12th Dec 2025 10:53
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Friday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Taylor Maritime Ltd, up 3.0% at 66.3 pence, 12-month range 56p-81p. The dry bulk shipping company intends to return approximately USD143.4 million to shareholders in the first quarter of 2026, through a partial compulsory redemption of ordinary shares. Its dividend target remains 8 cents per share for the current financial year, which would be down from 12 cents for the previous year but Taylor says this will be reviewed going forward. Also reports results for the half year ended September 30. Daily time charter equivalent earnings decrease to USD12,031 from USD13,371 for the year before, with fleet net charter revenue decreasing to USD68.4 million from USD105.4 million. Pretax loss widens to GBP31.3 million from GBP7.2 million.
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Capricorn Energy PLC, up 2.7% at 195.1 pence, 12-month range 184.4p-331.5p. The Egypt-focused energy producer notes FTSE 250-listed Harbour Energy PLC's announcement that it has agreed to buy "substantially all" subsidiaries of Waldorf Energy Partners Ltd and Waldorf Production Ltd, currently in administration, for USD170 million. Capricorn says it has entered a lock-up agreement supporting the transaction, and has agreed to compromise its unsecured claims against Waldorf for a payment of around USD4 million to USD5 million. This is "the subject of a methodology agreed between Capricorn and certain of Waldorf's creditors". Capricorn adds that it will retain the right to participate in potential residual claims.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Card Factory PLC, down 23% at 73.9p, 12-month range 73.9p-110.6p. The Wakefield, England-based greeting cards, gifts and celebration merchandise retailer says it expects adjusted pretax profit of between GBP55 million and GBP60 million for financial 2026, which ends on January 31, if current trading trends persist. Its previous guidance was for mid-to-high single-digit-percentage growth in adjusted pretax profit from GBP66.0 million in financial 2025. Cites lower high street footfall, which has persisted into its "most important" trading period, attributing this to weak consumer confidence. Say the performance of its other businesses, including those in Ireland and the US, is in line with expectations, and that the integration of online card business Funky Pigeon, which was bought from WH Smith, remains on track. "The board remains confident in the group's long-term strategy," the company says. "The share buyback programme will continue and the board anticipates declaring a progressive full-year dividend, in line with its capital allocation policy."
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By Emma Curzon, Alliance News reporter
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Related Shares:
Card FactoryTaylor MaritimCapricorn Energy PLC