Blog

  • Concurrent Technologies Delivers Record Orders and Sustains Double-Digit Growth in 2025

    Concurrent Technologies Delivers Record Orders and Sustains Double-Digit Growth in 2025

    Concurrent Technologies (LSE:CNC) said unaudited revenue and profit before tax for 2025 are expected to be in line with market expectations, while also delivering strong double-digit growth year on year. Performance was underpinned by record order intake of around £47 million and a solid net cash position of £14.4 million, achieved despite delays to parts of the US defence budget and disruption from a government shutdown.

    Momentum during the year was driven by continued strength in the group’s Products and Systems divisions, alongside increasing contribution from its design services activity. This included the award of a $6.2 million defence contract, the largest single order in the company’s history, highlighting growing customer demand for its specialist capabilities. Operational capacity has also been expanded, with new facilities in Los Angeles now fully operational and a planned relocation in Colchester on track for completion in the first half of 2026.

    Looking ahead, management pointed to a robust pipeline of design wins and improving operational scale as foundations for sustaining growth, while continuing to actively manage component costs and supply-chain pressures. Although valuation and short-term technical indicators remain areas of focus for investors, the company said its strong order book and balance sheet position provide confidence in its medium-term outlook.

    More about Concurrent Technologies

    Concurrent Technologies Plc is a UK-based designer and manufacturer of high-performance embedded computer products, systems and mission-critical solutions. Its Intel-based processor cards and systems are used in long life-cycle and high-reliability applications across defence, telecommunications, security, aerospace, scientific and industrial markets worldwide, including harsh and safety-critical environments.

  • Kromek Returns to Profit as Siemens-Linked Imaging Deliveries and CBRN Orders Accelerate Growth

    Kromek Returns to Profit as Siemens-Linked Imaging Deliveries and CBRN Orders Accelerate Growth

    Kromek Group plc (LSE:KMK) reported a sharp turnaround in performance for the six months to 31 October 2025, moving into profitability as revenues surged. Group revenue rose to £15.0 million from £3.7 million a year earlier, while the company swung from a pre-tax loss of £5.7 million to a profit of £3.1 million, reflecting strong momentum across both its Advanced Imaging and CBRN detection businesses.

    Advanced Imaging revenue climbed to £10.8 million, driven largely by milestone deliveries under last year’s enablement agreement with Siemens Healthineers. Excluding these milestone effects, underlying imaging sales still increased by 41%. CBRN revenue more than doubled to £4.3 million, supported by government demand, including a £1.7 million order under the UK Radiological Nuclear Detection Framework and a development contract with the UK Ministry of Defence.

    Improved product mix and operating leverage lifted gross margins to 71.7%, while adjusted EBITDA swung to a £6.0 million profit. The result was supported by higher-margin licensing income and continued progress in automation and capacity expansion for CZT manufacturing. To support ongoing growth, Kromek also secured an expanded £6.0 million revolving credit facility alongside additional asset finance.

    Management highlighted increasing demand for CZT-based photon-counting CT systems and nuclear security solutions, renewed engagement with major OEM customers such as Spectrum Dynamics and Analogic, and continued patent activity. With a healthy order book and improving operational momentum, the group said it remains confident of delivering full-year results in line with market expectations, reinforcing its position as an independent supplier in high-barrier imaging and security markets.

    More about Kromek Group plc

    Kromek Group plc is a UK-headquartered developer of radiation detection and bio-detection technologies serving advanced imaging and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) markets. Listed on AIM, the company supplies cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-based detector components for medical, security and industrial imaging applications, including CT and SPECT scanners, and provides compact nuclear radiation detectors and emerging biosecurity systems for homeland defence and critical infrastructure protection. It operates manufacturing facilities in the UK and the US and focuses on enabling higher-resolution imaging and enhanced protection against radiological and biological threats.

  • Wise Grows Q3 Volumes by 25% as Customer Balances Jump and Global Footprint Widens

    Wise Grows Q3 Volumes by 25% as Customer Balances Jump and Global Footprint Widens

    Wise PLC (LSE:WISE) reported a strong third quarter of fiscal 2026, with cross-border transaction volumes increasing 25% year on year to £47.4 billion. Active customers rose 20% to 10.9 million, while customer holdings across Wise accounts climbed 34% to £27.5 billion. Business customer volumes were particularly robust, growing 37% over the period.

    Underlying income increased 21% to £424.4 million, supported by growth in card usage, other ancillary revenues and higher penetration of instant payments. The cross-border take rate eased to 0.52%, reflecting continued investment to support long-term growth, network expansion and infrastructure development. During the quarter, Wise launched new products in India and the Philippines, made regulatory progress in South Africa, deepened its integration with Japan’s payment system and continued preparations for a planned dual listing, which management believes will strengthen its US capital markets profile.

    Strategically, Wise said these investments underpin its ambition to build the world’s leading global money-movement network. While pricing pressure and elevated operating costs remain part of the near-term picture, the company continues to target an underlying profit margin in the mid-teens as scale benefits and network effects build over time.

    More about Wise PLC

    Wise PLC is a global financial technology company focused on cross-border payments and multi-currency accounts for individuals and businesses. Through Wise Account and Wise Business, customers can hold and manage money in around 40 currencies, send international payments and spend abroad. Wise’s infrastructure is also used by banks and large enterprises as an alternative international payments network. Founded in 2011, the company has grown into one of the fastest-scaling profitable fintech groups, processing more than £145 billion in cross-border transactions for around 15.6 million customers in fiscal 2025.

  • Bango Expands Margins and Recurring Revenues as Subscription Platform Gains Scale

    Bango Expands Margins and Recurring Revenues as Subscription Platform Gains Scale

    Bango plc (LSE:BGO) reported an improved operating performance for 2025, reflecting a continued shift toward higher-margin, recurring subscription revenues alongside tighter cost discipline. Annual Recurring Revenue increased 30% to $18.2 million, supported by close to 60% growth in active subscriptions on its Digital Vending Machine (DVM) platform, zero churn among live customers and Net Revenue Retention of 117%.

    During the year, Bango secured a record 12 new enterprise DVM customers, extending its footprint to seven of the top eight US telecom operators and expanding into markets including Japan, South Korea, Turkey and South Africa. The company noted that the signing of several large contracts slipped from late 2025 into 2026. Total revenue edged lower to $52.2 million, reflecting the deliberate restructuring of a small number of low-margin transactional routes and reduced one-off implementation fees. Despite this, gross margin rose sharply to 84.5%.

    Cost-cutting initiatives reduced core administrative expenses by $2.9 million and lowered headcount from 219 to 164. These actions helped swing Cash EBITDA to a positive $2.3 million from a $0.2 million loss a year earlier, while Adjusted EBITDA increased to at least $16.3 million. Net debt rose to $9.3 million following refinancing activity and working capital movements. Management confirmed that the integration of the DOCOMO Digital acquisition is now complete and expects the transactional business to deliver attractive margins with minimal capital expenditure, positioning the group to improve profitability, cash generation and leverage in 2026.

    More about Bango

    Bango plc is a UK-based technology company that helps digital content providers reach more paying customers through global partnerships, primarily by enabling carrier billing and subscription monetisation. Its flagship Digital Vending Machine platform supports bundled and standalone subscription services for major content and technology companies, with customers including Amazon, Google and Microsoft, and is widely adopted by leading telecom operators worldwide.

  • Gear4music Lifts Outlook After Strong Q3 Trading and Commits to New Warehouse Capacity

    Gear4music Lifts Outlook After Strong Q3 Trading and Commits to New Warehouse Capacity

    Gear4music (Holdings) plc (LSE:G4M) reported a very strong third quarter to 31 December 2025, prompting an upgrade to its full-year outlook. Total revenue rose 32% year on year to £64.6 million, supported by growth of 27% in the UK and 39% across Europe and the rest of the world. Improved gross margins helped lift gross profit by £5 million to £18.7 million, leading the group to guide that full-year EBITDA will come in ahead of market expectations.

    Management said the performance reflected robust demand alongside effective pricing and operational execution. Building on this momentum, the group has secured a 15-year lease on a new UK warehouse near York, which is intended to ease capacity constraints from FY27. To limit near-term financial impact and borrowing requirements, related capital expenditure has been rephased to £10.2 million in FY27 and £8.5 million in FY28.

    On the back of strong trading and the revised investment profile, the board has upgraded its expectations for FY26, FY27 and FY28. While the broader consumer environment remains uncertain, management signalled increased confidence in Gear4music’s growth trajectory, supported by scale benefits and infrastructure investment.

    More about Gear4music

    Gear4music (Holdings) plc is the largest UK-based online retailer of musical instruments and music equipment, offering a mix of own-brand products and leading third-party brands such as Fender, Yamaha and Roland. Headquartered in York, the group operates distribution centres and showrooms across the UK and continental Europe and serves customers in around 190 countries through its proprietary multilingual and multicurrency e-commerce platform.

  • Reach Expects 2025 Profit to Outperform Forecasts Despite Softer Digital Revenue

    Reach Expects 2025 Profit to Outperform Forecasts Despite Softer Digital Revenue

    Reach plc (LSE:RCH) said it now expects to deliver full-year 2025 profit ahead of market expectations, supported by the resilience of its print operations and continued tight cost control. This comes despite digital revenues for the year being forecast to fall by around 1% to approximately £130 million, reflecting weaker referral traffic from Google and a challenging macroeconomic environment.

    Management pointed to solid strategic progress during the year, including the launch of digital subscription products, an expansion of video content output and continued growth in off-platform audiences. These initiatives underline Reach’s ongoing shift towards digital monetisation, while still relying on a stable and cash-generative print business to underpin earnings. The group is scheduled to report its full-year results on 3 March 2026.

    Overall, Reach’s outlook is shaped by a combination of attractive valuation metrics and operational discipline. A low earnings multiple and high dividend yield continue to appeal to value and income-focused investors, although ongoing revenue pressure and variable cash flow generation remain key considerations, particularly in the context of weaker digital advertising trends.

    More about Reach plc

    Reach plc is a UK-based media company with a portfolio of national and regional newspaper titles alongside a broad range of digital news brands. The group generates revenue from print publishing and advertising, with an increasing contribution from digital platforms as it seeks to grow online audiences and monetise content through subscriptions, video and off-platform distribution.

  • McBride Holds Profit Guidance as Private Label Momentum Underpins Modest Growth

    McBride Holds Profit Guidance as Private Label Momentum Underpins Modest Growth

    McBride plc (LSE:MCB) said full-year adjusted operating profit for the year ending June 2026 is expected to be in line with both market expectations and the previous two financial years, as recent improvements in trading performance continue to gain traction. While first-half adjusted operating profit is set to come in slightly below the exceptionally strong comparative period last year, management expects a stronger second half, supported by a pipeline of confirmed new business launches that are scheduled to come on stream.

    For the six months to 31 December 2025, group revenue increased 0.8% at reported rates, with volumes up 0.4%. Demand for private label products remained robust, helping to sustain stable profitability through a combination of product engineering, operational efficiencies and tight control of overheads. Net debt rose to £120.6 million, equivalent to around 1.4 times trailing 12-month EBITDA, following £12.9 million returned to shareholders via dividends, a share buyback and Employee Benefit Trust purchases designed to limit future equity dilution. The company is due to report its half-year results on 24 February 2026.

    Looking ahead, McBride expects the combination of steady private label demand, confirmed contract wins and ongoing efficiency initiatives to support profit growth into 2027 and 2028. Although financial performance still has scope for further improvement, recent strategic progress and a supportive valuation backdrop provide a constructive outlook.

    More about McBride

    McBride plc is a leading European manufacturer and supplier of private label and contract-manufactured products for domestic household and professional cleaning and hygiene markets. The group serves major retailers and customers across its core European geographies, where private label demand remains strong and market share is at or near recent highs across its five largest markets.

  • Staffline Delivers Strong 2025 Results as Recruitment Refocus and New Wins Lift Profits

    Staffline Delivers Strong 2025 Results as Recruitment Refocus and New Wins Lift Profits

    Staffline Group (LSE:STAF) reported a strong full-year performance for 2025 following its strategic shift to a pure-play recruitment model, with results coming in well ahead of market expectations. Revenue increased 11.5% to £1.11 billion, gross profit rose 10.6% to £78.3 million and operating profit jumped 28.3% to £12.7 million, reflecting improved execution and market share gains.

    Growth was driven primarily by the group’s core UK blue-collar recruitment business, where it secured additional share and benefited from a major new logistics partnership. This contract added around 1,800 temporary workers and contributed to peak trading hours reaching a five-year high. In Ireland, permanent recruitment fees grew at a double-digit rate, while the group also made profitable progress in recruitment process outsourcing and managed services. Net cash declined over the period due to planned working capital investment and the continuation of a £7.5 million share buyback programme, but management highlighted stronger profit conversion and a robust balance sheet.

    Looking ahead, Staffline believes its streamlined focus, strong new business pipeline and the fragmented nature of the recruitment market position it well to benefit from ongoing customer consolidation of labour suppliers. While profitability remains an area to continue improving, recent contract momentum and operational progress provide a supportive backdrop for further growth.

    More about Staffline

    Staffline Group is one of the UK’s leading recruitment companies, operating through two main divisions: Recruitment GB and Recruitment Ireland. Recruitment GB supplies flexible blue-collar labour, providing around 40,000 workers per day across more than 500 client sites in sectors such as supermarkets, food processing, logistics, driving, manufacturing and beverages. Recruitment Ireland delivers end-to-end recruitment solutions, supplying around 4,500 staff per day and offering RPO, managed services, and temporary and permanent staffing across public and private sectors, with a particular emphasis on health, social care and public services across the island of Ireland.

  • 4imprint Outperforms Expectations With Resilient 2025 Results Despite Challenging Conditions

    4imprint Outperforms Expectations With Resilient 2025 Results Despite Challenging Conditions

    4imprint Group plc (LSE:FOUR) delivered a resilient trading performance in 2025, reporting unaudited revenue of $1.35 billion and profit before tax of at least $149 million, both ahead of the top end of market expectations. The result was achieved against a volatile macroeconomic backdrop, highlighting the strength of the group’s operating model.

    Order volumes edged lower during the year, largely reflecting a 12% decline in orders from new customers. This was offset by stable ordering behaviour from existing clients, a 1% uplift in average order value and a robust gross margin of around 32%. As a result, 4imprint maintained a double-digit operating margin and generated strong cash flows, leaving the balance sheet well funded as the company enters 2026. Management said this financial strength positions the business to manage ongoing uncertainty while remaining well placed to capture future growth opportunities.

    The group is scheduled to publish its audited full-year results for the year ended 27 December 2025 on 11 March 2026, alongside a webcast for analysts and investors.

    More about 4imprint

    4imprint Group plc is a leading international direct marketer of promotional products, supplying branded merchandise to businesses and organisations for marketing and corporate identity purposes. The group is primarily focused on high-volume markets in North America and operates a direct-to-customer model, supported by a flexible marketing approach designed to drive repeat ordering and strong customer retention.

  • Treatt Sees Profits Fall as Market Pressures Mount, but Targets Recovery Through Expansion and Döhler Relationship

    Treatt Sees Profits Fall as Market Pressures Mount, but Targets Recovery Through Expansion and Döhler Relationship

    Treatt plc (LSE:TET) reported a challenging full-year performance for the year ended 30 September 2025, as softer market conditions weighed heavily on results. Revenue declined 11.8% to £132.5 million, while profit before tax and exceptional items fell 44.4% to £10.3 million, reflecting weaker US consumer demand, tariff-related uncertainty and persistently high citrus input costs.

    Margin pressure was evident across the business, with adjusted EBITDA down by around a third. Earnings per share and dividends were reduced, and net debt increased to £5.9 million, partly due to a £5 million share buyback completed during the year. Despite these headwinds, management emphasised continued discipline around cash generation and reiterated its commitment to maintaining a progressive dividend policy over the longer term.

    Strategically, the group highlighted a number of operational positives. These included a significant commercial win for its sugar reduction platform, investment in expanded sales teams in Germany and France, and the opening of a new commercial and innovation centre in Shanghai. Treatt also extended its reach in Asia through a distribution agreement in South East Asia with IMCD. After the year end, the company entered into a relationship agreement with major shareholder Döhler, following the lapse of a competing private equity-backed takeover approach. The board believes this relationship, alongside the group’s underutilised but well-invested manufacturing capacity, could support a return to profit growth, while noting the need to manage potential conflicts given Döhler’s position as both a key customer and significant shareholder.

    More about Treatt plc

    Treatt plc is a global, independent manufacturer and supplier of natural extracts and ingredients to the flavour, fragrance and multinational consumer goods industries, with a strong focus on beverages. Known for its technical expertise and deep understanding of ingredient sourcing and market dynamics, the group operates manufacturing facilities in the UK and the US and employs around 350 people across Europe, North America and Asia. Treatt leverages its international footprint to deliver integrated, value-added solutions to customers worldwide.