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The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Wednesday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- Auction Technology Group PLC, up 3.6% at 300.00 pence, 12-month range 658.00p-259.50p. The London-based auction market operator swings to a loss due to impairment charges, but revenue rises. The company reports revenue of $190.2 million for the 12 months to the end of September, up 9.2% from $174.1 million the year before. It swings to a pretax loss of $145.8 million from a profit of $18.4 million. Auction Technology notes an impairment of goodwill worth $150.9 million, compared to none the year before. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation falls 4.0% to $76.8 million from $80.0 million. For financial 2026, it expects to perform in line with market expectations. The firm sees revenue growth between 4% and 5%, at constant currency and pro-forma for the consolidation of Chairish. It says revenue growth will be more weighted to the first half of the year. ‘We are confident in our ability to execute against strategic initiatives and, at the same time, we understand that we must, and will, deliver on our commitments to the market. We believe we have the ability to do both and will also improve the clarity with which we communicate what we see as an exciting plan to deliver value to sellers, to buyers, and to ATG shareholders,’ says Chief Executive Officer John-Paul Savant. ---------- Speedy Hire PLC, up 3.0% at 26.05p, 12-month range 33.70p-17.64p. The equipment hire services firm backs its full year guidance as the interim loss widens but revenue climbs. It reports revenue of £205.2 million for the six months to the end of September, up 0.8% from £203.6 million a year ago. The loss widens to £15.1 million from £2.2 million. Speedy Hire declares a 0.30p per share interim dividend, down from 0.80p a year ago. The firm says it expects subdued market conditions to continue for the rest of financial 2026. However, it says recent multi-year contract wins and the commercial agreement with ProService give it confidence for the second half. The company expects a strong second half weighting to revenue and profit, and adds that trading in the second half is in line with the board’s expectations. It leaves its full year expectations unchanged. ‘Speedy Hire is a fundamentally different business now to when we embarked on our Velocity strategy. Despite subdued markets, we are gaining market share and winning significant long-term contracts, leaving us far better positioned to take advantage as and when market conditions improve,’ says Chief Executive Dan Evans. ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- Mobico Group PLC, down 1.1% at 21.46p, 12-month range 91.15p-18.57p. The public transport operator says it is taking ‘decisive’ action to improve performance after forecasting full-year operating profit towards the lower end of guidance. Mobico says these actions include a comprehensive cost savings programme and exploring options to sell UK bus assets ahead of franchising. Executive Chair Phil White says: ‘We continue to focus on simplifying and strengthening the group, taking decisive actions to improve operational and financial performance.’ White says Mobico is on track to deliver on guidance for the financial year of adjusted operating profit in the range of £180 million to £195 million, ‘albeit we expect this will be towards the lower end due to the competitive environment for UK Coach, reduced passenger numbers in UK Bus and a loss-making WeDriveU contract in WMATA.’ In 2024, Mobico reported adjusted operating profit of £187.7 million. In a trading update on Wednesday, Mobico says revenue increases 5.4% year-to-date to September 30 from the prior year. UK revenue declines 3.2% in the quarter, with UK Coach down 7.4% reflecting increased competition on key routes which reduced passenger yields. UK Bus sales increase 2.9% on-year in the quarter, although commercial revenue and passenger numbers both decline by 3.7% amidst lower consumer confidence more broadly. ---------- Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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