Author: Fiona Craig

Zotefoams plc (LSE:ZTF) maintained solid trading momentum in the third quarter of 2025, with revenue performance in line with expectations despite regional fluctuations. The company continues to make meaningful progress on its strategic growth plans, including new partnerships and facility developments across Asia. These initiatives—particularly its manufacturing expansion in Vietnam and innovation hub in South Korea—are designed to strengthen Zotefoams’ competitive positioning and capture additional market opportunities in high-growth sectors. Backed by a strong order book, the Board remains confident in delivering mid-single-digit growth for the full year.

The company’s outlook is supported by strong technical momentum and healthy cash flow generation, reflecting operational resilience. However, elevated valuation metrics and ongoing profitability pressures temper near-term optimism. With limited new corporate or earnings updates, the broader outlook remains steady but measured.

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Zotefoams plc is a global leader in the manufacture of advanced supercritical foams, supplying innovative materials to industries including Consumer & Lifestyle, Transport & Smart Technologies, and Construction & Industrial Insulation. Through a focus on technological innovation and sustainable growth, Zotefoams is expanding its global footprint—particularly in Asia—while continuing to enhance customer relationships and market reach worldwide.

Smiths News PLC (LSE:SNWS) has announced robust full-year results for the 52 weeks ended 30 August 2025, delivering an operating profit above market expectations. Revenue reached £1.06 billion, supported by 16% growth in new business verticals and strong performance in the collectables category. The company has secured 93% of its revenues through to 2029, demonstrating strong customer retention and long-term visibility. Increased cash generation has allowed Smiths News to propose both a higher ordinary dividend and a special dividend, underscoring confidence in its financial strength and strategic direction. The group continues to focus on expanding service capabilities, improving operational efficiency, and diversifying its revenue base.

Smiths News’ outlook remains favorable, supported by an attractive valuation featuring a low price-to-earnings ratio and a high dividend yield. However, balance sheet pressures, including negative equity, present some ongoing risks. Technical indicators suggest steady price performance, pointing to a moderately positive market outlook.

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Smiths News PLC is the UK’s largest news wholesaler and a leading logistics and distribution specialist, delivering newspapers and magazines to more than 22,000 retailers daily across England and Wales. With over two centuries of operational history, the company has evolved to serve additional sectors through new service lines in warehousing, reverse logistics, and last-mile delivery. These include expanding into waste recycling, book distribution, and home entertainment delivery, building on its strong foundation in early morning logistics.

Associated British Foods plc (LSE:ABF) reported lower revenue and profit for the fiscal year ended September 2025, with revenue down 1% and adjusted operating profit falling 12%, largely due to continued weakness in its Sugar division. Despite these headwinds, the company maintained investment in key growth and sustainability initiatives, particularly within its Primark retail business, which achieved a 1% increase in sales. ABF has also initiated a comprehensive review of its corporate structure, exploring a potential separation of its Primark and Food operations to unlock long-term shareholder value. A decision is expected following consultations with key stakeholders.

The company remains in a strong financial position, supported by a solid balance sheet and a healthy dividend yield. Technical indicators point to bullish momentum, though recent overbought signals suggest short-term caution. Overall, ABF’s diversified portfolio and strategic flexibility continue to provide resilience amid challenging market conditions.

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Associated British Foods plc is a diversified global food, ingredients, and retail conglomerate with operations spanning 53 countries. The group operates across five key divisions — Grocery, Sugar, Agriculture, Ingredients, and Retail — with Primark serving as its flagship retail brand. ABF emphasizes quality, innovation, and sustainability throughout its value chain, maintaining a balanced approach to growth across both its consumer and industrial segments.

Focusrite plc (LSE:TUNE) reported a 6.6% increase in revenue to £168.9 million for the 12 months ended 31 August 2025, supported by strong performance in its Content Creation division, which grew by 11%. Strategic initiatives, including targeted pricing adjustments and the relocation of manufacturing operations, helped the company maintain stable margins despite ongoing challenges from US tariffs. Meanwhile, the Audio Reproduction division saw a 3.8% revenue decline as demand normalized following pandemic-era highs. Focusrite continues to prioritize investment in innovation and product development, positioning itself for steady long-term growth even amid broader macroeconomic pressures, particularly in the US.

The company’s outlook reflects mixed market signals. While short-term technical indicators suggest modest bullish momentum, longer-term trends appear more cautious due to margin pressures and profitability constraints. A high price-to-earnings ratio points to possible overvaluation, although the dividend yield provides some investor support. The absence of new earnings updates or corporate announcements leaves Focusrite’s near-term trajectory largely dependent on execution and market stability.

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Focusrite plc is a global leader in audio technology, designing and marketing hardware and software solutions for musicians, producers, and audio professionals. The group operates through thirteen renowned brands, including Focusrite, Novation, and ADAM Audio, offering tools for recording, mixing, and live performance. With a presence across four continents and distribution in roughly 240 territories, Focusrite’s products are widely recognized for their innovation and quality. The company is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Serica Energy plc (LSE:SQZ) has expanded its North Sea holdings through the acquisition of a 40% interest in the P2530 Licence from Finder Energy for approximately £500,000. The deal includes the Wagtail oil discovery along with several promising exploration prospects, collectively adding around 8 million barrels of contingent resources to Serica’s asset base. This acquisition enhances the company’s growth potential and could allow for future integration with the Triton FPSO, pending technical feasibility studies and regulatory approval. A final decision on advancing development is expected by August 2026, marking an important step in Serica’s long-term operational strategy.

Serica Energy maintains a strong financial position supported by a solid balance sheet and healthy dividend yield, which continue to underpin investor confidence. While the company faces challenges related to profit margin variability and revenue consistency, its stable cash generation and positive technical momentum support a constructive medium-term outlook.

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Serica Energy plc is a UK-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company operating primarily on the UK Continental Shelf. The company contributes roughly 5% of the UK’s natural gas output and manages key producing assets in the Northern North Sea, alongside interests in multiple other fields linked to the Triton FPSO. Serica’s growth strategy centers on optimizing its existing portfolio and pursuing strategic mergers and acquisitions to support the UK’s broader energy transition.

Domino’s Pizza Group plc (LSE:DOM) reported solid third-quarter results for 2025, delivering system sales growth of 2.1% and a 1.0% rise in like-for-like sales. Although total order volumes declined by 1.5%, the company reaffirmed its full-year guidance, expecting EBITDA to remain in the range of £130 million to £140 million. New menu additions such as Chick ‘N’ Dip and the Ultimate Indian Feast have received strong customer feedback, helping to sustain momentum amid ongoing sector headwinds. Despite challenges from rising costs and subdued consumer sentiment, Domino’s continues to advance its growth strategy through new store openings and the development of an additional supply chain center.

The company’s valuation metrics suggest potential undervaluation, supported by a high dividend yield that enhances its investment appeal. However, elevated leverage levels and negative equity remain key financial risks. While technical indicators point to near-term bearish momentum, recent director share purchases indicate management’s confidence in the company’s longer-term prospects.

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Domino’s Pizza Group plc is the UK’s leading pizza delivery brand and a major operator in the Irish market. Holding the master franchise for Domino’s in the UK and Republic of Ireland, the company oversees a network of 1,388 stores as of November 2025. Its operations span corporate-owned outlets and a strong franchise base, focused on delivering quality, convenience, and innovation in the quick-service restaurant sector.

Dotdigital Group plc (LSE:DOTD) reported another year of solid organic growth, improved profitability, and meaningful product innovation for the fiscal year ending June 2025. Revenue rose 6% to £83.9 million, with earnings coming in slightly above market expectations. Key milestones during the year included the acquisition of Social Snowball, which expanded Dotdigital’s reach into influencer and affiliate marketing, and the full integration of Fresh Relevance, enhancing its personalization and automation capabilities. The company also rolled out new platform features such as WhatsApp integration and continued to invest in AI and data-driven solutions, further strengthening its competitive positioning. With an increasing international footprint and continued innovation, Dotdigital is well placed to deliver sustainable growth and robust cash generation in the year ahead.

The company’s financial performance and strategic initiatives underscore a strong operational foundation. However, mixed technical signals and valuation pressures suggest investor sentiment remains cautious, leaving the stock’s short-term outlook moderately positive overall.

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Dotdigital Group plc is a global leader in cross-channel marketing automation, offering an AI-powered customer experience and data platform that enables brands to deliver personalized engagement at scale. The company supports more than 4,000 clients across 150 countries, helping businesses optimize customer journeys through intelligent automation and data insights. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in London, Dotdigital maintains offices in major international hubs including New York, Melbourne, and Singapore.

AdvancedAdvT Limited (LSE:ADVT) has posted robust interim results for the six months ended 31 August 2025, recording a 28% rise in revenue and a 76.3% increase in adjusted EBITDA. The company completed two key acquisitions during the period — GOSS Technology Group Limited and HFX Limited — strengthening its digital transformation and workforce management capabilities. These additions, alongside ongoing efficiency initiatives, have enhanced AdvancedAdvT’s position in high-growth areas such as artificial intelligence, automation, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. Despite broader economic headwinds, the company remains committed to a disciplined mergers and acquisitions strategy aimed at accelerating market expansion and creating sustainable long-term value.

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AdvancedAdvT Limited is a global software solutions provider focused on delivering technology-driven business, compliance, and human capital management solutions. The company leverages AI, data analytics, and business intelligence tools to support enterprise digital transformation. Its growth strategy combines organic development with targeted acquisitions to strengthen its presence across key technology sectors.

Kodal Minerals plc (LSE:KOD) has celebrated the official opening of the Stage 1 Bougouni Lithium Project in southern Mali, marking a major milestone for both the company and the region’s mining industry. The project has already produced more than 45,000 tonnes of spodumene and is targeting an annual output of 125,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate. The inauguration ceremony, attended by the President of Mali and other senior government officials, highlighted the project’s strategic significance for local economic growth and national resource development. The company expects its first export shipment in the near term, which will initiate revenue generation for Kodal and its joint venture partners.

Kodal Minerals is entering a pivotal transition phase, supported by a strong balance sheet and steady progress in lithium production. While the company continues to face challenges related to limited revenue and negative cash flow, its current valuation suggests potential upside if production targets are achieved. Ongoing corporate developments enhance the medium-term outlook, although technical indicators remain mixed, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.

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Kodal Minerals plc is an AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing lithium assets in West Africa. Its flagship asset, the Bougouni Lithium Project in southern Mali, is being developed in partnership with Hainan Mining, a subsidiary of Fosun International. Covering an area of 350 km² in the Birimian geological belt, the project is expected to deliver substantial spodumene concentrate production and position Kodal as a key player in the global lithium supply chain.

Aptamer Group plc (LSE:APTA) has announced the signing of a significant new contract worth up to £617,000 with a top-five global pharmaceutical company — marking the third collaboration between the two firms. The agreement underscores the growing commercial momentum of Aptamer’s Optimer® technology platform, which will be used to develop binders for three key drug targets. Retaining full intellectual property rights allows Aptamer to pursue future licensing opportunities, further expanding potential revenue streams. With contract value visibility up 46% year-on-year, the company is strengthening its position for sustainable revenue growth and reinforcing its strong base of repeat business with major pharmaceutical partners.

Despite encouraging commercial progress, Aptamer Group continues to face financial pressures, including high debt levels and ongoing unprofitability. Technical indicators remain weak, but strategic partnerships and a rising number of corporate milestones offer positive signs for long-term recovery and growth.

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Aptamer Group plc is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of next-generation synthetic binders, known as Optimer® binders. These innovative molecules serve as alternatives to antibodies, providing high stability, consistency, and cost advantages for use in therapeutics, diagnostics, and research applications. Operating in the global antibody-alternative market, valued at around US$210 billion, Aptamer collaborates with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Founded in 2008 and listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in 2021, the company is headquartered in York, UK.