Wealth platforms AJ Bell PLC (LSE:AJB) and Hargreaves Lansdown PLC (LSE:HL.) report next week with the two retail investor stalwarts facing markedly different futures.
AJ Bell shares have stormed back after a trading update in May described by one broker as “So far ahead of estimates that we made a moment of thinking that we were looking at the wrong company".
Regulatory interest in how much it is paying customers on money idling in accounts seems long gone, with brokers now predicting an upsurge in new cash as bank savings rates start to come down.
Founder Andrew Bell sold a big chunk of shares recently, but that hasn't affected the share price which is up 57% since January.
UBS expects investors will focus on AUA (assets under management), net flows, and customer numbers next week.
The Swiss bank expects customer numbers to rise to 534,000, AUA of £89.5 billion and £ 1.3 billion of inflows.
“We also look for any comment on investment app 'dodl', given the recent increase in the cash interest rate paid to over 5%.”
Hargreaves, meanwhile, might be updating for the last time as a listed company on Friday (19 July).
The Bristol-based business is facing a takeover bid worth 1,140p per share or £5.4 billion from a consortium led by private equity firm CVC Advisers, an offer the board has said it is willing to accept.
UBS, noting the ongoing bid situation, expects the numbers to play second fiddle but for good measure has forecast net new business of £1.8bn and £152.7bn AUA.