International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) has unveiled plans to return another €1.5 billion in cash to investors, as it benefited from resilient demand on its core transatlantic routes and lower fuel costs. The British Airways owner reported a 2.5 per cent increase in passenger revenue for last year, alongside a 13 per cent rise in adjusted operating profit to €5.02 billion, ahead of the €4.97 billion forecast by City analysts. (The Times)
Comment: Rather than giving cash to investors, why not deliver cheaper fares, better customer service, and more routes? That said, having been in a bull run for the best part of 3 years, it is difficult to argue for further upside in the shares at least in the near term.
Altona (REE), a resource exploration and development company focused on critical raw materials in Africa, announced that its subsidiary Monte Muambe Mining Limitada has formally executed a grant agreement with the US Government, through the United States Trade and Development Agency. The Agreement was signed today at the United States Embassy in Maputo in the presence of Mrs. Sarah Troutman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, US Department of State. This signing represents a significant milestone and marks the formal commencement of the strategic partnership with the United States Government to advance the Monte Muambe rare earths project in Mozambique.
Comment: A couple of years ago before REE was in focus with investors / the market, I did suggest to it that having interviewed / commented, for it not to forget me when it was famous. It has. Well done to all the carpet bagger service providers who have joined the fray since. Our fourth technical target of 5p since the start of the year, could be seen as soon as the end of next month.
Rightmove (RMV), the UK’s largest property portal, today announced its audited results for the year ended 31 December. RMV said “In line with our guidance set in November, we continue to expect 2026 revenue growth of 8-10%, underpinned by top package uptake across Agency (Optimiser Edge) and New Homes (Ascend), further product-led growth (including Online Agent Valuation) and continued progress within our strategic growth areas of Commercial Property, Mortgages and Rental Services, which we expect to grow by 20-30%.”
Comment: Shares of RMV have not really recovered from the AI threat meltdown seen over the past year. That said, the company seems to be going for a “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” in embracing new technology.
N4 Pharma plc (N4P), the UK biotech developing Nuvec®, its proprietary gene delivery system to enable advanced therapies for cancer and other diseases, announced its intention to change its name to Thalia Therapeutics plc, subject to approval by its shareholders at a general meeting of the Company (the “General Meeting”) to be held on Tuesday, 17 March 2026 at 10.00 am at the offices of Arch Law Limited Huckletree Bishopsgate, 8 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4BQ.
Comment: Just in case you needed to be reminded of the name change to a generic sounding meaningless one announced on Tuesday, we have it again to start Friday.
MediaZest plc (MDZ), the creative audio-visual solutions provider, announced its consolidated audited results for the year ended 30 September 2025, a period of considerable growth, with a substantial improvement in EBITDA performance and an enhanced cash position following a strong trading performance in FY25.
Comment: Although MDZ has always given the Impression of being a sub-scale prospect with promise, it would affair that it is finally having its time in the sun, with the shares starting to breakout and the promise of a 0.16p technical target as soon as the end of next month.
SRT Marine Systems plc (SRT), a global provider of intelligent maritime surveillance systems for sovereigns and maritime navigation safety systems, announced that it has signed a new contract worth $20.5m with an existing sovereign customer. The new contract is a follow-on contract to expand the scope of the system.
Comment: Shares of SRT were up over 100% in 2025, and those looking to a fresh driver this year will be pleased to see the chunky new contract announcement today. Above recent 75p zone support a move towards the 2024 rising trend channel top at 110p appears possible for H1 2026.
Equipmake (AQSE:EQIP), a market leader in engineering-driven differentiated electrification technologies, products and solutions across the automotive, truck, bus and speciality vehicle industries, announced that the Company has entered into a further £3 million senior secured convertible loan note with Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. a global leader in the design and manufacturing of heavy equipment, engines, and machinery. This follows the £5 million strategic investment and development agreement with Caterpillar, as announced by the Company on 31 March 2025.
Comment: Not that there is much competition, but one can say that today’s announcement from EQIP represents and will be one of the best RNS announcements on Aquis of the year. For US giant Caterpillar to be mentioned in the same breath as EQIP is certainly a coup.
Beowulf (BEM), the mineral exploration and development company, announced its unaudited preliminary financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025 and provided an update on its current financial position. As noted in its 26 November 2025 update, the Company has established a funding strategy to independently finance the next development phase for Grafintec, and through the sale of Vardar, raise sufficient capital to complete the Kallak PFS and Environmental Permit application and cover corporate costs for at least a 12-month period. The convertible loan note secured at the end of December 2025 provides additional short-term working capital.
Comment: Given that explorer / developers are currently hotter than July, it has apparently taken a lot of effort for BEM not to have benefitted from the rising tide. Indeed, one could turn this around and suggest that BEM represents an excellent opportunity as effectively a shell situation for those with ambition in the space.
80 Mile PLC (80M), the AIM, FSE, and OTC listed exploration and development company with projects in Greenland, Finland and Italy, confirmed that Greenland Energy Company is expected to commence trading on NASDAQ on or around 18 March 2026, under the ticker “GLND”, subject to shareholder approval at the general meeting anticipated to be held on 17 March 2026. Greenland Energy Company will be the combined entity formed following the proposed acquisition by Pelican Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: PELI) of Greenland Exploration Limited and March GL Company. As announced on 19 February 2026, the SEC approved the acquisition, with the final step being shareholder approval.
Comment: Although Trump’s Greenland plans have been out of the headlines for a few weeks, he has certainly shone a line on the autonomous territory, and boosted all the companies like 80M who have a foothold there. We are looking forward to the next leg up in the shares after the recent consolidation around the 1p level runs his course.
Guardian Metal Resources plc (GMET), a US-focused exploration-stage critical minerals company with a portfolio of tungsten exploration projects located in Nevada, US, announced that it has filed a registration statement on Form F-1 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) relating to a proposed initial public offering (“IPO”) in the United States of its American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”).
Comment: Shares of GMET have already been anticipating today’s news in terms of a fresh push to record territory in recent days. Clearly, the prospect of accessing even more liquidity in the US markets is a key driver, as well as whether a third party might be running its rule over the company.
Panther Metals Plc (PALM), the exploration company focused on mineral projects in Canada, provided an update for the Obonga Project’s Wishbone Prospect which is an emerging and highly prospective base metal volcanogenic massive sulphide (“VMS”) system in Ontario, Canada. PALM said “As we move towards and period of intense work activity at the exciting Wishbone VMS Prospect, we would like to provide an update on our geological and magnetic inversion modelling activities which illustrate the scale of the Wishbone system that we will be drill targeting in the coming quarter.”
Comment: Shares of PALM are already up some 25% so far this year. However, this places them only mid range as far as the past three years price action, something which suggests that there should be more upside, as we get more colour as far as the Wishbone VMS.
Winking Studios Limited (WKS), one of the leading global AAA game art outsourcing studios and an established game development company, announced its unaudited full year results for the financial year ended 31 December 2025. WKS said “FY2025 was a standout year for Winking Studios. We delivered strong growth, scaled the business meaningfully and showed what the Group can do with Mineloader fully embedded in our platform. We also saw a clear recovery in organic momentum in the second half, alongside a step-change in our AAA delivery across the expanded studio network. That progress reflects the quality of our teams and the trust we have built with leading developers and publishers.”
Comment: Shares of WKS gapped up at the end of last month, as if anticipating today’s upbeat announcement. Once the market cottons on to the improved prospects the company has, we should at least see a return towards the top of the range at 16p initially.
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.
