Greatland Gold (GGP) provided a 2024 Group Mineral Resource Estimate, which includes Greatland’s inaugural mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Telfer gold-copper mine (Telfer). GGP said “This inaugural Greatland Telfer Mineral Resource estimate is an outstanding result, delineating 3.2 million ounces of contained gold.
This exceptional outcome is a testament to the significant opportunities we saw at Telfer during our acquisition due diligence, and the excellent work of our team to progress and validate those opportunities in short order.”
Comment: Everything, including today’s RNS seems to be in favour of GGP at the moment. The only missing ingredient is a soaring share price, echoing the gold and the recovery of copper.
Pri0r1ty Intelligence Group (PR1) announced that it has secured a significant contract with Leukaemia Care, one of the UK’s leading blood cancer charities (registered charity number 1183890). The agreement, worth up to £100,000, will see Pri0r1ty AI Ltd, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, develop and implement an AI-powered information hub and website platform designed to enhance the charity’s digital capabilities and improve the charities overall communication with donors and patients who are diagnosed and living with leukaemia and those around them.
Comment: As we know, companies that have AI in the name are generally not big on revenues. In the case of PR1 today’s announcement underlines the potential the company has to achieve chunky contracts. If this had been the first RNS after the AIM debut, one would imagine that the share price trajectory would have been rather more positive than it has been thus far.
Boku (BOKU), a global network of localised payment solutions, announced its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2024. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 22% to $31.4 million (FY 2023: $25.8 million), reflecting an adjusted EBITDA margin1 of 31.6% (FY 2023: 31.2%). Operating profit of $6.2 million (FY 2023: $9.7 million). Reduction in operating profit, despite a $5.6m increase in adjusted EBITDA, primarily due to increases in foreign exchange revaluation losses. Interest income increased to $3.7 million (FY 2023: $1.9 million) due to higher average cash balances and more funds being placed on interest bearing and/or longer-term deposits. BOKU said “we are expecting organic revenue growth exceeding 20% on a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) basis over the medium term.”
Comment: With the shares already down 13% so far this year, the reminder from today’s update that the company is delivering a strong performance should provide a buy the dip opportunity for some.
Zotefoams (ZTF), a world leader in supercritical foams, announced its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2024. Record Group revenue of £147.8m, 16% higher than the prior year. High-performance product sales surpass those of Polyolefin Foams for the first time, reflecting the Group’s focus on mix enrichment. Record operating profit before exceptional items up 20% to £18.1m. Organic growth of 7% CAGR to deliver FY2029 revenue of >£200m.
Comment: ZTF is very much in the category of boring and dependable as far as its stock market imahe is concerned, something which commends the company to those who wish to have a steady pair of hands in their investment portfolio. Indeed, the growth hear is getting less boring by the day.
Fintel (FNTL), a leading provider of fintech and support services to the UK retail financial services sector, announced its audited consolidated results for the year ended 31 December 2024. Core revenue increased to £68.9m (FY23: 56.6m), up 22%, supported by revenue of £15.0m (FY23: £1.5m) from our acquired portfolio. Adjusted EBITDA growth of 8.5% to £22.2m (FY23: £20.5m), following investment to expand products, services and capabilities. FNTL said “2024 has been a seminal year for Fintel, marked by continued strategic advancements and strong financial performance. The company has delivered robust results, with complementary acquisitions contributing to substantial growth in SaaS and subscription-based revenues.”
Comment: While the company is quite rightly blowing its trumpet in the latest trading update, this is somewhat at odds with the recent share price performance, which gives the impression of topping out. Once again, this looks at though it could provide an opportunity for growth company investors.
Sabre Insurance Group (SBRE), one of the UK’s leading motor insurance underwriters, reported its results for the year ended 31 December 2024. Profit before tax up 105.9% year-on-year. Highest ever annual gross written premium – up 5% year-on-year. Total dividend in respect of 2024 at 13.0p – up 44.4% on 2023. Share buyback of £5m proposed.
Comment: It would appear that even though SBRE is on fire in terms of all the key metrics and the dividend, motor insurance is not exactly flavour of the month. That said, those who can hold their nose in terms of buying the shares near year lows may be rewarded.
Katoro Gold (KAT), the strategic energy and precious minerals exploration and development company, announce completion of the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of 31 Explore Ltd in a premium-priced warrant-only transaction, as previously announced on 10 February 2025. KAT said, “Today’s confirmation that Katoro has now completed the transaction and increased the Company’s critical minerals footprint in Ontario is significant, my thanks to 31 Explore and all involved.”
Comment: The negative momentum on the share price chart of KAT currently looks so negative that even if it were given El Dorado for free there would appear to be some work to do to turn things around.
Alkemy Capital Investments )ALK), the 100% owner of Tees Valley Lithium announce that TVL has entered into an exclusive negotiation period with Touchstone Capital Partners to finalise a long-term binding feedstock agreement for over 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent. This agreement, if secured, would provide the primary lithium feedstock to fully support at least the first five years of production at TVL’s refinery, producing 24,000 tonnes per annum of battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
Comment: While the market awaits key funding news from ALK, it assures us that once this is finally in place it will be going great guns in terms of feedstock / offtake. At least this provides ample proof of concept in terms of securing a supply of lithium independent of the Chinese stranglehold.
Light Science Technologies (LST), the innovative technology and manufacturing business providing real-world solutions targeting issues including global food security and fire safety, announces its audited results for the year ended 30 November 2024. Record revenue of £12.04m, up 29.5% (2023: £9.30m). Gross margins increased to 30.3% (2023: 23.4%). Trading at close to breakeven with reduced loss before tax of £0.03m (2023: loss of £1.14m).
Comment: LST moves tantalisingly close to profitability, something which is all the more pleasing in that its multi-pronged businesses each look like winners in their own right, and are scalable.
OptiBiotix Health (OPTI), a life sciences business developing products which reduce hunger and food cravings, enhance the gut microbiome, and sweet fibres as healthy sugar substitutes, provides the following unaudited commercial update for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. OPTI said “2025 has started strongly with our order book for Q1 2025 already passing sales orders for H1 2024 with a number of weeks to go to the end of the quarter. This means we enter 2025 with a strong balance sheet (£9.1m) and cash position (£740k; 2023: £635k) no debt, a strong first quarter order book.”
Comment: Given that like our friends at Kefi and Ariana, OPTI has a rather unfortunate choice of stock market “champion” (rather like Dracula encouraging people to give blood), it is not surprising that the company has not only made a rather inferior impression to the market over the years, but still puts off potential investors.
Fonix (FNX), the UK focused mobile payments and messaging company, announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 31 December 2024. Fonix said, “With a solid base of recurring revenue from existing clients and the addition of new customers including News UK, Lebara, and Grace Media, along with the upcoming launch of services in Portugal, Fonix is well-placed for a strong second half of the financial year. The Board anticipates a stronger H2 weighting than usual periods, driven by our growing client base and steady demand for enterprise messaging solutions. This supports our confidence in meeting market expectations for FY25.”
Comment: Interestingly enough, many of today’s solid announcements from companies come from those whose share price has been selling off in the recent past, or is at the lows. Hopefully for FNX, the latest news will trigger a rebound.
Renalytix (RENX), a precision medicine company with lead testing service kidneyintelX.dkd, announced its unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2024. On track to meet, or potentially exceed, target of 20% average quarter-to-quarter growth. Forward guidance on expected revenue remains: $3.2m in FY25, $8.5m in FY26 and $17.5m in FY27. Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December 2024 of $9.2m (30 June 2024: $4.7m).
Comment: RENX is still very much in recovery mode, with the sizzle being that even if this takes longer than expectmed, there is plenty of cash around for the company to get to its “Promised Land.”
“THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDER INFORMATION” Pensana (PRE) advised that the Company has received approvals for the full financing totalling circa US$ 268 million for the Longonjo rare earth project: The Board of the Africa Finance Corporation, has approved its US$81.2 million participation in an approximately US$160 million syndicated loan facility alongside major South African bank Absa Bank Limited, subject to the conclusion of definitive loan documentation and the fulfilment of conditions precedent contained therein.
Comment: Shares of PRE rocketed both on Friday and yesterday, something that suggested than everyone and their mother apparently had their crystal balls firing away successfully. Such clairvoyant investing is perhaps the main way of gleaning “insider information” ahead of time. There are sieves that are less leaky. By the way, congratulations to PRE for pulling a very large rabbit out of the hat.
MediaZest (MDZ), the creative audio-visual solutions provider, provides the following trading update. The Company reports a strong start to the financial year and a series of new orders in recent weeks from existing customers, including Arc’teryx, Hyundai and KIA among others, as MediaZest continues to roll-out digital signage installations across multiple sites with its key customers. These latest new orders represent total revenues in excess of £500,000 received since 1 January 2025.
Comment: Although we are not talking big numbers here at MDZ, there is the hint that the solid start to 2025 could be the start of a new era of sizeable orders that takes the company to a new level. Or at least higher than the current £1.3m market cap.
Fusion Antibodies (FAB), specialists in pre-clinical antibody discovery. announced that it has conditionally raised approximately £1.17 million at a price of 6.75 pence. FAB said, “We are currently seeking to validate the OptiMAL® platform through our collaboration with the U.S. National Cancer Institute which has generated a significant number of worthy hits which we now intend to confirm. This requires additional research and development spending, which will be complemented by further investment in commercialisation activities.”
Comment: While FAB has certainly moved the dial in recent months on an operational / fundamental basis, one would imagine that shareholders may have preferred any fundraise to be delivered closer to 10p than the 6.75p delivered today.
Ariana Resources (AAU), the AIM-listed mineral exploration and development company with gold project interests in Africa and Europe, is pleased to announce the production guidance for 2025 from its interest in the Zenit Mining Operations. Zenit is 23.5% owned by Ariana through its shareholding in Zenit Madencilik San. ve Tic. A.S. Increased gold production guidance for 2025 from Zenit is expected to be c.25,000 ounces of gold (2024: c.20,000 ounces of gold), inclusive of gold production from Kiziltepe and Tavsan.
Comment: Another company which has been ensnared by underperformance due to unfortunate market comms on its behalf, it beggars belief that the share price remains near the low end of the range with gold and production set to go through the roof. An own goal.
Onward Opportunities (ONWD) announced its Annual Results. Highlights for the reporting period to 31 December 2024 include: The Company’s 12-month Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) of +34.1% and NAV return of +21.5% saw the Company as one of the top performing (2nd and 3rd ranking performance respectively) amongst the Association of Investment Companies UK Smaller Companies peer group. Audited NAV was 129.37 pence per share at 31 December 2024, +21.5% over 12 months, delivering another encouraging period of NAV outperformance.
Comment: ONWD is a good example of how on the stock market some of the best companies are ones that no one has heard of, and alas, vice versa.
Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest:
The information, investment views, and recommendations in this Zaks Traders Cafe interview are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this interview should be construed as a promotion or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or referred to or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engage in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the commentator but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. The commentators may or may not hold investments in the companies under discussion.
