This week, we begin proceedings with a look at the contrasting fortunes of two UK wealth managers: Aim-traded Tatton Asset Management (TAM) continues to reap rewards from its dominance of the model portfolio market. But its older rival, Rathbones (RAT), ran into trouble this week when it announced it would temporarily stop accepting investments from some higher-risk clients following a review by the regulator. Chris Akers is with us to shed some light on both situations.

After that we look at online retailer AO World (AO.), which continues to make a better fist than it once did of operating in an environment of shaky consumer confidence. Erin Withey will talk about the company’s growth strategy and its plans to return money to shareholders.

Lastly we turn to Castings (CGS), the 190-year old foundry operator that sells into the HGV market. Mark Robinson is here to analyse its recent results and to consider whether this is a turnaround situation.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:03 Wealth Managers

09:47 AO World

20:22 Castings

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fevara (FVA:127p) may be new in name, but its roots and expertise stretch back more than a century through the former Carr’s Group. In the wake of this major transformation, the livestock supplements company’s focus is now on improving farming productivity through its advanced animal feed technology and supplements, and overseas expansion.

Alongside chief executive Joshua Hoopes, Alex Newman and Lord Lee delve into the company’s strategy both at home and in South America. They cover Fevara’s lofty ambitions in Brazil – its acquisitions so far, the competitive advantages of the country, and the company’s targets for long-term growth. 

They also discuss why Hoopes believes Fevara can continue growing despite structural changes across the agricultural sector, and issues concerning sustainability and the climate crisis.

The trio also explore shareholder returns, dividend policy and the outlook for global cattle markets.

Let us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing [email protected]

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

02:48 Fevara’s transformation

07:00 Fevara’s feed supplements

17:18 Why Brazil is Fevara’s biggest growth opportunity

27:39 Sustainability, emissions and the future of cattle farming

38:04 Lord Lee’s latest portfolio moves

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle by clicking here or heading to Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show dives straight into safety and equipment maker Halma (HLMA), which reported its full-year results on Thursday morning. It may be time to re-evaluate the company’s description as one of the FTSE 100’s least newsworthy businesses – it has been reaping the rewards of the AI boom. But with increased interest comes heightened expectations, and perhaps this is why its shares tumbled by 15 per cent on the day of the results. Mark Robinson digs into the details on whether this ‘quality stock’ is more volatile than it once was.

We then turn to big pharma giant GSK (GSK). The drugmaker made its largest deal in over a decade earlier this week with the acquisition of US cancer biotech Nuvalent. Julian Hofmann takes a look at the $11bn deal and what it means for the future of the pharmaceutical company.

Finally we discuss venture capital trust Molten Ventures (GROW), whose investments in the likes of fintech Revolut and microsatellite operator ICEYE have helped boost its returns. Mark is back to explore its portfolio and looks at whether the trust is morphing into something different.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

01:22 Halma

14:47 GSK

23:06 Molten Ventures

32:25 Outro

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show dives straight into trading platform CMC Markets, after its promise of an imminent inflection point sent its shares soaring to the top of the FTSE All-Share leaderboard on Thursday. Julian Hofmann discusses the business’s full-year figures, its big future plans and whether it’s becoming a more reliable investment.

We then turn to this week’s Big Read on how to tap into Britain’s mammoth water plan; the £100bn strategy to shore up and hopefully improve the dismal state of the country’s infrastructure. Will it succeed? And will it lead to new business for contractors and those working on new technologies? Hugh Moorhead has the answers.

Finally, we take a look at beleaguered fund manager Nick Train’s latest attempts to encourage investors to stick by him during a period of significant underperformance. Holly McKechnie tells us what changes are being made to Finsbury Growth & Income Trust (FGT).

Read more here:

How investors can tap into Britain’s waterworks plan

Will Nick Train’s Finsbury Growth turnaround plan work?

CMC Markets’ shares jump on upgraded outlook

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:08 CMC

13:33 Britain’s waterworks

29:15 Nick Train’s new strategy

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polar Capital Technology Trust (PCT) is one of the most popular and best-performing tech-focused funds available to DIY investors, having built up its record and fan base long before the likes of AI and ‘Magnificent Seven’ became everyday terms. And deputy manager Ali Unwin has been part of that story since 2021, helping investors access the best and brightest, and yet-to-be-discovered names in the tech world.

Val Cipriani sits down with Ali to discuss the fund’s approach in the changing AI space, how to go find the right companies when traditional ways to value stocks are stretched, a world beyond the likes of Nvidia, and plenty more.

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show dives straight into Elon Musk’s SpaceX as it gears up for the biggest IPO in market history. We consider what newly released financial details reveal about the company, and whether a mooted $1.75tn valuation is a sign of market madness. Alex Hamer has the details

Coming back down to earth, we take a look at Pets at Home. The FTSE 250 retailer has struggled with a mixed outlook and regulatory scrutiny for several years now. But with a former Waitrose boss now in charge, and underlying markets starting to improve, things could be looking up. Valeria Martinez tell us what’s going on

Lastly, with the publication of the UK’s 10-year defence spending plan imminent, Michael Fahy examines recent numbers from UK manufacturers Qinetiq and Cohort, and delves into what the future holds for the companies and the wider sector.

Read more:

SpaceX’s blast-off could burn investors

Pets at Home profits hit by retail price cuts

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:03 SpaceX

19:14 Pets at Home

28:00 Defence

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leaving the stability of a full-time job to become self-employed is a truly daunting decision. Gone is the safety net of a monthly pay cheque, and if you want to start your own company, the pressure can feel monumental. In this episode of Women and Wealth, funds editor Val Cipriani sits down with Felicia Hjertman, head of investments at Monument Bank and former founder of an investment platform, to dive into entrepreneurship and investing.

Felicia walks through everything from starting a business, the challenges of raising money as a woman, and the emotional and financial realities of managing, and then eventually closing, a company. The pair also discuss why many women can feel excluded from the world of investing, and offer solutions on how to navigate any apprehensions.

If you have any questions you’d like Val to answer, email [email protected]

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction

00:57 Starting a business

16:24 Fundraising

27:00 The gender investment gap

Women and Wealth is the monthly podcast series from Investors’ Chronicle. You can listen and watch the episodes, alongside our other podcasts, Acast, Apple, Spotify or YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With food prices in the spotlight as Rachel Reeves pushes supermarkets to cap costs for consumers, this week’s show starts further up the supply chain with pork and poultry producer Cranswick. The company reported another strong set of results, and Mark Robinson talks through the details.

Discussion then turns to this week’s Big Read on picking the perfect pension provider. In a week when the Pensions Commission outlined big gaps in the nation’s savings, it’s poignant to discuss what investors should consider when choosing a savings account. From charges to investment options, selecting the right home for your savings is vital. Helen Kirrane explains what to do.

Finally, we cast our ears to palm oil producers in Indonesia, a country already feeling the impact of higher prices and where mooted export controls hit the industry this week. Julian Hofmann gives us the details on MP Evans and AEP Plantations.

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:07 Cranswick

13:07 How to pick a perfect pension pot

23:13 Palm oil plantations

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s show kicks off with a look at FTSE 100 Reit Land Securities, which reported full-year figures. It is still shifting away from offices in favour of shopping centres and residential developments, but with gilt yields spiking again this week, will it remain a victim of circumstances beyond its control? Hugh Moorhead dives into the details. More updates on that here

Discussion then turns to Vodafone – its annual results were met with a mixed reaction, but its turnaround plan has found favour over the past year and continues at pace. Alex Newman and Dan Jones discuss whether doubling down on the UK and Africa makes sense. More on Vodafone here

To conclude, we delve into our Big Read , which, in the face of current geopolitical uncertainty, outlines five portfolios for five possible futures. Julian Hofmann explains why investors should consider scenario planning rather than predictions, and outlines what some of these different eventualities will mean for a range of investments.

Read more here:

Landsec struggles to convince on new strategy

Vodafone moves forward with greater clarity

Five ways to invest during turbulent times

Time stamps

00:00 Intro

01:08 Land Securities

09:41 Vodafone

21:29 How to shield your portfolio

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PZ Cussons, known for brands such as Imperial Leather, Carex and Original Source, has been around for more than a century, but its shape and focus today are very different from its origins.

The FTSE 250 consumer goods giant is focusing on core brands and expanding overseas, and owns market-leading products in a host of countries around the world.

But M&A deals, both good and bad, have meant there are questions to be asked around the company’s strategy, balance sheet and future priorities, all of which Alex Newman and Lord John Lee put to CEO Jonathan Myers.

The trio discuss PZ Cussons’ expansion overseas, its share price valuation, where it can save costs, the stake owned by one of the founders’ families and much more.

Let us know your thoughts, or if you have any questions or any suggestions for future guests, by emailing [email protected]

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle by clicking here or heading to Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:49 What is PZ Cussons?

02:56 Lord Lee's involvement

06:33 Strategic review

10:31 Offers for African business

13:39 Value of the brands

16:02 Is the valuation low?

19:34 Innovation and building new brands

24:32 Manufacturing efficiencies

27:02 Impact of Iran War

29:48 Shareholder register

31:15 Involvement of family owners

40:08 Confidence in future outlook

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As potential jet fuel shortages unnerve summer holidaymakers, airlines have been reporting shaky demand as people hold off from booking trips. But what of the hoteliers? In this week’s episode, we discuss the quarterly update from InterContinental Hotels (IHG), owner of Holiday Inn, as well as recent figures from Premier Inn owner Whitbread (WTB). Mark Robinson explains why the picture is brighter than many fear, and how long he expects that to continue.

We then talk through the latest figures from drinks giant Diageo (DGE), which has found life very hard for some time now. But with a dividend cut out the way, its CEO, former Tesco boss Sir Dave Lewis, is due to outline his new strategy this summer. Are things looking up? Or is it too soon to say for the Guinness maker – Mark has the answers. More on Diageo here

Finally, we tackle this week’s Big Read, asking the fundamental question for any investor – how to pick a fund. Val Cipriani explains our five-step guide, giving you a checklist of things to look for, mistakes to avoid, and more.

Read more here:

Our five-step guide to picking the best funds

Shares soar on (another) Taco feast

InterContinental reports rising revenues, but travel concerns linger

Timestamps

00:00 Intro

01:13 Hotels

14:09 Diageo

22:24 Fund selection

Listen to more podcasts from Investors’ Chronicle on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Investors' Chronicle has supported private investors in the UK for over 160 years by highlighting rewarding investment opportunities.

Investors' Chronicle is a service by the Financial Times.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.