8th Sep 2026 07:55
(Alliance News) - Computacenter reports a first half earnings hike and lifts its guidance, while Dunelm sets out a three-year plan after posting flat annual profit.
Here is what you need to know before the London market open:
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MARKETS
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FTSE 100: called down 0.3% at 10,785.33
GBP: up at USD1.3539 (USD1.3516 at previous London equities close)
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ECONOMICS
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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and US President Donald Trump have agreed the need to "continue working towards a ceasefire that prevented more loss of life" in Ukraine, Downing Street said. It comes after US envoys held talks in Kyiv on Sunday during an official visit to the country as part of an effort to end the conflict with Russia. Prime Minister Burnham spoke to Trump on Monday afternoon. A Downing Street spokesperson said: "On Ukraine, the two leaders agreed on the need to continue working towards a ceasefire that prevented more loss of life. "The prime minister reiterated the UK's support for Ukraine and for recent US-led peace negotiations. On the Middle East, the prime minister set out the UK's commitment to working towards peace and security in the region, stressing the importance of the two-state solution, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon."
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Annual UK retail sales growth slowed in August as consumer grapple with rising household bills due to higher energy costs, data published by the British Retail Consortium and KPMG showed Tuesday. According to the data covering the period from August 2 to August 29, UK annual total retail sales growth decelerated to 0.7% in August from 1.3% in July. Growth cooled from a 3.1% climb in August 2025. Further, it was below the 12-month average growth of 1.6%.
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BROKER RATINGS
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Jefferies raises Autotrader to 'buy' from 'hold' - price target 640 (545) pence
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COMPANIES - FTSE 100
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Computacenter hails a record first half and the technology and services provider, which is a partner of chipmaker Nvidia, lifts its yearly outlook. Pretax profit in the six months to June 30 surged 95% to GBP142.6 million from GBP73.2 million, while revenue jumped 72% to GBP6.85 billion from GBP3.99 billion. Computacenter has raised its dividend by 15% to 27.1 pence per share from 23.6p. Adjusted pretax profit jumped 87% to GBP152.4 million from GBP81.5 million. For the whole of 2026, it now expects adjusted pretax profit "significantly ahead of current market expectations" and "no less than GBP380 million". It puts consensus at GBP340.9 million. Adjusted pretax profit in 2025 amounted to GBP272.0 million. "Computacenter delivered a record first half, significantly ahead of our expectations at the start of the year, as we converted strong and growing customer demand for digital infrastructure into substantial revenue, gross profit and operating profit growth," Chief Executive Officer Mike Norris says. The firm says it is entering the second half in a "strong position", with a record committed order backlog sized at GBP9.3 billion.
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COMPANIES - FTSE 250
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Dunelm reports steady annual profit, a slight revenue rise and the homewares retailer sets out a three-year growth plan. The plan will see the firm "saving to invest", by removing some GBP100 million of unproductive costs by financial 2029. In the year ended June 27, pretax profit was flat at GBP211.0 million, though total sales edged up 3.1% to GBP1.83 billion from GBP1.77 billion. Dunelm says it has raised its final dividend by 1.8% to 28.5p per share from 28p. It makes for a total ordinary dividend of 45.5p, up 2.2% from 44.5p. It had paid a 25p special dividend in April. The special dividend for the year was down from 35p. It means the total dividend for financial 2026 amounts to 70.5p, down 11% from 79.5p. "We delivered a solid performance for the year, growing sales, maintaining profits and generating strong cash returns for shareholders," CEO Clo Moriarty says. "Over the last year, we have taken a deep and honest look at our business and the opportunities ahead to better serve our customers and drive the group's performance. This work has given us confidence that the opportunity in front of Dunelm is larger than we previously understood, but also that we need to evolve. The strength of our business and balance sheet means we are well placed to invest for the future and accelerate our growth trajectory. To capture our opportunity, we are launching 'winning hearts & homes', a customer-led, self-funded plan to strengthen our market leadership position." Alongside the aim to trim GBP100 million from its cost base, it notes non-recurring expenditure totalling GBP30 million to GBP40 million across the next two years. This is "primarily to strengthen our foundational infrastructure". It also notes increased capital expenditure, totalling some GBP125 million above its recent run-rate across the next three years. This will go towards the expansion and renewal of its stores. The plan aims for "a return to sustainable mid-to-high single digit sales growth".
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Workwear provider Johnson Service Group says its annual margin goal "remains on track, despite challenging market conditions". Pretax profit in the first half of 2026 rose 4.5% to GBP20.8 million from GBP19.9 million, while revenue edged up 0.2% to GBP258.0 million from GBP257.5 million, despite declining 0.7% on an organic basis. It ups its dividend by 13% to 1.8p per share from 1.6p. "Macroeconomic headwinds continue to influence competitive dynamics across the group's end market," the firm says. Johnson Service explains that there was a slower start to the year in the hotel, restaurant, cafe and catering market, or Horeca. It adds: "The seasonal uplift in Horeca over the summer months was more modest than originally anticipated and we expect that softer trading will persist throughout the remainder of the year. However, productivity improvements and our strong focus on operational cost management continue to help mitigate the impact of lower volumes in Horeca." Despite "ongoing market challenges", it still expects to achieve its adjusted operating margin target of "at least 14.0%" in 2026. In the first half, the margin expanded to 11.6% from 11.1% a year prior. In 2025 as a whole, it was 13.5%.
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OTHER COMPANIES
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Fuller, Smith & Turner says it has acquired 10 outstanding pubs in a deal worth around GBP35 million. The deal is with Slug & Lettuce and Sports Bar & Grill owner Stonegate and it also notes a "simultaneous separate transaction with an institutional property investment company". The transaction is funded from existing debt facilities, the pub and hotels operator says. "The completion of the purchase of the four freehold pubs is expected in September, and the six leasehold purchases will complete on an asset-by-asset basis as they are subject to landlords' consent," it adds. Fuller's says all the sites are "iconic pub operations", with nine in London and one in the centre of Bath.
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James Fisher & Sons says its half-year earnings improved and the marine services provider leaves its annual view unchanged. Market conditions have been mixed, it says, with Defence and Maritime Transport trading offsetting weakness in the Energy arm. Pretax profit in the first half of 2026 rose 71% to GBP2.4 million from GBP1.4 million, as revenue climbed 2.1% to GBP195.9 million from GBP191.9 million. "We continue to operate in end markets with positive long-term structural drivers. This is translating into strong growth in Defence and good performance in Maritime transport, while heightened geopolitical uncertainty has continued to challenge activity levels in the first half across several of our Energy markets," CEO Jean Vernet says. The firm adds that "early second half trading has been in line with the first half, with good momentum in Defence and Maritime Transport anticipated to continue". "Energy market activity continues to be affected by geopolitical conflicts and macro-economic uncertainty, with conditions anticipated to remain challenging through 2H As a result and assuming no worsening disruption in the Energy market, the board's overall expectations for the full year remain unchanged," the firm adds.
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STV Group reports a wider half-year loss, as it books an impairment in the Studios arm which has suffered due to "delays in decision-making and evolving market conditions". The television broadcaster and content producer says pretax loss in the first half of 2026 widens to GBP22.7 million from GBP200,000 a year earlier. Revenue slumps 27% on-year to GBP66.1 million from GBP90.0 million. The top line decline is despite advertising revenue rises 5% to GBP48.1 million, "slightly ahead of guidance", due to the World Cup. But Studios revenue slumped 63% to GBP15.5 million from GBP42.2 million. "Given the prolonged slowdown in commissioning activity, we have recognised a non-cash impairment charge in Studios, reflecting a prudent reassessment of short- to medium-term market conditions while remaining confident in the long-term growth prospects of our business and the opportunities ahead," CEO Rufus Radcliffe says. The non-cash impairment of assets amounts to GBP25.4 million, hitting its bottom line.
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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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Auto TraderFuller Smith & TurnerJames Fisher and SonsStvgJohnson ServiceComputacenterDunelm