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  • Primary Health Properties delivers transformational year after Assura merger and extends 30-year dividend growth streak

    Primary Health Properties delivers transformational year after Assura merger and extends 30-year dividend growth streak

    Primary Health Properties (LSE:PHP) reported a landmark year in 2025 following the completion of its merger with Assura, creating a healthcare real estate investment trust valued at around £6bn. The combination significantly expanded the group’s property portfolio and rental income base while maintaining near-full occupancy across long-term leases. The enlarged company achieved most of the £9m in targeted annual cost synergies earlier than expected, increased adjusted earnings per share and dividends, and is exploring joint ventures in primary care centres and private hospital assets as it works to reduce leverage and benefit from improving rental growth linked to the UK government’s 10-year NHS strategy.

    Financial performance strengthened notably, with net rental income rising 49% to £230m and IFRS profit after tax almost tripling. The improvement was supported by property revaluations and stronger rent review outcomes, although EPRA net tangible assets per share declined slightly due to share issuance and transaction-related costs associated with the merger. The combined portfolio is now valued at about £6.0bn, with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 10.8 years, occupancy of 99% and approximately 76% of income backed by government tenants. Management expects further growth from rebasing primary care rents, expanding exposure to private hospital assets and increasing activity in Ireland. The company also confirmed a progressive dividend policy, marking the start of its 30th consecutive year of dividend increases.

    The group’s outlook is supported by solid underlying fundamentals, including rising revenue and strong free cash flow generation. However, leverage levels and earnings volatility remain considerations. Valuation appears attractive with a relatively high dividend yield and moderate P/E ratio, while technical indicators show constructive share price momentum despite slightly stretched conditions. Corporate developments, including the completed Assura merger and governance enhancements, also contribute to a positive investment case.

    More about Primary Health Properties plc R.E.I.T

    Primary Health Properties is a UK-listed real estate investment trust specialising in healthcare infrastructure, particularly modern primary care facilities. Following its merger with Assura, the group’s portfolio has expanded to include private hospitals across the UK and Ireland. Much of its rental income is supported by long-term leases with NHS and related healthcare organisations, positioning the company as a key provider of social infrastructure with a 30-year track record of uninterrupted dividend growth.

  • Gulf Keystone schedules release of 2025 full-year results and investor webcast

    Gulf Keystone schedules release of 2025 full-year results and investor webcast

    Gulf Keystone Petroleum (LSE:GKP) has announced that it will publish its full-year 2025 financial results on 19 March 2026. On the same day, management will host a live audio webcast presentation for analysts and investors, providing an overview of the company’s performance and outlook. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions in advance as well as during the event, and a recording of the presentation will be made available online afterward, reflecting the company’s ongoing focus on transparent communication with the market.

    The group’s outlook continues to reflect solid financial stability and supportive corporate developments, although valuation considerations and operational risks remain factors for investors. Maintaining strong cash flow and successfully managing geopolitical risks in its operating region will be important to sustaining future performance.

    More about Gulf Keystone Petroleum

    Gulf Keystone Petroleum is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Listed on both the London Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange, the group concentrates on upstream activities in this resource-rich region, developing and producing hydrocarbons to supply international energy markets.

  • Fonix increases profit and dividend as European expansion and new products gain traction

    Fonix increases profit and dividend as European expansion and new products gain traction

    Fonix (LSE:FNX) reported a strong performance for the six months to 31 December 2025, with gross profit rising 7.1% to £10.5m and adjusted EBITDA increasing 6.4% to £8.3m. Growth across all key service lines supported a 6.9% rise in the interim dividend to 3.1p per share. The company also highlighted the reliability of its platform, maintaining 100% uptime and more than 99% recurring income, while delivering resilient trading despite slightly lower underlying cash and minimal exposure to upcoming UK gaming tax changes.

    Operationally, the group continued to expand across Europe, reporting progress in Portugal, the launch of a live pilot in a third market and early groundwork for entry into a larger fourth territory targeted for FY27. Product development also advanced, including enhancements to its Campaign Manager platform, the rollout of PayFlex in Ireland, initial deployments of CompsPortal and broader trials of RichMessaging services. These initiatives strengthen Fonix’s position as a specialised mobile payments intermediary operating within the ecosystems of broadcasters and mobile network operators.

    Management said the business enters the second half of FY26 with positive momentum in its core UK and Irish markets and a robust pipeline of enterprise opportunities. The company is also incorporating AI tools internally to improve development processes, operational optimisation and customer outcomes. The board reiterated its confidence in delivering sustainable gross profit growth and long-term shareholder value in line with market expectations, supported by recurring revenues, international expansion and structural barriers to entry around its core platform.

    Fonix Mobile PLC’s outlook is underpinned by solid financial performance and an attractive valuation profile, complemented by positive corporate developments that reflect strategic progress and shareholder confidence. Technical indicators suggest near-term bullish momentum, although potential longer-term resistance levels may remain. Limited earnings call disclosure means there is less visibility into detailed forward guidance from management.

    More about Fonix Mobile PLC

    Fonix plc is a UK-focused provider of mobile payments and messaging technology that enables organisations to connect, engage and transact with customers via mobile channels. Its services are widely used by media, charity, entertainment and enterprise clients, including ITV, Bauer Media and RTÉ. Headquartered in London, the company focuses on interactive services and audience engagement solutions while expanding its presence across European markets.

  • Vast Resources disputes workforce claims over Romanian mine restructuring

    Vast Resources disputes workforce claims over Romanian mine restructuring

    Vast Resources (LSE:VAST) has rejected allegations reported in the Romanian press following a dispute with a group of employees at its Vast Baita Plai SA operation who were recently issued notices under a restructuring plan. The employees claim the company failed to follow proper procedures and have indicated plans to stage protests. Vast said these claims are unfounded, stating that the reorganisation process has been conducted in line with Romanian legal requirements and with appropriate legal advice.

    The company said the restructuring enables it to terminate the employment of certain staff without significant cost, particularly individuals it alleges have been misusing medical leave provisions. At the same time, the plan allows for the rehiring of selected workers under revised contracts and employment terms. According to the company, some of the affected employees had sought reduced working hours and additional paid leave, and management believes they are responsible for promoting a negative media narrative around the situation. Vast maintains that the dispute does not materially affect the group’s operations and that the restructuring is intended to support the long-term interests of its Romanian business and shareholders.

    Despite this clarification, Vast Resources continues to face considerable financial and operational pressures, including declining revenues and ongoing losses. Technical indicators also point to a bearish share price trend, while valuation metrics remain weak, contributing to a subdued overall outlook.

    More about Vast Resources

    Vast Resources plc is an AIM-listed mining company with a focus on projects in Romania, including the Baita Plai operation managed through its subsidiary Vast Baita Plai SA. The company operates within the broader mining sector, aiming to develop and optimise its mineral assets to improve operational performance and deliver value for shareholders.

  • Vistry appoints Rob Woodward as chair to guide partnerships-led housing strategy

    Vistry appoints Rob Woodward as chair to guide partnerships-led housing strategy

    Vistry Group (LSE:VTY) has named Rob Woodward CBE as its new non-executive chair, with the appointment set to take effect on 13 May 2026. He will replace Executive Chair Greg Fitzgerald, who will step down from the role and also retire as CEO once a successor has been appointed. Woodward, currently the company’s senior independent director and chair of the nomination committee, brings significant experience from senior roles across FTSE-listed businesses and is expected to provide continuity as Vistry advances its partnerships-focused housing strategy.

    As part of the governance transition, Woodward will relinquish his positions on the audit and remuneration committees in line with UK corporate governance standards but will remain chair of the nomination committee. Rowan Baker will take on the role of senior independent director while continuing to chair the audit committee. The board said the changes establish a more traditional separation of leadership responsibilities, strengthening governance as the group continues to play a major role in delivering affordable housing across the UK.

    Vistry’s outlook is currently weighed down by weak technical indicators, with the share price trading below major moving averages and showing negative momentum signals. Financially, the group maintains a relatively conservative balance sheet and positive free cash flow, but softer revenue and significantly lower margins compared with previous years raise concerns about near-term earnings strength. Valuation appears broadly neutral at around 15 times earnings, with the absence of dividend yield data offering limited additional support.

    More about Vistry Group

    Vistry Group is a UK-listed housebuilder specialising in a mixed-tenure partnerships model, delivering a substantial portion of the country’s affordable and social housing supply. The company works closely with local authorities, housing associations and private sector partners and is a key participant in major initiatives such as the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026–2036.

  • Close Brothers cuts losses and steps up cost controls as loan book contracts

    Close Brothers cuts losses and steps up cost controls as loan book contracts

    Close Brothers Group (LSE:CBG) reported a resilient but softer performance for the six months to 31 January 2026, with adjusted operating profit from continuing operations falling 19% to £65.2m. Return on average tangible equity also declined to 6.3%. The statutory loss before tax narrowed to £65.5m, largely reflecting the impact of a previously announced £135m provision linked to motor finance. The group’s loan book decreased 2% to £9.2bn, reflecting weaker property markets and a strategic decision to withdraw from certain lending segments.

    Across its lending divisions, the net interest margin remained steady at 7.1%. Credit quality also improved, with the bad debt ratio falling to 0.8% following an update to IFRS 9 modelling for motor finance exposures. These factors helped offset the impact of lower income resulting from the reduced loan book. The group’s CET1 capital ratio strengthened to 14.3%, supported by the disposal of Winterflood and a reduction in risk-weighted assets, improving the bank’s capacity to absorb potential liabilities linked to the FCA’s proposed motor finance commission redress scheme.

    Management has accelerated its transformation programme, shifting the focus toward operational optimisation. The initiative is expected to deliver approximately £25m in annualised cost savings in the current financial year and around £60m by the end of 2027—one year ahead of earlier plans. The strategy includes higher restructuring expenditure and a planned reduction of around 600 roles by 2027. Close Brothers reiterated its goal of achieving double-digit returns on tangible equity by the 2028 financial year, supported by a more targeted loan portfolio focused on selected growth areas.

    The company’s outlook remains pressured by weaker profitability and higher leverage, alongside bearish technical signals that indicate a broader downward trend in the share price. While stronger cash flow and a relatively low P/E valuation offer some support, these factors may not fully offset concerns around earnings momentum and financial performance.

    More about Close Brothers Group

    Close Brothers Group is a UK-based specialist banking group that has supported the domestic business community for nearly 150 years. The bank focuses on niche areas of commercial, retail and property finance, including premium finance and motor finance. Its strategy centres on serving segments where it believes it can achieve sustainable growth and strong long-term returns.

  • Shearwater revenue jumps 31% as services growth and major contract wins drive performance

    Shearwater revenue jumps 31% as services growth and major contract wins drive performance

    Shearwater Group (LSE:SWG) reported interim revenue of £14.0m for the six months to 31 December 2025, representing a 31% increase year on year. The growth was largely driven by its Services division, where revenue rose 37% and accounted for 92% of total group sales. Adjusted EBITDA remained at breakeven, while administrative costs declined 6% following restructuring and cost-cutting measures implemented in the previous year. Cash stood at £2.2m at period-end, temporarily lower due to the timing of project-related payments.

    Operational momentum remained strong, with the group securing several significant contract awards and extensions with major telecom operators, financial institutions and UK government departments. These included a £7.3m extension with a mobile operator and, after the reporting period, a £9m contract renewal with a global bank. With a new chair recently appointed, a robust sales pipeline and new solutions expected to support margin improvement during the typically stronger second half, the board reiterated its confidence in meeting full-year market expectations against the backdrop of growing demand in the global cybersecurity sector.

    Despite strong revenue growth, the company’s outlook remains constrained by weaker financial quality, including ongoing losses and pressure on free cash flow. Short-term technical indicators provide some support, with the share price trading above key 20-day and 50-day moving averages and showing positive MACD momentum. However, valuation remains limited by the company’s loss-making profile, reflected in a negative P/E ratio and the absence of dividend yield data.

    More about Shearwater

    Shearwater Group plc is a UK-based cybersecurity provider offering a broad range of cyber defence, managed security and advisory services to organisations worldwide. Its capabilities span identity and access management, data protection, cybersecurity technologies, managed security operations and governance, risk and compliance services. The company primarily serves large enterprises and highly regulated sectors, including financial services, telecommunications and government.

  • Trustpilot posts stronger profits and cash flow as AI-driven engagement boosts reviews

    Trustpilot posts stronger profits and cash flow as AI-driven engagement boosts reviews

    Trustpilot (LSE:TRST) delivered strong full-year 2025 results, with bookings increasing 18% at constant currency to $291.4m and revenue rising 20% to $261.1m. Growth was supported by high customer retention, expansion among enterprise clients and particularly strong performance in North America. Profitability improved significantly, with adjusted EBITDA jumping 69% to $40.7m and margins expanding by 4.2 percentage points to 15.6%. Operating profit increased more than fourfold, while free cash flow rose sharply, enabling the company to accelerate share buybacks. Management also guided for continued high-teens revenue growth and further margin improvement.

    The company is positioning itself to benefit from the growing role of artificial intelligence in online search and discovery. Trustpilot reported a sharp rise in its visibility across large language models and AI-driven search platforms, while rolling out new product features for business customers. Platform engagement continued to increase, with a growing number of high-value enterprise clients and a 20% rise in total reviews. At the same time, the company expanded its AI-based fraud detection capabilities, removing 7.8 million fake reviews during 2025 to maintain platform credibility. Management views trust and data integrity as central to its competitive advantage, with long-term targets to raise adjusted EBITDA margins to 25% by 2028 and 30% by 2030.

    The company’s outlook is supported by improving financial performance, strong growth and healthy cash generation. However, valuation remains a key concern, with the shares trading at a very high P/E ratio of around 1051. Technical indicators also suggest overbought conditions, including an elevated RSI and stochastic reading, despite the broader positive price trend.

    More about Trustpilot Group Plc

    Trustpilot Group plc operates one of the world’s largest open customer feedback platforms, providing online review and trust solutions to businesses through a high-margin B2B subscription model. The platform enables companies to gather verified consumer feedback and insights, helping enterprises manage reputation and build trust with customers globally. Trustpilot positions its data and review ecosystem as a critical trust layer in an increasingly AI-driven digital economy.

  • Volvere reports higher 2025 profits as Shire Foods drives growth despite cost pressures

    Volvere reports higher 2025 profits as Shire Foods drives growth despite cost pressures

    Volvere (LSE:VLE) delivered another year of growth in 2025, supported entirely by its frozen pastry subsidiary Shire Foods. Revenue from continuing operations rose to £52.7m, while profit before tax increased slightly to £6.75m. Net assets climbed to £47.2m, equivalent to £19.80 per share, and the group’s cash and available-for-sale investments grew to £33.22m despite spending £0.43m on share buybacks.

    Shire Foods generated underlying profit before tax of £6.31m, which included a £0.40m one-off credit. Management described trading as satisfactory given rising input costs across raw materials, distribution and oil-linked supply chains. The company said it is investing in production capacity and implementing pricing adjustments to help safeguard margins. With a strong balance sheet, Volvere believes it is well positioned to take advantage of a potential increase in distressed acquisition opportunities as cost inflation and higher interest rates place pressure on weaker businesses.

    The group also noted that the market value of one of its available-for-sale investments has declined since the year-end due to geopolitical and broader market volatility, though it remains significantly above its original cost. Volvere plans to release its audited results for the year around 15 May 2026, which will provide further details on trading performance, investment movements and the outlook amid a still challenging inflationary backdrop.

    The company’s outlook is supported by solid financial performance and positive technical indicators. Its strong balance sheet and disciplined cash management underpin stability and future growth prospects. While valuation appears reasonable, the lack of a dividend yield and signs of potentially overbought technical conditions present minor concerns. The recent share repurchase programme also contributes positively to investor sentiment.

    More about Volvere

    Volvere plc is a UK-based growth and turnaround investment company listed on AIM. Its only current trading activity is food manufacturing through its 80%-owned frozen pastry producer Shire Foods. The group employs around 270 people and focuses on creating value in distressed or underperforming businesses, supported by a strong balance sheet that allows it to pursue new investment opportunities.

  • Intercede flags softer FY26 revenue as it pivots to subscription model but keeps 2027 growth target

    Intercede flags softer FY26 revenue as it pivots to subscription model but keeps 2027 growth target

    Intercede (LSE:IGP) said it expects annual recurring revenue to continue rising in the year to 31 March 2026 as the company pushes ahead with its transition from perpetual software licences to subscription-based digital identity solutions. The shift is intended to improve the quality and predictability of revenue streams. The group also highlighted a strong balance sheet position, remaining debt-free with year-end cash ahead of expectations.

    Despite the positive progress on subscriptions, Intercede warned that full-year FY26 revenue is likely to be around 8–9% below market forecasts, while adjusted EBITDA could come in 15–18% lower. The shortfall reflects procurement delays—particularly in the United States—and increased caution among customers amid geopolitical uncertainty, including the conflict in the Middle East. Management emphasised that these orders have largely been deferred rather than lost. The company reaffirmed its FY27 revenue target of £21m, pointing to a healthy pipeline, improved order intake in the second half and continued growth in subscription adoption, suggesting that near-term pressures are largely timing-related rather than indicative of weaker underlying demand.

    Intercede’s outlook is supported by positive corporate developments and relatively stable financial performance, although technical indicators point to some market weakness. The company’s ability to secure significant contracts and the presence of insider confidence are constructive factors, but current technical trends suggest investors may remain cautious in the near term.

    More about Intercede

    Intercede Group is a UK-based cybersecurity software company focused on digital identity technologies that help organisations guard against breaches caused by compromised user credentials. Its product portfolio includes secure user registration, identity verification, password security management, one-time passwords, FIDO authentication and PKI solutions. These offerings are supported by professional services and a large database tracking compromised passwords, with customers spanning government, defence, financial services and other high-security industries worldwide.