24th Jul 2025 10:30
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.
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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS
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Reach PLC, up 4.7% at 78.95 pence, 12-month range 63.10p-112.80p. The London-based newspaper, magazine and digital publisher, which owns the Mirror and Express brands, posts pretax profit of GBP27.0 million for the six months to June 30, down 18% from GBP32.9 million. Revenue declines 3.4% to GBP256.0 million from GBP265.0 million. Reach declares an interim dividend of 2.88 pence per share, unchanged from the year before. "Over the past six months we have performed well. Our audience growth has been driven by our innovative content and distribution hubs, our in-house recommender tools, and our US expansion. Digital revenue continues to grow, supported by reliable print revenues, despite a challenging market and set against a strong events comparator," says Chief Executive Officer Piers North. "With our market leading scale, editorial impact at both national and local levels, and strong operating profit margin, we are confident that our priorities will set us up for future success." Reach expects to meet its 4% to 5% adjusted operating costs savings target for the full year, and anticipates meeting a company-compiled market consensus for GBP99.0 million in adjusted operating profit. This would be down 3.2% from GBP102.3 million in 2024.
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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS
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Treatt PLC, down 20% at 202.25p, 12-month range 180.00p-570.00p. The Suffolk, England-based extracts and ingredients manufacturer lowers its guidance for the financial year ending September 30. This is due to a reduction in second-half sales, lower repeat customer volumes amid "competitive pressures" and low US consumer confidence, and a weaker US dollar exchange rate that resulted in an around GBP500,000 profit headwind. Treatt now expects revenue between GBP130 million and GBP135 million, against its prior forecast of GBP146 million to GBP153 million. Pretax profit before exceptional items is now anticipated at GBP9 million to GBP11 million, revised down from GBP16 million to GBP18 million. Second-half revenue is now expected at GBP66 million, compared to its prior GBP82 million guidance. The firm reported GBP153.1 million in revenue and GBP19.1 million in pretax profit before exceptional items for financial 2024. Looking ahead, Treatt says: "The sales pipeline has strengthened during the year, and we continue to be focused on revenue opportunities and better margins in FY 2026 and beyond."
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Severfield PLC, down 7.5% at 32.08p, 12-month range 18.30p-89.80p. The York, England-based structural steel contractor swings to pretax loss of GBP17.5 million in the year that ended March 29, from pretax profit of GBP23.0 million in the year to March 30, 2024. This is driven by revenue declining 2.7% to GBP450.9 million from GBP463.5 million, and operating costs increasing 5.9% to GBP464.7 million from GBP439.0 million. "Despite the current market backdrop, we have secured a strong baseload of work for FY26 and into FY27, and we continue to see some good projects coming to market. Supported by our stronger financial position and proven track record of delivery, we are well placed to benefit from the anticipated market recovery," says Non-Executive Chair Charlie Cornish. "Looking further ahead, we have a prominent position in market sectors with strong growth potential and are well-positioned to win projects in markets with positive long-term growth trends including those which are driving the green energy transition."
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By Emily Parsons, Alliance News reporter
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Related Shares:
Reach PlcTreattSeverfield