(Alliance News) – Ryanair Holdings PLC on Monday said profit more than doubled in the first quarter, helped by stronger fares during the Easter travel season, as the low-cost airline reiterated its cautious outlook for the rest of the year.
The Dublin-based carrier said pretax profit for the three months ended June 30 surged to EUR930.2 million from EUR400.8 million a year before, as traffic grew 4% to 57.9 million passengers from 55.5 million and average fares rose 21% to EUR51. Total revenue climbed 20% to EUR4.34 billion from EUR3.63 billion. Scheduled revenue increased 26% to EUR2.94 billion, while ancillary revenue – including extras like priority boarding and luggage fees – rose 7% to EUR1.39 billion.
Comment: With profits doubling at Ryanair, it may be time for the “ancillary revenue” which is a complete rip-off to be addressed and indeed, removed. Apparently, the EU is looking into this. But there is nothing to stop the UK government acting on this apart from its own total incompetence, contempt for the consumer, and of course, its own people.
Vaultz Capital (AQSE:V3TC), a digital asset operating company, announced a further purchase of Bitcoin as part of its long-term Bitcoin treasury policy. In addition, the Company announces an update on its Bitcoin Hashrate activities. Purchase Summary: Bitcoin Purchased: 20 Average Purchase Price: £88,981 per Bitcoin (approximately $119,380). Total Consideration: £1,779,627. Treasury Summary: Total Bitcoin: 70. Average Purchase Price: £82,653 per Bitcoin (approximately $110,766. Total Consideration: £5,785,722. V3TC said “We’re delighted to have secured access to hashrate to support the Bitcoin network. At the same time, we’ve strengthened our Treasury position with additional Bitcoin, reinforcing our conviction in building a robust balance sheet anchored by one of the world’s hardest asset.”
Comment: Coming weeks and months will no doubt sort out the wheat from the chaff in terms of revealing which Bitcoin Treasury Strategy companies will win the race in terms of the affection of investors. V3TC with its hashrate access may be among the leading pack.
Tekcapital (TEK), the UK intellectual property investment group noted that Innovative Eyewear, Inc. (NASDAQ: LUCY; LUCYW), the manufacturer of smart eyewear under the Lucyd®, Lucyd ArmorTM, Reebok®, Eddie Bauer® and Nautica® brands, announced that its groundbreaking Reebok athletic smartglasses will be available today on the Reebok mobile app, to be followed by Reebok.com on August 1.
Comment: Although the main reason for including TEK in the RNS Hotlist today is the quality of the photograph in the RNS, it will be interesting to track the launch of Reebok’s smartglasses from next month.
SolGold (SOLG) confirmed that late last week, the Company received the second US$33.3 million of funds under its US$100 million initial deposit from the streaming agreement with Franco-Nevada (Barbados) Corporation and OR Royalties International Ltd. (formerly Osisko Bermuda Limited). SOLG said “SolGold is grossly undervalued by the market, and we are fixated on changing this, continuing to speak to a raft of institutions to encourage buying in the story.”
Comment: One of the many Achilles Heel’s of the London stock market is that while the small / micro caps can have decent, albeit somewhat spivvy activity / volume, between £100m – £500m we are looking at something of a no man’s land. This is precisely the territory that SOLG occupies. That said, the odd mention on ZaksTradersCafe with its 27,000 followers might help.
Metals One (MET1), a minerals exploration and development company, announced the completion of its acquisition of the Squaw Creek Claims in Carbon County, Wyoming, United States which hold the Squaw Creek Uranium Project as originally announced on 24 April 2025. The SQ Claims represent the Company’s second uranium project in the U.S., and complement the recently completed acquisition of the Uravan Uranium-Vanadium Project in Colorado, as announced on 2 July 2025.
Comment: There is certainly no hanging about at MET1, with the company announcing further US expansion via a RNS seemingly every other day. The market cap at over £30m currently should start to respond in kind once again.
Avacta (AVCT), a life sciences company developing innovative, targeted oncology drugs, confirmed that further to the announcement of the £3.25m equity financing on 17 July 2025, it has settled the quarterly principal of £2.55 million and interest repayment of c.£0.414 million in respect of the Company’s unsecured convertible bond in cash. The Placing is due to complete on 24 July 2025. After settlement of the quarterly repayment, the principal remaining under the convertible bond will be reduced by £2.55 million to £22.95 million.
Comment: Whether AVCT gets over the line and develops the cures for cancer it is due to, the company must rue the day it engaged in the CLN. Only £22.95m to go.
Creo Medical Group (CREO), the medical device company focused on the emerging field of minimally invasive surgical endoscopy for pre-cancer and cancer patients, provided a trading update for the six-month period ended 30 June 2025 (H1’25). H1’25 Core Technology revenues from continuing operations were up 40% to £2.2m (H1’24: £1.6m), in line with management expectations for first half performance. The Board is pleased with current trading into the second half of the financial year and believes the Company is tracking on plan for 40% to 60% revenue growth for the full year, in-line with prior guidance, with a continued historical H2 weighting.
Comment: Although one might not have thought that the wonderful world of medical devices was / is a sexy area to occupy, CREO has proven that there is growth to be had. The only missing ingredient at the moment is stock market appreciation, with the shares down 35% so far this year, after a 57% decline in 2024.
Kromek (KMK), a global detection company delivering best-in-class solutions for the advanced imaging and CBRN detection markets, announced that it has received its first contract, worth £1.7m, under the UK Government’s Radiological Nuclear Detection Framework for the procurement of radiological nuclear detection equipment and supporting services for the Home Office.
Comment: Despite KMK providing a key element in the defence of the realm, the importance of what it does and the flow of contract wins has not moved the dial as far as the share price.
Predator Oil & Gas Holdings Plc (PRD), the Jersey-based Oil and Gas Company with near-term hydrocarbon operations and production focussed on Morocco and Trinidad announced that rigless testing operations have commenced at the MOU-3 well at Guercif in Morocco. The planned operations have been scheduled to be executed over a period of ten days. The programme will complete the perforating and testing of the shallow “A” Sand.
Comment: It would appear that in recent weeks the somewhat grumpy CEO of PRD has increasingly less to be grumpy about at his debt free, fully-funding company. A big reveal at MOU-3 could be an even greater cause for celebration.
Eneraqua Technologies plc (ETP) announced that Panmure Liberum Limited has resigned with immediate effect as the Company’s Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker under the terms and conditions of its Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Agreement.
Comment: One might have thought that being a “a specialist provider of specialist energy and water efficiency solutions” was a relatively safe space to occupy. However, July to date has proved this not to be the case at ETP.
Allergy Therapeutics (AGY) announced a trading update. H2 revenues expected to be £21.0 million (H2 2024: £21.6 million) giving full year revenues of £55.0 million (2024: £55.2 million). Robust cost controls continued to be operated during the year whilst enabling selective investment in strategic growth related projects. Cash position of £12.8 million at 30 June 2025 (2024: £12.9 million) following ongoing funding from Shareholder Loan Facility and Hayfin Facility.
Comment: A casual observer of AGY, presumably most of us, might have thought that this was a subscale biotech on the edge financially. The figures today should this certainly not to be the case. Perhaps a re-think on messaging from the company may be in order?
Cobra (COBR), the mineral exploration and development company advancing a potentially world-class ionic Rare Earth Element (“REEs”) discovery at its Boland Project in South Australia, announced initial results from flowsheet optimisation testing being carried out by the Australian Nuclear Scientific Technology Organisation. COBR said “Our metallurgical strategy is relatively simple: maximise the value of dysprosium and terbium within our product. We aim to achieve this by leveraging the considerable advantages that ISR allows for minimal cost flowsheet modifications. These initial results demonstrate favourable mineralisation characteristics that will further optimise our flowsheet and ultimately enable the commercialisation of a valuable product.”
Comment: With positive discovery announcements coming in thick and fast, COBR has been and continues to be in a purple patch currently, something which is finally being reflected in the ongoing re-rate of the company. The tariff debacle / China export ban obviously helps too.
Jubilee (JLP), a diversified metals producer with operations in South Africa and Zambia, today published its South Africa operational and project update for the fourth quarter ended 30 June 2025 (Q4 FY2025), reflecting a strong production performance for the financial year to June 2025. JLP said “Our South African operations have produced strong production results for the period which speaks to our deep understanding in manging the interdependency of our chrome and PGM operations backed by the dedication of our team.”
Comment: JLP continues to demonstrate a decent on the ground performance, with a lagging share price. The only real explanation at this point is that that the company remains underwhelming at singing its own praises.
Mosman Oil and Gas Limited (MSMN) the helium, hydrogen, and hydrocarbon exploration, development, and production company, updated on the Sagebrush helium project in Colorado, USA, where it holds an 82.5% working interest. MSMN said “Engaging Sproule, acquiring the 3D seismic survey, and advancing the extended production test at Sagebrush-1 are pivotal steps in our helium strategy. These initiatives are designed to validate our resource estimates, de-risk the project, and provide the data needed to advance towards commercialisation. We are committed to executing these plans efficiently and safely, with the goal of unlocking the full potential of the Sagebrush project.”
Comment: It really is not the same at MSMN without Andy Carroll. Something akin to a power vacuum.
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.
