|
The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Friday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- Essentra PLC, up 5.0% at 102.00 pence, 12-month range 88.53p-127.60p. Shares in the Oxford, England-based manufacturer of plastic and metal hardware components rise after Deutsche Bank Research cuts its price target to 150 pence from 165 pence, while reiterating a buy rating. ---------- MJ Gleeson PLC, up 3.3% at 397.66p, 12-month range 320.00p-538.00p. Says trading for the half-year to December 31 is ‘solid’, with full-year results expected to be in line with market expectations. The housebuilder reports higher home completions and improved reservation rates despite subdued demand, and says it expects an improvement in sales through the spring following December’s interest rate cut. Gleeson Homes sold 848 homes in the period, up 5.9% year-on-year from 801 a year prior, and enters the second half with a larger forward order book, while Gleeson Land continues to see strong demand for consented sites. Company-compiled consensus for financial 2026 points to group pretax profit expected at £24.3 million. Basic earnings per share are forecast at 30.7 pence, while the dividend is expected to be 10.8 pence per share. The company says: ‘Demand for new homes remained subdued but steady through the period with buyers’ lack of confidence in the current economic environment compounded further by commentary during the run-up to the late autumn budget. With budget concerns fading and following the interest rate cut in December, we expect to see an improvement in open market sales through the Spring selling season. On that basis, we remain confident in our forecast for financial 2026.’ ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- Imaging Biometrics Ltd, down 38% at 0.53p, 12-month range 0.43p-1.40p. No longer plans to pursue a phase 2 clinical trial of gallium maltolate for glioblastoma, saying it has decided to redirect financial and operational resources toward scaling its core imaging solutions business. The healthcare imaging software firm adds that it continues to hold orphan drug, rare paediatric disease, and FDA fast-track designations for gallium maltolate, preserving future optionality, while focusing on driving near-term commercial growth from its imaging technology in 2026. ---------- Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
|
