The Week Ahead: Zoopla and AO World have had a choppy time since listing in the summer
Digital businesses Zoopla and AO World will hope to dismiss their doubters when they report this week. Both listed this summer but have had a choppy time amid a wider tech sell-off. Zoopla is down 16 per cent since listing, while online white goods retailer AO World has fallen 45 per cent. Both report tomorrow – Zoopla has its maiden set of full-year figures, while AO World has half-year numbers.
Numis is bullish on both. The broker forecasts pre-tax profit before IPO costs of £39m at Zoopla, up from £29.6m a year earlier, although Numis says forward guidance will be “crucial” given the threat of new contender Agents Mutual.
For AO World, the broker says all eyes will be on its new German operation. Numis believes there is a “huge growth opportunity” for the company in rolling out across Europe.
Accsys Technologies and pork giant Cranswick have half-year figures today. Tomorrow sees finals from Greencore, Mitchells & Butlers, Paragon, Renew Holdings and Topps Tiles. De La Rue, Immunodiagnostic Systems, KCOM, Renold, Scapa and Severn Trent have six-monthly figures, while Chemring, IG Group and Kingfisher will put out trading statements. Sheridan Admans at The Share Centre says investors will keep a keen eye on Kingfisher’s forecasts given the weakness of its French division and rival Homebase’s decision to shutter a quarter of its stores.
Britvic, Compass, DMGT and Thomas Cook have full-year numbers mid-week. Findel, Hogg Robinson, IGas Energy, LondonMetric, Telford Homes and United Utilities have half-year numbers on Wednesday. There have been murmurings in the market of bid interest in United Utilities.
Nortrum Oil & Gas has third-quarter figures Wednesday and Wolseley has a management statement.
Brewer Marston’s has finals on Thursday, with investors keen to hear just how badly the proposed cutting of tied-pubs for operators with over 500 pubs will affect the company. SSP Group and Shaftesbury have finals Thursday and PayPoint, ULS Technology and RPC have half-year results. The week ends with third-quarter figures from Arrow Global.
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