The coming week beginning 5 December shows no let-up for keen investors in the run up to Christmas, with a packed advent calendar of company announcements, including from Ashtead, Berkeley Group, Frasers, Mitchells & Buttlers, Moonpig and Purplebricks.
Interest rate decisions are also due from Canda and Australia and there's lots of key economic data, including services PMIs.
MONDAY 6 DECEMBER
Significant announcements expected on Monday 5 December
Interims: Fusion Antibodies Ltd, Induction Healthcare Group PLC (AIM:INHC)
Economic announcements: PMI Composite, PMI Services, PMI Services (US), Factory Orders (US), ISM Services (US)
AGMs: Amur Minerals Corp, JPMorgan UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC, Schroder Japan Growth Fund PLC, Schroder Oriental Income Fund, Scottish Oriental Smaller Cos Trust, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd
TUESDAY 6 DECEMBER
FTSE 100-listed but US-focused Ashtead Group PLC (LSE:AHT) and former blue chip Ferguson PLC (LSE:FERG) both provide updates this coming Tuesday.
Ashtead, the construction equipment hire group, in September it reported stronger first-quarter sales and profits than expected as the US construction sector remained strong, but said this performance was being offset by increasing interest costs.
Plumbing supplies group Ferguson back in September increased its final dividend 15% and extended its share buyback even though growth slowed in the fourth quarter and it expected a further deceleration.
Significant announcements expected on Tuesday 6 December
Trading update: Ferguson PLC
Interims: Ashtead Group, Civitas Social Housing PLC (LSE:CSH), Infrastructure India PLC, Iomart Group, Mercia Asset Management PLC (AIM:MERC), Vianet Group (AIM:VNET) PLC, Victrex PLC (LSE:VCT)
Finals: Gooch & Housego, Paragon Banking Group PLC (LSE:PAG), SSP Group, Victorian Plumbing Group PLC (AIM:VIC), Paragon Banking Group, SSP Group plc (LSE:SSPG), Tritax EuroBox
Economic announcements: PMI Construction (UK)
AGMs: Brighton Pier Group PLC (AIM:PIER), Croma Security Solutions Group PLC (AIM:CSSG), Gattaca PLC (AIM:GATC), Greatland Gold PLC (AIM:GGP, OTC:GRLGF), International Biotechnology Trust PLC, Nightcap PLC (AIM:NGHT), Rosslyn Data Technologies PLC (AIM:RDT)
WEDNESDAY 7 DECEMBER
Moonpig Group PLC (LSE:MOON), the online greeting card seller, is due to release its half-year results on Wednesday, with the shares having fallen 70% since floating early last year but bouncing off October’s low.
While numerous hedge funds are shorting the stock amid worries about the cost of living crisis that have overshadowed its solid updates, with guidance reiterate for the full year in September.
Mitchells & Butlers PLC (LSE:MAB) has grown like-for-like sales compared to pre-pandemic levels but the increase is slowing and, like its rivals, it isn’t enough to counteract rises to energy and labour costs as well as reduced customer spending.
Sector shares reached lows in October but rallied over the last two months potentially due to U-turns in government policies and the draw of pubs amid the World Cup.
Significant announcements expected on Wednesday 7 December
Interims: Moonpig Group PLC, Quiz PLC (AIM:QUIZ), Baltic Classifields Group, Mitchells & Butlers PLC, Redde Northgate
Finals: Mitchells & Butlers PLC
Economic announcements: Halifax House Price Index (UK), MBA Mortgage Applications (US), Crude Oil Inventories (US), Consumer Credit (US)
AGMs: Agriterra (AIM:AGTA) Ltd, Alternative Liquidity Fund Ltd, Europa Oil & Gas Holdings, Volta Finance Ltd
THURSDAY 8 DECEMBER
Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group PLC update on its progress towards a 30% profit growth target when it reports half year results this coming Thursday.
With majority stakeholder Ashley stepping down as chairman since Frasers last reported, the upcoming results from the Sports Direct and Debenhams owner should give insight to any changes to the group’s strategy.
British American Tobacco PLC (LSE:BATS) could raise its full-year guidance, according to analysts at Barclays, as its continued business in Russia is expected to bolster the company’s underlying profits.
Purplebricks Group PLC (AIM:PURP) interims could also be interesting as it battles an activist investor who wants to give its chairman the boot.
Significant announcements expected on Thursday 8 December
Trading Updates: Balfour Beatty plc (LSE:BBY), British American Tobacco PLC
Interims: Hipgnosis Songs fund Ltd, PurpleBricks Group PLC, Redcentric PLC (AIM:RCN), SDCL Energy Efficiency Income Trust PLC (LSE:SEIT), DS Smith, Frasers Group
Finals: Focusrite PLC (AIM:TUNE), On The Beach Group PLC
Economic announcements: RICS Housing Market Survey, Initial Jobless Claims (US)
AGMs: Ashoka India Equity Inv Trust PLC, BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust PLC, Falanx Group Ltd (AIM:FLX), Fidelity Emerging Markets Ltd, Lok'n Store PLC, Netcall, Upland Resources (LSE:UPL) Ltd, Westmount Energy, YouGov PLC (AIM:YOU)
FRIDAY 9 DECEMBER
Southeast-based housebuilder Berkeley Group Holdings PLC (LSE:BKG) has received more than one vote of confidence in anticipation of its interim earnings release on Friday 9 December.
Despite a cratering of the UK housing market and dwindling mortgage approvals, the FTSE 100-listed group was one of the few UK housebuilders to net a ‘buy’ rating from Berenberg in a wide swipe against the industry in the past week.
Significant announcements expected on Friday 9 December
Trading updates: Diploma PLC (LSE:DPLM)
Interims: Berkeley Group Holdings PLC
Finals: Nexus Infrastructure PLC
Economic announcements: Consumer Price Index (US), Producer Price Index (US), Consumer Sentiment (US), Wholesales Inventories (US)
AGMs: Asia Dragon Trust PLC, Associated British Foods PLC (LSE:ABF), Boston International Holdings PLC, Critical Metals PLC (LSE:CRTM), Doric Nimrod Air One (AIM:DNA) Ltd, Doric Nimrod Air Three (LSE:DNA3) Ltd, Doric Nimrod Air Two Ltd, Frontier IP Group PLC (AIM:FIPP, OTC:FGPPF), Gelion PLC (AIM:GELN), RC365 Holding PLC (LSE:RCGH)