Investors Chronicle

We begin with Trustpilot (TRST), whose shares shot up 10 per cent in the past five days. Its software as a service (SaaS) is AI-enabled but should it be seen as a marketing or tech business? Jennifer Johnson runs through the long-term prospects inventors need to consider.Dave Baxter joins to chat about the 2024 edition of the IC’s Top 50 Funds list. He unpacks how it is constructed, why it’s tilted more towards investment trusts this year, and profiles some of the names that make the cut.Last up, we touch on engineer Reinshaw (RSW). While some other semiconductor suppliers have thrived, the company’s past few years have been rough. But do its latest figures point to a stronger narrative? Mark Robinson and Julian Hofmann discuss its future revenues and valuation.Timestamps1:13 Trustpilot13:16 Top 50 Funds23:11 ReinshawClaim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start y

Lee and the IC is back after its summer hiatus with the latest updates to Lord Lee’s portfolio. Armed with the proceeds of a takeover, Lord Lee has spent the last few months topping up some existing holdings and running the slide rule over several British value opportunities, including a media conglomerate and a global shipping firm. John and Alex continue their discussion on the role of non-executive directors (NEDs) as share ambassadors, as well as what lies ahead for private investors in the wake of Labour’s win.1:11 Lok’nStore sell6:13 Britvic 9:56 ITV purchase12:09 Braemar purchase18:00 Non-executive director holdings24:01 Labour government Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Hamer unpacks the results from Australian mining giant BHP (BHP). It reported higher earnings in the 12 months to June thanks to record copper prices and a relatively stable iron ore market, its biggest market. Alex shares what investors should expect going forward. Alex Newman, the author of this week’s cover feature on insurance stocks, joins the show. DIY investors love insurers – note our Lee and the IC podcast co-host, Lord John Lee – but the industry is a complex beast. Alex explains what investors should do to know which names are worth owning.Lastly, Arthur Sants joins to discuss Nvidia’s (US:NVDA) latest interim results. Its revenue more than doubled but the share price fell thanks to expectations that it turns out even the world’s top-earning company can’t beat. Arthur explores the valuation and what lies ahead for the business.Timestamps1:18 BHP10:21 Investing in insurers 23:59 Nvidia Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant

We begin with construction firm Costain (COST), which recently announced a £10mn buyback. Mark Robinson weighs in on its latest results and more.It’s then on to Hargreaves Lansdown (HL). Val Cipriani covers the proposed takeover and what it means for those who use the platform. Julian Hofmann also unpacks the company’s results and the impact on shareholders.Last up, Alex Hamer covers Ithaca Energy’s (ITH) results, what impact Labour’s windfall tax will have and the latest events affecting North Sea stocks in general.Timestamps 1:15 Costain12:20 Hargreaves 23:50 Ithaca  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who holds the power: the government or the market? In this episode of the ‘A Value View’ Podcast, portfolio manager Simon Gergel discusses the aftermath of the recent UK election, marked by a significant Labour victory. He explores the UK stock market response and highlights where opportunities are being found today. Listen in now to find out more about the market reaction and what it means for investors. For more in-depth discussions and insights, visit our website for additional podcast episodes, articles and videos: https://www.merchantstrust.co.uk/en-gb/videos-podcasts-and-reading This content was paid for and produced by The Merchants Trust Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin with life insurer Just Group which raised its profit outlook after corporate pension deals boomed. Julian Hofmann unpacks the recent results and discusses whether the shares offer value and how the business might expand.Another insurer's results, Aviva (AV), follows. Mark Robinson and Julian talk about what the business is doing right and how it’s benefitting from diversification.Arthur Sants joins from New York to discuss his cover feature on Google’s parent company Alphabet (GOOGL). Arthur explains how Google became the world’s top search engine, its recent run-in with the Department of Justice, the threat of AI and more.One Savings Bank (OSB) is last up and Jemma Slingo reveals what led to the 20 per cent share price drop after its latest update.Timestamps1:21 Just Group10:19 Aviva 19:42 Alphabet 42:04 OSB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave Baxter is joined by one of the managers of Migo Opportunities Investment Trust, an unusual fund which exploits valuation anomalies and discounts in other investment trusts.Dave and Charlotte discuss where she looks for opportunities, interesting asset classes and the reason that share buybacks turn the trust’s head more than dividend increases. Listen to this and more. Timestamps 00:34 Sectors of interest6:34 Geopolitical risk8:14 Worthy investments in private equity 10:38 M&A scale 12:49 Smaller trusts14:59 Areas of innovation18:09 Interesting asset classes25:20 Share buybacks and capital allocation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We begin the episode with commodity trading and mining company Glencore (GLEN). Alex Hamer unpacks a busy week, including everything from the cancellation of the coal demerger to the company’s copper prospects in an environmentally conscious world.Val Cipriani discusses our cover feature on the often much-desired topic: retiring early. It doesn’t always seem realistic but Val covers how investors can set themselves on the right track, with simple and effective strategies including how to properly use pensions and Isas.Last up, Christopher Akers explains Deliveroo’s (ROO) latest results. The food delivery company’s shares were up 8 per cent on the morning of the recording on account of its first-ever statutory profit, a share buyback announcement and more, which cheered up a pretty dreary market.1:13 Glencore16:20 How to retire early27:50 Deliveroo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in the thick of results season but that doesn't stop our hardworking journalists from providing a deep dive into the top stories of the week.We begin with St James’s Place (STJ), which recently released results. The financial advice company announced an ambitious £500m cost-saving programme, a figure that turned many heads in the City. Julian Hofmann covers all.Then Mark Robinson discusses the cover feature on making rapid returns with short-term trades. Mark explains the thinking behind the piece, the ways investors can get involved and the pitfalls to avoid.New recruit Holly McKechnie makes her podcast debut to talk about how to spot rising star fund managers and then Julian returns to unpack London Stock Exchange Group’s (LSEG) results.Timestamps 1:11 St James’s Place (STJ)9:36 Rapid returns19:11 Rising star fund managers 26:22 London Stock Exchange Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this IC Interviews podcast, Val Cipriani is joined by James Cook, manager of JPMorgan Global Growth & Income. As the only global and global equity income investment trust trading at a premium, it is keeping investors happy with its approach.Val and James discuss how this has happened, the future of semiconductor stocks, how AI will change the market, Microsoft’s recent outage and much more.Timestamps1:01 Strategy of growth3:35 Payout policy7:41 Paying dividend out of capital 9:09 Outlook for the market 13:33 Interesting areas of the market17:05 Semiconductor stocks19:31 Magnificent Seven21:41 AI 25:47 Microsoft 27:53 AI’s risk 29:06 Tech stocks capex 30:56 Apple 32:48 UK stocks34:50 Japan36:32 Portflio balance39:30 Getting involved with M&A  Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.

We begin with Mark Robinson who covers pest control business Rentokil (RTO) which saw a double digit surge in its share price after rumours of private-equity takeovers began swirling.It’s then on to this week’s cover story by James Norrington on the investing greats and how investors can apply their wisdom to their own portfolios. Jennifer Johnson then joins the conversation with an update on leader of the FTSE 100, AstraZeneca (AZN). Why are shares down despite its guidance being upgraded? And what does the company offer outside of oncology drugs?Last up, we cover energy company Centrica’s (CNA) results which received a less than favourable market reaction. 1:27 Rentokil (RTO)12:53 Investing greats 23:50 AstraZeneca (AZN)33:31 Centrica (CNA)Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *Af

This week, the IC team touch on everything from everything from water company share prices to the state of play in the sports brands industry, and Baillie Gifford’s investment trusts.Alex Hamer unpacks Ofwat’s regulatory crackdown and what reforms mentioned in the King’s Speech will mean for companies such as Pennon (PNN), United Utilities (UU) and Severn Trent (SVT).It’s been a busy few weeks for sporting events but there’s plenty more to come as this week’s cover feature analyses sports brands. Michael Fahy runs through the hot topics from Nike (NKE) versus Adidas (ADS), new challenger brands and marketing spending in the UK compared with the US.Last up, Val Cipriani looks at how Baille Gifford’s Monks (MNKS), Edinburgh Worldwide (EWI) and Scottish Mortgage (SMT) are performing after 2022’s huge losses, Trump’s recent comments on trade relations, and more. Timestamps1:22 Water companies 12:38 Sports brands27:52 Baille GiffordClaim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for jus

In the latest episode of IC Interviews, Dave Baxter sits down with Chris Tennant of Fidelity’s Emerging Markets Trust. The pair cover everything from stocks Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) and Nasper (JSE: NPN) to the opportunities for shorting in China and areas believed to be the home of future emerging markets. Timestamps 1:00 Stocks in portfolio & TSMC6:04 Nasper 8:23 Buybacks in EM11:15 General take on China 16:08 Shorting 19:10 India22:48 Concentrating elsewhere 24:34 Other EM options 27:11 Overlooked themes 29:11 Risks that investors are overlooking Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The episode begins with Alex discussing the housebuilding sector. He and Dan unpack Barratt’s (BDEV) recent trading update, whether investors should expect more M&A, and planning proposals from the new government.Julian follows up by analysing student accommodation provider Unite’s (UTG) seemingly positive trading update. He explores the investment case given the weakening relationship between international students and universities’ finances, and how planning changes could affect the sector.Last on the agenda is our annual ETF best-buy list. Dave Baxter explains the thinking behind the collection of funds, changes made for 2024, why investors should be wary of thematic ETFs and more. 1:30 Housebuilders 16:17 Unite 27:45 Top 50 ETFsClaim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial

We begin the show with Jemma Slingo who covers results at Baltic Classifieds (BCG), the largest internet services provider for the Baltics. The business has a dominant position in the housing and car listings market, making it a similar company to the UK’s Rightmove and Auto Trader. Dan and Jemma unpack its expansion plans, risks and valuation. Next, Mark Robinson joins to discuss the ‘decision intelligence’ company ActiveOps (AOM) which is gaining attention for high customer retention rates and positive earnings growth. Mark explores how large the scope is for its software services.Last up, Julian Hofmann and Jemma discuss outsourcers Serco (SRP) and Mitie (MTO). The two explore current trading at the two companies and their prospects under a Labour government. 1:22 Baltic Classifieds9:59 ActiveOps 20:18 Serco24:08 MitieClaim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every we

Dave Baxter hosts Alastair Laing of Capital Gearing Trust, a vehicle which aims to grow but also protect investments over long periods. Often known for its bearish stance, the team at the trust use a combination of bonds, equities and property to position themselves and investors' cash securely in case of rocky market periods. In the episode, Dave and Alastair discuss how the trust has offset missing out on the US tech wave, inflation-linked bonds, the smaller positions they hold, and much more. Timestamps1:00 Positioning of the trust3:07 Pockets of value4:36 Drivers of a regime change5:57 Exposure to equities7:04 Offsetting lack of involvement of US gains 9:58 Bonds 13:12 Inflation-linked bonds 15:56 Executing investment views 18:25 Smaller positions20:31 Arriving at a valuation he can trust24:19 How the trust navigates investment trust investments27:09 Attitude to private equity 29:04 Share buybacks 34:07 The sector and structural decline Claim your first 12 weeks of

The Companies and Markets Show returns with a look at the prospects for three very different businesses. Retailer Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) had a disastrous start to the year but has shown signs of improvement since. Chris Akers asks if it can weather the luxury goods downturn.Then Jemma Slingo joins the show to examine Aim-listed cable and components maker Volex (VLX). Less glamorous it may be, but the latest figures demonstrate that the company has proved adept at diversifying its business despite destocking challenges. Lastly, Mark Robinson ponders the opportunities and risks facing one of the UK market’s best performers in 2024: trading platform CMC Markets (CMCX). Is there still value there for shareholders?Read our full analysis of the results hereWatches of Switzerland sticks with targets after tough yearVolex sales climb despite strong headwindsCMC's growth prospects supported by Revolut dealClaim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You wil

The latest IC Companies and Markets podcast kicks off with a look at two pubcos hoping to benefit from an upturn in the weather and a summer of sport. Christopher Akers joins the show to examine recent results from Young’s (YNGN) and Fuller, Smith & Turner (FSTA) and asks what the future has in store.Jennifer Johnson then discusses this week’s IC cover story, on company spin-offs and the wider trend (or non-trend) of conglomerates breaking up. She runs the rule over companies in the pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and industrials sectors, and discusses whether divestments are creating or destroying value.Finally, in the week that Nvidia (US:NVDA) became the world’s largest company, Dave Baxter looks at the funds trying to exploit this trend. The team also discuss the growing imbalances in the US market – some of which are less obvious than you may think – and ask how much of a problem they really pose.Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just

Guy Anderson, fund manager of Mercantile Trust, joins Val Cipriani on the latest IC Interviews podcast. The trust is run by JP Morgan and is built on a bottom-up approach, focusing on quality UK mid-caps with strong cash flows that will accumulate dividends over time. In this episode, the two discuss the drivers behind the trust’s success and investment process, opportunities in the UK stock market, M&A activity and more. Timestamps00:58 UK mid-caps4:28 The UK stock market8:13 Red flags for gearing10:20 - The metrics that sound out when picking a stock 12:23 - Sectors that stand out and opportunities 15:20 - The risk of getting the recovery wrong 17:16 - 4imprint 20:44 Why exposure to housebuilders has gone up28:24 AI30:49 M&A activity 35:47 Dividends 38:02 The trust’s approach to discounts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast begins with Alex Hamer discussing our latest cover feature on the rise of gold and to a lesser extent copper prices. Alex outlines the drivers of these price moves and highlights a variety of companies seeking to take advantage of these trends.Then, in a week when the biggest UK political parties all published their general election manifestos, Hermione Taylor asks what these pledges might mean for both the national and household finances.We conclude with a look at full-year results from safety equipment manufacturer Halma (HLMA). Mark Robinson asks whether another year of healthy growth has cemented its status as a quality UK share.Claim your first 12 weeks of Investors' Chronicle Print + Digital for just £12. You will get instant access to our website and app, plus the magazine delivered to your door every week. To start your trial, visit www.investorschronicle.co.uk/podcasttrial *After your 12-week trial you will pay just £62 every 13 weeks by direct debit. If you’re not entirely s