Playing FTSE

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When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

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Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

What’s a gravel bike made of? Find out in this week’s PlayingFTSE Show! 

Contrasting fortunes for the Steves in the stock market this week. One has had a stellar week, but the other has had a more difficult time. 

Beeks Financial Cloud is a new one for this show and we’ve had a request from a viewer to talk about it. But could low latency mean a big opportunity? 

The company has a strong position in an interesting niche. And it’s signing up customers from all the big exchanges, meaning there could be a lot more growth to come. 

JD Wetherspoon is the reason Steve W’s portfolio has underperformed this week. And the company’s latest report was something of a mixed bag. 

Like-for-like sales came in higher than the industry average over the last few months. But the market is interested in costs right now – and they’re up for the FTSE 250 pub chain.

Bloomsbury has come a long way in the time we’ve been looking at it. And it’s reached the stage where the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has come back down to around 13. 

Steve D’s been looking at the author roster and Steve W’s been paying attention to the academic side. Is there anything there to convince them to get buying again?

Steve W promised a REIT, so here’s Tritax Big Box. The stock comes with a 5.4% dividend yield company owns and leases warehouses and industrial distribution centres.

REITs can often find growth difficult, but net rental income is up 24% compared to the previous year. So why is Steve not so convinced by this one?

The stock market liked the latest results from Judges Scientific and so did Steve D. Steve W didn’t, though, a revenue drop is enough to leave him disappointed. 

There’s a lot of scope for growth from this one and investors should think about whether they can look past a cyclical downturn. And it looks like they are, with the stock going up…

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingfts

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

5:18 BEEKS FINANCIAL

18:19 JD SPOONS

30:45 BLOOMSBURY  

41:07 TRITAX BIG BOX

51:06 JUDGES SCIENTIFIC

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

Which of Steve W’s stocks are up this week? Find out in this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

The S&P 500 has officially entered correction territory this week and the Steves have both seen their portfolios falling. But what should investors do in this kind of situation?

Both Steves have plans for making it through a downturn. And they’re sharing some of the ideas they’ve developed over the last few years this time out. 

Shares in Adobe have taken a big fall this week. As a result, they’re trading at a P/E ratio that they haven’t reached in the last five years and Steve D has been taking a look. 

The company feels like it’s going to be relevant for a long time and it has some terrific economic properties. But is AI a threat or an opportunity for the business?

Steve W has a new small-cap UK stock to take a look at. It’s Tristel – a manufacturer of some high-powered hospital disinfectant products. 

The company is planning its move into the US. And with the stock down 25% since the start of the year,  it comes with a growing dividend that starts at an attractive 4.5%. 

It’s been a while since we’ve looked at Docusign on the show. But the company has been moving forwards nicely in that time. 

The firm has established a strong position in the digital signature business, but could it be anything more than this? Steve D has been checking this one out.

Steve W has been looking at a REIT in the care home sector. An 8.5% dividend yield in an industry where demand is set to stay strong for some time is an attractive proposition.

The trouble is, it’s now up 33% because it’s been acquired. This isn’t the first time this has happened in the last few weeks – so is UK real estate the place to look to find value?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

6:03 TIPS TO DEAL WITH CORRECTIONS AND CRASHES

24:05 ADOBE

34:41 TRISTEL

47:35 DOCUSIGN

59:47 CARE REIT

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

What website is Steve W about to go on? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

It’s been a tough week in the stock market, especially in the US. And neither Steve D nor Steve W has been having a good time of things. 

Crowdstrike shares have been falling recently. Could this be the result of last year’s outage coming back around to haunt the company?

The stock roughly back where it was before the big drop and Steve D has been taking a look. There’s still a very good business with some strong customer retention here…

FTSE 100 distribution company Bunzl has been catching Steve W’s eye. Revenues for 2024 are down, but this was known about and the share price has fallen on the latest news.

There’s around 7% of the market cap in free cash to deploy each year. And if it can’t be used for growth, it’s coming back as dividends and buybacks.

MongoDB is a stock the PlayingFTSE Show has been looking at for a while. And it took an almighty hit this week, with shares down over 30%. 

The reason is a weak outlook for the next three months, but the company has been known to guide low and then work higher before. Steve D has been checking this one out.

Despite full year revenues being up 11%, shares in Greggs fell sharply this week. This doesn’t seem to make sense, but Steve W thinks he can see what’s going on. 

The latest news is that trading conditions are tough right now. But with the company set to increase its store count by 5% this year, could it be a bargain at today’s prices?

Transmedics has been the subject of a short report recently and the stock is down further after its results for the last year. But the business is well ahead of the competition.

Steve D has been on this one for a while and is impressed by the company’s response to the allegations from Scorpion Capital. So could this be his moment to buy?

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

4:20 CROWDSTRIKE

16:42 BUNZL

27:26 MONGODB

43:36 GREGGS

57:27 TRANSMEDICS

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

What has Steve D done this week? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

The FTSE 100 is up, the S&P 500 is down. But what have the Steves done?

Again it’s a mixture of new and old and some new shares for the watch list. And we’re really excited about some of the things we’ve been finding.

Nvidia put up another strong result, but the market seemed uninspired. The stock dropped significantly, despite impressive growth in sales and profits. 

With the next Blackwell already on the way, the shares are now trading at a forward P/E of 21. Is that low enough for one of the Steves to take an interest?

Celebrus Technologies is a new stock for us. But Steve W has been looking at it and he very much likes what he sees.

It’s got good recurring revenues, a price tag that doesn’t look too bad – and even a dividend! But will being listed in the UK count against it with investors?

Who needs Amazon as a customer? Not Progyny – the reproductive assistance stock has shrugged off the loss of a big customer.

It’s a setback, but revenues are still growing and the outlook for the company is largely the same (just a year behind). The share price rose then fell – quickly – so is this time to buy?

Rolls-Royce is now well past Covid-19 recovery. But the company is still posting strong growth and it’s offering impressive guidance for the next few years. 

The stock climbed 20% on the news, meaning there’s a lot priced in. But there are also lots of growth avenues…  

Steve D has been looking at Lantheus - a promising healthcare company . It’s a stock that’s been working higher over the last few years but there could be more to come.

Pylarify is the thing investors are typing into Google. But there’s a lot more in the pipeline for them to be taking note of over the next few years.

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

6:36 NVIDIA EARNINGS

20:45 CELEBRUS

31:09 PROGYNY

42:18 ROLLS ROYCE

51:21 LANTHEUS

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

4:55 CASH ISA

13:32 TOAST

23:40 WALMART

31:18 SOLAREDGE

39:03 CHORD ENERGY

48:34 AXSOME THERAPEUTICS

1:00:37 DCC

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

Who’s been icing Digestives this week? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

A strong performance from one Steve and a disappointing result for the other in the stock market this week. But who’s been doing what? 

And more importantly, which stocks have been going which way? There’s a lot to talk about on this week’s show…

It’s been a strong six months for Adyen and the share price has been responding accordingly. It doesn’t always, but it’s up significantly this week. 

Steve D has been on this one for a while and the company hasn’t let him down. As it catches PayPal in size growing at several times the rate, is there still an opportunity?

Unilever shares are down this week after a modest Q4 update. But the big news is around the separation of its ice cream division – it’s on the way. 

The new company will be listed in Amsterdam (as well as the UK and the US). And Steve W is still looking closely at it after having missed out on some previous spinoffs.

Airbnb’s latest result suggests the company is moving in the right direction. Most things are up around 12% – and so is the stock – as the business keeps working on its moat.

It’s a hugely cash-generative business and sticking close to its roots. And it seems as though the higher the stock goes, the more investors seem to like it.

It’s not been a great week for British American Tobacco. The company has had to put a lot aside to cover a potential lawsuit coming from Canada.

New products are growing well, though, and the decline in combustibles revenue isn’t really showing up yet. So could Steve W be tempted to buy this and get some quick cash?

FTSE 250 industrial Renishaw posted some results that were… ok. But the stock market decided to send it down sharply, which could be an opportunity.

Selling precision measuring equipment can be cyclical and over time these things tend to sort themselves out. So what’s Steve D thinking with this one right now?

Barclays is working its way through some medium-term capital return plans. And that’s driven the share price up 100% over the last 12 months.

There’s plenty more to come and with the bank improving its returns on tangible equity, things look very positive. Steve W is taking a closer look on our show.

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

4:48 ADYEN

15:50 UNILEVER

25:34 AIRBNB

36:56 BATS

44:45 RENISHAW

52:23 BARCLAYS

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

What’s on Schindler’s latest list? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

It’s been a brutal week for Steve and Steve in the stock market this week. They’ve both underperformed the FTSE 100, the S&P 500, and cash. 

But investing is a long-term game and there’s plenty to discuss from what’s been going on. We’ve got a good mix of UK and US stocks to talk about, both good and bad.

The Diageo share price has been falling recently and it’s continuing to do so after the company’s latest earnings report. Steve W has had a look – and it isn’t strong.

Steve D is concerned about the lack of a discernible plan and he’s sold his shares. But with the potential for tariffs to be temporary, could this be the time to consider buying it?

Paypal is shifting its focus from all-out growth to a focus on increasing profits. And the CEO thinks this could be a transition year before things start to pick up. 

Steve D has been taking a look and isn’t entirely convinced. And Steve W is unsure about the recent strategy to focus on buying back shares over paying out dividends.

Palantir shares are up 42% this week after the company’s latest earnings. The growth is impressive across the board, but is the stock becoming a joke in value terms?

Steve W thinks it might be. He’s convinced by the company, but how long is it going to take for the business to be in a position to generate a return at today’s prices?

It’s been a strong week for Spotify shares. The company continues to go from strength to strength and while the stock is rising, innovation is still the name of the game.

Strong relationships with record labels and a move into music videos and video podcasts is breaking new ground. But is the stock too expensive to consider buying at today’s prices?

Amazon has been a firm favourite of both Steves for some time. And the latest report looks impressive – at least, until we get to the bit with the outlook for the next three months. 

A big investment in AI infrastructure is set to weigh on operating profits and investors will have to wait. But this has always been a stock to be patient with, so is this a problem?

Analysts have been saying investors didn’t like Alphabet’s cloud growth. But it was the second best quarter in terms of growth in the last 10, so is this quite right?

The issue might be a big investment in AI infrastructure. However, the company has said it’s struggling to meet demand at the moment, so could there be more growth on the way?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

5:28 DIAGEO

18:39 PAYPAL

27:49 PALANTIR

37:30 SPOTIFY

48:55 AMAZON

1:00:13 GOOGLE

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

► Get 15% OFF Finchat.io:

Huge thanks to our sponsor, FinChat.io, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at FinChat.io!

https://finchat.io/playingftse/?lmref=iQl2VQ

► Episode Notes:

What was Steve W called at University? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

There’s been a lot to talk about in the stock market this week. But Steve and Steve have a lot more on their minds than just the latest news from DeepSeek. 

Rentokil launched an unscheduled trading update this week. Things are going fine, but there’s a change in leadership in the US part of the business.

Investors reacted well to the news. But with organic revenues only growing in line with inflation, is Steve W as impressed as the rest of the market?

Alexandria Real Estate’s latest report showed decent growth for a REIT focused on pharmaceutical companies. But the stock fell as a result.

Steve D owns this one and is considering adding to it. The thing to keep an eye on is when the current rental contracts expire. 

Tesla’s latest update was not good – in fact, it was the opposite of that. Despite the firm managing record deliveries, revenues fell due to heavy discounting. 

Does it matter, though? With robotaxis set to launch in Austin in June (apparently) might it be the case that car sales just aren’t that important to the business?

A strong update from Meta has seen the share price climb. Revenues are climbing, profits are up, and the company continues to invest for future growth. 

Somehow, the number of users on the company’s platforms keeps increasing as well. So should investors just ignore Reality Labs burning a hole in the profits?

A.G. Barr continues on its way. Widening margins mean that 5% revenue growth has translated into double digit growth in earnings per share. 

Steve W has been watching this one with some interest over the last six months or so. With the stock still where it was when he first looked, is he about to buy?

Rachel Reeves has announced what she plans to do with the cash the government is raising (and borrowing). The plan is to invest, but there are some common themes.

One of these is collaboration with the private sector. But what do Steve and Steve think of using public money to help Manchester United expand Old Trafford?

Dowlais is another Steve W stock and his takeover thesis has come true – sort of. It’s the whole company that’s being acquired, not just one division. 

That might be even better. But what does it say about the UK if businesses from the FTSE 250 are being acquired by smaller competitors from the US?

ASML has had quite the week. The stock fell after the DeepSeek news indicated that the latest chips might not be crucial when it comes to high performance LLMs.

A strong earnings report has proved to be just the job, though. Strong sales from Q4 and a more positive outlook compared to a flat year has investors feeling good again. 

Two bits of news from WH Smith stood out to Steve W this week. The first is it’s planning on divesting its high street retail business – which is an ugly one. 

The second is that the travel division is still growing reasonably well. So could there be hidden value in what looks like an unpromising FTSE 250 stock?

Shares in Steve D–owned LVMH fell this week after the company’s latest trading update. And Diageo investors might take note of weakness in the alcohol division.

Bernard Arnault has been doing what he does best, which is getting himself around. And the CEO is an experienced operator when it comes to these machinations…

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

6:48 RENTOKIL

10:28 ALEXANDRIA REAL ESTATE

17:31 TESLA

25:07 META

31:54 AG BARR

36:10 REEVES GROWTH SPEECH

49:30 DOWLAIS

58:25 ASML

1:07:13 WH SMITH

1:15:38 LVMH

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free share!

Monzo – the bank that Steve and Steve have owned for what seems like ages – has been making noises about going public. But will it list in London, or in the US? 

A lot of UK companies have been listing in the States recently, but Steve D is hoping for a London IPO. Is this one for the AIM or the main market?

J.D. Wetherspoon’s has released its latest trading update and Steve W thinks it’s… fine. Like-for-like sales growth is decent enough, but only really in line with the industry. 

The company has no realistic price competition from its rivals, but supermarkets are the big challenge. So how will the firm cope with higher tax and NI contributions?

From the AIM, Steve D’s investment in Ashtead Technology is starting to pay off. But nobody on our show is quite sure why. 

Revenues are set to come in marginally ahead of expectations, with EBITA (no D) up. Surely that’s not enough to set the stock off, though… is it?

We haven’t talked about FTSE 250 dividend aristocrat Spectris on the show before – but that might have been a mistake. The stock has been bouncing back off its lows recently. 

It’s in the precision measurement space and Steve D knows it from work. But Steve W has concerns over the impact of weak demand from China and its implications for profits.

Prologis is still the biggest publicly-listed real estate investment trust (REIT) – we checked. It’s heavily exposed to some promising trends that are emerging, but it’s cheap right now.

With a lower cost of capital than its rivals, the firm is well-positioned to make it through a period of normalising demand. So could it be one for either Steve to buy right now?

Steve W has been looking at the latest results from Associated British Foods. It’s underwhelming across the board, but especially when it comes to Primark. 

Despite this, the stock looks cheap right now. And it might be that the retailer’s results – disappointing as they are – could justify the entire market cap by itself…

We’re always interested in Netflix on this show. And Steve D has been looking at a very impressive performance from the world’s leading streaming platform. 

Revenue growth has been picking up and margins are widening, greeting great unit economics. And with its competitive position getting stronger, is it too late to buy the stock?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Get a free share!

This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

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► Episode Notes:

Who’s been doing the financial equivalent of untangling Christmas lights? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!

Both the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 have done well this week. But one of the Steves has one better than both – which one is it?

On the subject of investment returns Trading212 – our sponsor on this show – have changed the way their platform shows returns. It’s going to be money-weighted from this point on. 

This matters for investors trying to work out whether or not they’ve beaten an index. And Steve D has a neat farming analogy to sort it all out for those who are wondering why…

Freetrade really ought to have been Steve D’s worst investment. It’s a private company so quotes aren’t available so often, but shares were valued at above £9 at one point.

Unfortunately, the firm has just been taken over at £1.19 per share. That’s a big decline and there’s no way back from here – so why isn’t Steve bothered by this?

Diploma’s latest update is out and Steve W’s been taking a look. It’s hard to see what the market thought of it, since it came out on the same days as some positive UK inflation data.

Organic revenue was up 7% in the most recent quarter and total sales are 12% higher. But with no change to guidance is this really a reason for the share price to go higher?

Vistry shares have been under pressure recently, with cost issues in its South Division. The stock rallied sharply this week, though, as the most recent report seemed reassuring. 

Steve D has been taking a look and thinks things look encouraging. With the firm having impressive protection from the volatile UK housing market, is there a buying opportunity?

After its latest trading update, Games Workshop saw its share price fall this week. But the report was fairly strong, aside from some uncertainty around tariffs and inflation. 

The stock had been rising before, though, and the latest drop brings it back to around 25 times earnings. With its capital return policy, Steve W thinks this looks reasonable. 

Wise has been going from strength to strength, but the market hasn’t been buying it. But it’s our top pick for the Britbox, so Steve and Steve have both been taking a look. 

The take rate was lower in the last three months, which is probably what investors don’t like. But is this the company taking a hit to its profits or extending its competitive advantage?

It’s earnings season again. As usual, Steve W has been on the case with the US banks and he’s been checking out investment banking, interest income, and loan loss reserves.

The news is positive across the board, which gives someone with Citigroup as his largest investment a bit of a dilemma. What’s a Steve to do?

TSMC has also been putting up some impressive results lately. And with huge margins (for a manufacturer) and impressive growth, is it showing that Warren Buffett made a mistake?

Steve D has a fun idea about what might happen between the company and Intel. But is there a case to be made for buying the stock right now?

Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!

► Support the show:

Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse

(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)

There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/

We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...

► Timestamps:

0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS

6:56 HOW MWRR WORKS

16:39 FEETRADE ACQUIRED

23:21 DIPLOMA

26:44 VISTRY

31:22 GAMES WORKSHOP

36:05 WISE

43:14 US BANKS

55:53 TSMC

► Show Notes:

What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy

► Wanna get in contact?

Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/

► Enquiries:

Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com

► Disclaimer:

This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.