Downgrades | Bargains | Interest rate winners
Trading updates in the small cap world continue to come thick and fast with the usual mix of good, bad and ugly, all of which can be sampled in our update here. One technology company commented on has reported a big increase in cash and looks cracking value to us. Elsewhere, one of our Stonking Small Caps is a huge beneficiary of rising interest rates while other, indebteded groups, are less fortunate. Read on here for our usual forthright comments. (Premium)
Portmeirion: big downgrade sees shares fall, but by less than we might have expected Portmeirion Group (AIM:PMP), the owner of several well-known homeware brands (including Portmeirion, Spode and Wax Lyrical ), reported a good Christmas trading period with sales for the year ending 31 December 2023 now expected to be at least £102m, marginally ahead of expectations. Profit before tax is in line with expectations of £3.0m, a very modest 3% margin. Unfortunately, the outlook disappointed with customers remaining cautious, particular in the US and South Korean markets – the latter represents approx 30% of Group revenue. In addition, higher interest…