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The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Tuesday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- Forterra PLC, up 14% at 208.86 pence, 12-month range 212.00p-150.00p. The clay and concrete product manufacturer reports increased earnings for the first half of the year, with demand for most products ahead of its own expectations. Revenue was up 20% to £195.1 million in the six months to the end of June from £162.1 million a year ago. Pretax profit jumped 82% to £16.6 million from £9.1 million. Forterra raises its interim dividend by 90% to 1.90p per share from 1.00p a year prior. It says the higher revenue was driven by strong volume growth and modest selling price progression. It now expects 2025 adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to be ahead of its previous expectation. ‘We saw a strong uplift in results in the period, supported by improved demand from the volume housebuilding sector, with despatches significantly ahead of the prior year,’ says Chief Executive Officer Neil Ash. ‘Looking beyond the current financial year, the board remains confident that its recent investments in new production capacity leave the group well placed to benefit from the continuing recovery of our key markets.’ ---------- Card Factory PLC, up 7.9% at 95.78p, 12-month range 144.25p-73.00p. The greeting cards and gifting firm agrees to buy funkypigeon.com from WH Smith PLC for £24 million. The business is an online personalised card and attached gifting business, which has generated an average of £32 million revenue and £5 million Ebitda over the last two years. Card Factory expects the acquisition to be earnings enhancing in the 2027 financial year, with annual synergy benefits of more than £5 million. Card Factory says sales in the five months to the end of June increased by mid-single digits compared to the prior year. ‘This acquisition marks a significant step forward in cardfactory’s strategy to build a scaled, competitive digital presence in the celebration occasions market,’ says CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer. ‘Together, the enlarged customer base will benefit from a richer, more convenient customer proposition, combining the strength of our nationwide store estate and wider celebrations offer with Funky Pigeon’s exceptional digital experience.’ ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC, down 7.6% at 155.00p, 12-month range 124.27p-960.00p. The biopharmaceutical company focused on treatments for blood diseases raises gross proceeds of £250,000 from the allotment of 133,690 shares to Chief Executive Officer Vladislav Sandler at 187.00p each. It says the net proceeds will be dedicated to continuing phase one clinical trials for its chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. The firm says Sandler will sell the shares to individual investors at 187.00p each. ---------- Bank of Ireland Group PLC, down 4.7% at €12.20, 12-month range €8.13-€13.00. The Dublin-based lender says pretax profit fell 33% to €721 million in the six months ended June 30 from €1.08 billion a year before, as net interest income decreased by 7.6% to €1.67 billion from €1.80 billion, due to lower interest rates. Basic earnings per share fell 28% to 57.8 euro cents in the first half from 80.8 cents a year before. The bank cuts it interim dividend by 29%, in line with the decline in EPS, to 25 cents from 35 cents. The company also reaffirms guidance for a progressive dividend per share for all of 2025. ‘We are mid-way through the final year of our strategy and delivering with momentum,’ says CEO Myles O’Grady. He adds: ‘Against an uncertain international backdrop, the Irish economy is resilient. Bank of Ireland is well positioned to navigate this environment, generating strong levels of capital to support customers, grow our balance sheet, invest in the business and deliver attractive shareholder returns.’ ---------- Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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