Three things you need to know in the financial markets this morning from investment writer, Tony Cross.
SSP Group
SSP LON:SSPG issued a pre-close trading update today, covering the April-September period. The company, which provides branded catering and shopping services at transport hubs worldwide, has had a tough ride in the wake of COVID. Sales are expected to now come in at the lower end of previous forecasts, down some 86% year on year. The company notes some return in demand, with current weekly sales down 76%. The company has worked hard to conserve cash with a burn rate now of £25m/month and has around £500m worth of headroom. Shares are down 70% from pre-COVID levels. A return to more normal travel patterns could leave this as a great recovery stock.
Ten Entertainment
Ten Entertainment LON:TEG operates a network of family entertainment centres across the UK so its half year results for the period to June 28th make for predictably grim reading. Like for like sales have essentially been halved, although outperformance was seen in the first 11 week period and the company has now resumed operations at all 46 of its sites. Spend per head has been maintained and the company has bolstered its debt headroom. The threat of further lockdown restrictions is obviously cause for concern, but initial customer response to the implemented safety measures has apparently been positive.
Hornby
Lockdown may have served the DIY community well, so perhaps it’s no surprise that it has been full steam ahead for Hornby LON:HRN during recent months, too. In an AGM trading statement it released this morning, sales and margins have been higher than previous years and are higher than internal budgets, too. The company does however note the uncertainty that comes with the UK’s imminent departure from the customs union.
And a shout out to Kingfisher LON:KGF who we covered yesterday. This was a long report so I missed the fact they are repaying furlough cash received from the government, which in my mind is absolutely the right thing to do and something that should be applauded by shareholders.
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