Mark Watson-Mitchell - 12.12.2025 This morning has announced that it has received a possible cash offer from VertiGIS Ltd, a portfolio company of Battery Ventures, at 73p per share, valuing the company at approximately £87.1m. This offer represents a significant premium of 57.0% to last night's closing price and has secured support from major shareholders representing 33.8% of the issued ordinary share capital, including irrevocable undertakings for 17.7% and a letter of int

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 12.12.2025 This morning Filtronic (LON:FTC) reported significant strategic progress in the first half of FY2026, securing its largest-ever contract with SpaceX for next-generation E-band GaN products, alongside a €7m contract for LEO satellite constellation RF assemblies and a £13.4 million defence contract. The company ended the period with £10.5m in cash and £8.5m net cash excluding leases, self-financing a headquarters relocation. Filtronic, which i

This morning the UK's FTSE100 Index is just 208 odd points short of reaching a new High, now at 9722.26, while the highest reached to date has been 9930.10. Over in the States, the Dow Jones Index closed at 48,704.01 against its highest of 48,756.34. There is certain to be a push towards the FTSE hitting 10,000, while the 50,000 level for the DJI looks an easier target for achievement. The number of bids happening in the last few weeks is a sure signal of growing corporate co

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 12.12.2025 For ‘penny share punters’ prepared to take an early view on the development of an interesting little group with proven management – just take a look at Bob Holt’s new vehicle, EARNZ (LON:EARN) . Actually, it is not so new because he acquired control of the old Verditek operation early in 2024. And Just Who Is Bob Holt? Bob Holt is a highly accomplished executive with over 37 years' experience in senior leadership roles across various sectors,

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 11.12.2025 Next Thursday morning, 18th December, Currys (LON:CURY) will be declaring its Interims results for the trading period to Saturday, 30th August. They should show an advance across its markets, despite tricky trading conditions generally. At the end of October, the group’s shares touched 147.20p, before easing back to 121.80p on pre-Budget fears. They are now 131.70p and looking capable of scaling back above this year’s High, perhaps next week

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 11.12.2025 At the end of last month, Billington Holdings (LON:BILN) confirmed the closure of the group's facility at Yate, near Bristol. Since then, its shares have been gradually advancing, having risen from 310p to the current 347p, with the market seemingly impressed at the structural steel group's strategic restructuring. It will be interesting to see just what the group will do with the site after closure process is completed. The Barnsley, South

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 11.12.2025 The shares of the Gateshead-based building services group, Northern Bear (LON:NTBR) recently burst above my latest Target Price of 140p and peaked at 158p. In my note on the group 11 days ago, I commented on the heavier dealing volumes being recorded in the shares. At the same time, I suggested that there would be bouts of profit-taking which could clip them back, thereby providing risk-tolerant investors with cheaper buying opportunities. Th

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 10.12.2025   This week’s unexpected Trading Update from Mears Group (LON:MER)  has resulted in analysts upgrading their current year estimates. We will have to wait until next month for a detailed report on the UK’s leading housing services provider’s business report for its full year to end-December. The group released the unscheduled release confirming that it will perform towards the top end of market expectations, due to improved sales and margins.

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 09.12.2025   The shares of The Property Franchise Group (LON:TPFG) peaked at 598.68p at the end of September this year, before easing back 478p on bouts of profit-taking. Now they are climbing back up again, currently 526p, valuing the agency group at £334m, which I consider to be an attractive buying level for investors looking forward to a positive 2026. Last week’s Pre-Close Trading Update was one of confidence, with the group stating that it was le

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 09.12.2025 The Finals to end-September published last Thursday by the £1.41bn-capitalised SSP Group (LON:SSPG) indicated that the group, which is a leading operator of restaurants, bars, cafes and other food and beverage outlets in travel locations across 38 countries, is really getting its act together. And its shares, now at 178p, up 32p in the last week, have reflected the market confidence following the results. The Business SSP is a global leader

Mark Watson-Mitchell – 09.12.2025   This coming Thursday, 11 th  December, will see Dotdigital Group (LON:DOTD) , the leading SaaS provider of an AI-powered customer experience and data platform for intelligent, personalised marketing engagement at scale, will be holding its AGM which should point to better times ahead. On Tuesday, 4 th  November, the group declared its Final Results for the year to end-June, proudly proclaiming that it was a “ Year of organic growth, enhance

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 08.12.2025 This group’s shares have trebled since I featured them a year ago and there is still so much more to come yet! Last Thursday, 4th December, ASA International (LON:ASAI) issued a surprise Trading Update stating that: “Building on the sustained momentum seen during the first half of the year, the 2025 full year outlook remains positive with improved business and financial performance driven by continued strong client demand and loan portfolio

Mark Watson-Mitchell   The Interim Results to end-October from the £688m-capitalised greetings group Moonpig (LON:MOON)  are due to be announced next Tuesday, 9 th  December, the accompanying statement could well indicate that the business is still on the growth track. The Business The group is a leading online greeting cards and gifting platform, comprising the Moonpig, Red Letter Days and Buyagift brands in the UK and the Greetz brand in the Netherlands. The group's leading

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 05.12.2025 This morning Gemfields (LON:GEM) announced the results of an auction comprised of commercial-quality rough emeralds held during the period 17 November - 4 December 2025. Highlights: December 2025 Commercial-Quality Emerald Auction · Total auction revenues of $25.4 million · 46 lots were offered for sale and 45 were sold (98%) · Average price of $7.46 per carat · The 53 auctions of Kagem gemstones held since July 2009 have generat

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 04.12.2025 Next Tuesday morning, 9th December, the Chemring Group (LON:CHG) will declare its Final Results for the year to end-October. Having followed this advanced technology products group for decades, I am not at all worried about the high price-to-earnings ratio of its shares – simply because this really is a cracking business, whose Order Book is growing at quite a pace. Less than a month ago, the group, well known for its ‘chaff’ products, issue

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 03.12.2025   Early tomorrow morning, at 8.30am, should see the global pollster group YouGov (LON:YOU) hold its AGM covering the Report & Accounts for the year to end-July. It will be interesting to note whether there is a published AGM Trading Update, however the odds are against such an occurrence. That is a shame because investors need to see and hear as much corporate newsflow as is possible, thereby creating anticipation of beneficial progress, whil

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 03.12.2025 It is beginning to edge upwards again! Over the last few days the shares of the £300m-capitalised Filtronic (LON:FTC) have moved gradually from 125p to hitting 135p this morning. That may not create earthquakes in some quarters, however it is a positive advance. The shares of the Sedgefield-based group were up to 175p less than six months ago, before profit-taking set in and allowed them to ease back to 114p at the end of October. The Busines

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 02.12.2025 This coming Thursday, 4th December, will see The Watches of Switzerland Group (LON:WOSG) announce its Interim Results covering the 26 weeks to 26th October. The group, which is the UK's largest retailer for Rolex, OMEGA, Cartier, TAG Heuer and Breitling watches, despite retail sector challenges, enjoyed a strong first half. Following the group’s early November Trading Update and ahead of this week’s announcement broker’s analysts have shown a

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 02.12.2025 This morning the £134m-capitalised photonics technology group Gooch & Housego (LON:GHH) declared its results for the year to end-September showing a stronger performance than expected performance. The company, which is a specialist manufacturer of optical components and systems, has already given a clear guidance that the last year progressed much as anticipated. It reported a strong financial year with revenue increasing by 10.7% to £150.5m

Mark Watson-Mitchell - 02.12.2025 It was only late yesterday afternoon that I suggested news from Pantheon Resources (LON:PANR) was due. But not the news that impacted the market this morning. The company provided an operational update on the Dubhe-1 well, noting that clean-up operations are ongoing with intermittent oil and increasing gas production since early November, with approximately 40% of injected water now produced. The final cost for drilling and completing Dubhe-1