AB Foods (ABF), which owns retailer Primark and a range of food manufacturing businesses, said it expected to deliver growth in adjusted operating profit and adjusted EPS in the current financial year.
In the financial year ending September 13, AB Foods, which owns food brands such as Twinings tea, Kingsmill bakery, Jordans cereals and Mazola cooking oils, as well as Primark, reported adjusted EPS of 174.9p and adjusted operating profit of GBP1.73 billion. By division, Retail sales grew 1% at constant currency for the 16 weeks to January 3 year-on-year, as did Grocery sales. Ingredients sales fell 2%, Sugar sales dropped 5% and Agriculture sales declined 4%.
Comment: Judging by the extended queue in Primark, Westfield to buy cheap clothing, any fears that ABF is going to slow down in this particular area are wide of the mark.
Cerillion (CER), the billing, charging and customer relationship management software solutions provider, announced a major new contract, with Oman Telecommunications, worth c.£42.5 million. Omantel is Oman’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider and is listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange. This agreement is Cerillion’s largest contract win to date and helps to underpin existing market forecasts for FY26 and beyond.
Comment: The autumn saw perhaps a disproportionate, and counterintuitively large number of companies who announced chunky contract wins. CER sets the bar high today both for itself, and others to follow in early 2026.
MedPal AI (MPAL), a UK-based digital health and artificial intelligence (“AI”) company, is announced the launch of what the Directors believe to be a UK-first: direct AI integration between a consumer health app and a regulated pharmacy, enabling intelligent, personalised clinical pathways for [health and] weight management.
Comment: For some reasons, which I know, despite recent solid newsflow and the company being in a strong space, MPAL has not been able to make the kind of impact on the stock market it should have to date. At least giving it a mention today may help turn the tide.
Kistos (KIST), an independent energy company focused on unlocking value within its existing portfolio and through value-accretive M&A, provide an unaudited trading and operational update ahead of its results for the year ended 31 December 2025. KIST said “Kistos again delivered growth in 2025. We successfully executed on all four of our stated priorities: achieving Balder Future first oil, meeting the higher end of our full-year production guidance (8,000-9,000 boepd), continuing to convert 2C resources to 2P reserves, and executing a value-accretive M&A transaction while continuing to invest in our existing asset base. The agreement to acquire interests in Block 9 and Blocks 3 & 4 in Oman represents a material step for Kistos. This acquisition geographically diversifies our portfolio beyond the North Sea and provides exposure to high-quality onshore assets with significant growth potential.”
Comment: Given that the North Sea has effectively been closed down by greens and socialists to impoverish the nation, it is music to one’s ears that KIST is diversifying away from this geography. This should really move the dial.
The Beauty Tech Group plc (TBTG), a global leader in the rapidly growing at-home beauty technology market, announced a trading update for the financial year ended 31 December 2025. Further to the Group’s ‘Trading Ahead of Expectations’ announcement on 19 November 2025, the Board is pleased to report that The Beauty Tech Group has continued to perform strongly through November and December with further strong sales growth across its core business and across all key markets and channels. Given this continued strong performance, the Board now anticipates that revenue and adjusted EBITDA for the year ended 31 December 2025 will be ahead of current market expectations and will be no less than £136.0 million and £35.5 million, respectively. The Group has a number of exciting new product launches planned for FY26 including the Series 2 Tria 4x Hair Removal Laser and the Tria SmoothBeauty™ Laser, both of which are due to be launched in Q1.
Comment: Obviously we are all sitting on the edge of our seats waiting for the launch of both the Series 2 Tria 4x Hair Removal Laser and the Tria SmoothBeauty™ Laser, in time to get beach body ready in the summer. And every one loves a follow on to a trading ahead of market expectations RNS.
Quartix Technologies (QTX), a leading supplier of subscription-based vehicle tracking systems, software and services, updated on trading for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Board is pleased to report that it expects revenue and adjusted EBITDA are expected to be ahead of current market expectations. Free cashflow is expected to have been £5.1m, despite significant outflows in the Period for: (i) 4G upgrade programme in France (approximately £1.0m); (ii) restructuring costs in the first half (approx. £0.4m); and (iii) a further pre-payment of £0.7m in corporation tax made in December (as the Company’s anticipated profit level means that it is now considered to be a very large company for HMRC payment-on-account purposes).
Comment: Shares of QTX have already been anticipating the glory of today’s announcement, indeed are set to build on last year’s 76% share price rise. It is a shame that a chunk of the profits will be wasted on welfare and shirkers (via HMRC) rather than being ploughed into future growth.
Coral Products (CRU), a specialist in the design, manufacture and supply of plastic products, announced its unaudited interim results for the six months to 31 October 2025. Gross profit increased by £1.87 million compared to H1 2024. Operating profit increased by £1.28 million compared to H1 2024. EBITDA increased by £1 million compared to H1 2024. Evolving new business wins from H1 2026 combined with expected new business wins to start in H2 2026 reflects customer trust and competitive offering.
Comment: CRU provides a decent, positive RNS, one that should help the company build on last year’s 30% share price rise. Small cap companies who are able to withstand the current economic slings and arrows should be treasured.
EDX Medical Group plc (AQSE:EDX), which develops innovative digital diagnostic products and services for the personalised treatment for cancer, heart disease and infectious diseases, today announced that Jason Holt, chairman of the Company, purchased 235,000 ordinary shares in the Company on January 7, 2026, at a price per share of 11.40 pence. This transaction follows the recent purchase of 200,000 ordinary shares in the Company by Mr Holt, as was previously announced on 6 January 2026. Mr Holt now owns 4,835,000 shares in the Company, representing 1.25% of the issued share capital.
Comment: It would appear that our Jason is keen on spending what money he has left after Christmas on some EDX shares. The newsflow has been relatively quiet of late. One would be assuming that a decent breakthrough announcement will be, on some killer new diagnostic, so to speak.
Delta Gold Technologies PLC (AQUIS: DGQ), a London-Listed technology company focused on developing intellectual property in the quantum computing sector, announced that it has initiated the application process for quotation on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States. The OTCQB provides enhanced visibility, liquidity, and access to US investors, while maintaining the Company’s primary listing on the Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Delta anticipates completing the process in the coming months, subject to meeting all eligibility requirements.
Comment: There have been times when just the announcement of a OTCQB listing and the fabled pool of US liquidity was enough to get a share price roaring. This may not be the case so much now. But for companies like DGQ paying the retainer to be on the platform is at least a good look.
Orosur Mining Inc. (OMI), announce an update on the progress of exploration activities at the Company’s exploration project at Anzá in Colombia. OMI said “The Company starts 2026 in a very different position to a year ago. One deposit (hopefully) soon to enter feasibility, two rigs turning in two countries and an increasing list of high-quality targets lining up to be next. Exciting times”.
Comment: Now that the company has hit the big time it does not talk to me any more, and I know why. But this of course no reason not to cover the stock. We await an imminent breakout through the 25p zone, and are targeting as high as 40p by the end of Q1, by which time the company will still not be talking to me.
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.
