious consumer spending, while the Foppen smoked salmon business in Europe faced temporary disruptions stemming from U.S. regulatory restrictions.

Hilton Food expects net debt to rise modestly by the end of the year as it continues to invest strategically in growth initiatives, including its new Canadian production facilities and Saudi Arabian joint venture, both progressing on schedule. The board reaffirmed its full-year pre-tax profit guidance in the range of £72 million to £75 million, reflecting stable profitability despite global cost headwinds. A comprehensive business review, aimed at optimizing operations and enhancing efficiency, is nearing completion with outcomes expected in January 2026.

While the company’s strong operational base and consistent earnings performance provide a solid foundation, bearish technical trends and persistent supply chain and inflation challenges continue to exert short-term pressure. The valuation remains fair, supported by steady fundamentals but tempered by broader market uncertainties.

More about Hilton Food Group PLC

Hilton Food Group PLC is a global multi-category food producer supplying high-quality meat, seafood, vegan, and vegetarian products to major retailers and foodservice partners. Operating from 21 advanced production facilities across Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America, the company serves more than 19 markets and employs over 7,300 people. Hilton Food focuses on sustainability, long-term customer partnerships, and innovation, driving value creation through responsible growth and operational excellence.

Pulsar Helium Inc. (LSE:PLSR) has announced the successful completion of drilling operations at the Jetstream #3 appraisal well within its Topaz Project in Minnesota, achieving a total depth of 3,507 feet. The well recorded strong pressure readings, suggesting a highly promising reservoir. Following this milestone, drilling has commenced on Jetstream #4, targeting a depth of approximately 3,000 feet.

The company’s ongoing drilling campaign, which includes up to 10 appraisal wells, is designed to map the geometry and productivity of the helium-bearing reservoir. The results will inform a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) expected in the first half of 2026. These operational advances strengthen Pulsar’s position as a key emerging player in the North American helium market and underscore its potential to deliver a new, non-hydrocarbon source of helium supply.

More about Pulsar Helium Inc.

Pulsar Helium Inc. is a multi-listed helium exploration and development company with assets in the United States and Greenland. Its flagship Topaz Project in Minnesota represents one of North America’s most promising primary helium discoveries, while the Tunu Project in Greenland expands its exploration footprint. Listed on the AIM (London Stock Exchange), TSX Venture Exchange, and OTCQB, Pulsar is pioneering sustainable helium production independent of hydrocarbon activity, supporting the critical supply chain for medical, space, and high-tech industries.

Greencoat UK Wind PLC (LSE:UKW) has submitted its response to the UK Government’s consultation on proposed adjustments to the inflation indexation mechanism within the Renewables Obligation scheme. The potential policy changes, aimed at easing consumer energy costs, could affect investor sentiment by altering the financial framework for renewable energy projects. Industry participants, including Greencoat UK Wind, have raised concerns that reduced indexation may lead to increased capital costs and higher investor return requirements, potentially impacting the pace of renewable infrastructure investment.

Despite the uncertainty, Greencoat UK Wind remains focused on maintaining long-term value for shareholders through disciplined capital management, which includes targeted asset disposals, share buybacks, and portfolio optimization. The company continues to prioritize financial stability and flexibility as it navigates policy and market developments in the UK’s renewable energy landscape.

While the company’s financial performance has been weighed down by revenue pressure and profitability challenges, its solid balance sheet and steady cash flow generation provide a degree of resilience. However, bearish technical trends and a negative price-to-earnings ratio continue to limit near-term valuation appeal.

More about Greencoat UK Wind

Greencoat UK Wind PLC is a London-listed renewable energy investment company focused on owning and operating wind power assets across the United Kingdom. The company invests in large-scale wind farms that deliver stable, long-term income streams linked to inflation, contributing to the UK’s transition toward sustainable and low-carbon energy generation.

Guardian Metal Resources PLC (LSE:GMET) has announced the appointment of Mr. Michael Xavier Schlumpberger as an Independent Non-Executive Director, succeeding Mr. Mick Billing, who is retiring from the board. This appointment forms part of the company’s broader strategy to reinforce its leadership team as it advances key projects in tungsten production — a sector of growing strategic importance amid heightened geopolitical tensions and the global push to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals.

More about Guardian Metal Resources PLC

Guardian Metal Resources PLC is a U.S.-focused strategic minerals exploration and development company dedicated to revitalizing domestic tungsten production to strengthen America’s self-sufficiency in defense and critical metal supply. The company is progressing two flagship projects in Nevada — Pilot Mountain and Tempiute — both of which have received funding support from the U.S. Department of War. Through these initiatives, Guardian aims to position itself as a key contributor to the United States’ critical minerals strategy and industrial resilience.

Shuka Minerals Plc (LSE:SKA) has received the first tranche of financing — $300,000 — from Gathoni Muchai Investments Limited as part of the $1.35 million acquisition of Leopard Exploration and Mining Limited, the owner of the Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia. The remaining balance is expected to be completed by the end of November 2025, marking a significant milestone in Shuka’s strategy to expand its mining footprint and operational capacity in the Zambian mining sector.

Despite this progress, the company’s overall outlook remains constrained by ongoing financial challenges, including continued losses and negative cash flow. Technical analysis indicates a prevailing bearish trend, though a short-term recovery could emerge if operational momentum continues. Weak valuation metrics — such as a negative price-to-earnings ratio and lack of dividend yield — continue to weigh on investor confidence.

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Shuka Minerals Plc is an Africa-focused mining operator and developer dual-listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM) and the AltX of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The company is engaged in developing and managing mineral assets across the continent, with an emphasis on advancing projects that contribute to regional economic growth and resource sustainability.

Shield Therapeutics (LSE:STX) announced plans to present pediatric pharmacokinetic data for ferric maltol at the upcoming American Society of Hematology (ASH) Conference. The findings demonstrate that ferric maltol is well-suited for iron replacement therapy in children, reinforcing its potential use in pediatric populations. The results support the company’s broader objective to expand access to effective and well-tolerated treatments for iron deficiency, addressing a key unmet medical need in pediatric care.

From a market perspective, Shield Therapeutics benefits from strong technical indicators that suggest positive trading momentum. However, persistent financial challenges — including negative profitability, limited cash flow, and a negative price-to-earnings ratio — continue to constrain valuation appeal. The absence of a dividend yield also tempers investor sentiment despite the company’s clinical progress.

More about Shield Therapeutics

Shield Therapeutics plc is a commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing therapies for iron deficiency. Its lead product, ACCRUFeR®/FeRACCRU® (ferric maltol), is an oral treatment designed to provide effective iron supplementation with improved gastrointestinal tolerability. Shield operates primarily in the United States and maintains international partnerships across the UK, European Union, China, and Japan to expand the global reach of its iron deficiency treatment.

PCI Pal (LSE:PCIP), a global cloud-based provider of secure payment solutions, is holding a Capital Markets Day to outline its growth strategy and innovation roadmap to institutional investors and analysts. The event highlights the company’s partner-first approach, expanding direct enterprise sales channels, and ongoing product innovation. Management also provided updates on a strong start to the financial year, with increasing sales momentum and a robust partner pipeline across Europe and North America, both tracking in line with expectations.

Despite steady revenue growth and expanding market reach, PCI Pal faces valuation pressures and weak technical indicators that weigh on investor sentiment. The company’s high price-to-earnings ratio and financial instability continue to challenge its short-term outlook, although long-term fundamentals remain supported by a growing demand for secure, cloud-native payment solutions.

More about PCI Pal

PCI Pal plc is a UK-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider specializing in secure payment solutions that help businesses comply with strict data protection and payment security regulations. Its technology enables secure transactions across multiple customer communication channels — including voice, chat, social media, email, and contact centers. PCI Pal’s solutions are integrated with leading business communications platforms and payment service providers, hosted globally on Amazon Web Services (AWS) with regional infrastructure across EMEA, North America, and ANZ.

Savannah Resources (LSE:SAV) has released an updated Corporate Presentation and a recorded investor briefing by CEO Emanuel Proença, now available on the company’s website. The update focuses on the continued advancement of the Barroso Lithium Project in northern Portugal, which is positioned as a cornerstone of Europe’s clean energy transition. Once operational, the project is expected to supply enough lithium to power approximately 500,000 electric vehicle battery packs each year, directly supporting the objectives of the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials Act.

More about Savannah Resources

Savannah Resources plc is a UK-listed mineral resource development company and the 100% owner of the Barroso Lithium Project, Europe’s largest known deposit of battery-grade spodumene lithium. Designated as a Strategic Project by the European Commission, Barroso aims to play a pivotal role in strengthening Europe’s domestic lithium supply chain. Through responsible mining and local value creation, Savannah seeks to contribute meaningfully to the continent’s goal of securing sustainable, homegrown sources of critical battery materials.

Metals Exploration PLC (LSE:MTL) has received multiple high-profile honors from the Philippine Government, including the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award in the Surface Mining Operation Category for the fourth consecutive year. The recognition underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, health and safety standards, and community engagement. In addition, Metals Exploration was named 1st Runner-Up in the ASEAN Mineral Awards for Mineral Processing, further reinforcing its reputation as a leader in responsible and sustainable mining operations across the region.

The company’s strong operational performance continues to support its solid financial results, particularly in revenue generation and cash flow strength. However, technical indicators remain mixed, and valuation challenges persist, with a negative price-to-earnings ratio and no current dividend yield. These factors contribute to a balanced but cautious overall market outlook.

More about Metals Exploration

Metals Exploration PLC is a UK-listed gold production, development, and exploration company with primary operations in the Philippines and additional assets in Nicaragua. The company focuses on sustainable and efficient mining practices, driving value creation through responsible resource development and long-term community partnerships.