Shares in Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM), the UK's leading for-rent developer and operator, sank 30% in a day last week after the firm cut its operating profit forecast for this year and warned profit next year would likely be even lower rather than rebounding.The group, which focuses mainly on student accommodation but also develops mixed-tenure schemes of affordable housing, said market activity had...

FY24 operating profit forecast cutFY25 profit now seen below FY24Firm blames 'interest rate uncertainty'The UK's leading for-rent developer and operator Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) dropped a massive clanger with its trading update for the full year to September which included a warning for 2025 earnings.The shares were crushed, losing 15p or 29% to 36p on volume of more than four million shares by...

Income investors typically look at large cap stocks for dividend opportunities, often believing their size and scale equate to solid earnings which can support regular cash pay-outs to shareholders. What's often overlooked is that smaller companies can also be a hunting ground for dividends.We've scanned the market for the highest yielding stocks on the AIM market, looking for companies where...

- Higher borrowing costs causing delay- Profits to miss consensus by around 10%- Questions over strength of investor demandCompounding the current negative sentiment towards house builders, build-to-rent and student accommodation developer Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) warned investors that earnings would miss market forecasts due to slower than expected second-half sales.The shares, which had...

Investors are increasingly looking for stocks, bonds or funds that pay a good income.Dividends or bond coupons provide positive returns which are particularly attractive in a more challenging market such as now.Many people have this year lost money from backing high-growth but dividend-less stocks such as Tesla (TSLA:NASDQ) and Netflix (NFLX:NASDAQ), and they're fed up.In the other side of the...

Income specialist Murray Income Trust (MUT) delivered a total return in net asset value of 7.2% for the six months to 31 December 2021.Performance was comfortably ahead of the FTSE All-Share return of 6.5% and means the trust is ahead its benchmark over one, three and five years. The shares reacted positively, gaining 1.3% to 833p.The company said it continued to benefit from its enlarged...

Leading UK stocks put in an afternoon spurt after struggling for momentum through much of Wednesday with the benchmark FTSE 100 closing close to 7,000 as Wall Street opened on the front foot.The FTSE 100 ended Wednesday up 0.7% at 6,959.58, the highest it has closed since before the pandemic struck early last year.The more domestically-focused FTSE 250 closed 0.4% to the good at...

After making a strong start amid optimism over the US stimulus plan, the UK's leading basket of stocks lost momentum by lunchtime as investors wait to hear what Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen will say later today on stimulus and the dollar.Reports suggest Yellen will call for the US to 'act big' on stimulus measures and voice strong support for Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid relief...

UK stocks rose in early trade on Tuesday as investors await to hear what Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen will say later today on stimulus and the dollar. The former Federal Reserve chairman's Senate confirmation hearing will likely serve as the first forum for lawmakers to vet Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan.There was also a slew of updates to capture the attention of...

One of the biggest issues to affect households around the world this year is the reduction in income from dividend-paying investments.The effects will begin to be noticed in the coming months when many investors find they don't get as much investment income as they used to, compounded by the fact that many individuals are also having to cope with a reduction in salary if they have been...

UK markets were mixed in early trade on Tuesday in the face of rough jobs data, with residual optimism left over from yesterday's vaccine-led 900-point surge from the Dow Jones in the US.The benchmark FTSE 100 saw its opening 40 point rally ebb away to fall into the red. At 9.30am, the FTSE 100 had slipped around 0.3% to 6,031.23, although the midcap FTSE 250 clung on to its near 1% hike at...

News of Chinese stimulus helps support the FTSE 100 as investors await the outcome of today's crunch vote on Brexit later.Theresa May's draft deal is widely expected to be voted down. The FTSE 100 is currently 0.2% higher at 6,867.15, though the more domestic-facing FTSE 250 reverses earlier gains to trade 0.2% lower.House builder Persimmon (PSN) dips 1% to £22.07 as it guides for annual...

Many individuals with SIPPs (self-invested personal pensions) are likely to enjoy a cash windfall in late May as tax relief from HMRC relating to the previous tax year is paid into their account.In this article we will examine why many investors will see cash drop into their account now and offer some suggestions for how you may consider allocating this cash in the markets.HOW DOES THE SYSTEM...

Under fire support services firm Carillion (CLLN) has buckled under the strain, entering into compulsory liquidation. Trading in the company's shares is suspended on Monday as accountants move in to salvage any saleable assets.You can read what the implications will be for shareholders in Shares news story here.The shock waves reverberate across the the sector with tools hire business Speedy...

Student accommodation builder Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) is expected to report satisfactory full year results on 15 January, given it has already hinted at good progress in a trading update on 31 October 2017. Last week it said it had secured planning permissions on six new sites.The market is likely to focus on margin performance and guidance to see if the company is facing cost pressures seen in...

MARKET CAP: £1BN & ABOVE IQE +318%To call IQE's (IQE:AIM) share price run this year remarkable still understates the performance. At one stage last month the stock closed at 178.75p. The share price began the year trading at 37.75p.So why has it had an amazing run? Unconfirmed rumours that IQE's vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) technology is being used in Apple's latest iPhone...

By: Steven Frazer, Daniel Coatsworth, James Crux, Tom SieberBuy family-run businesses if you want to beat the market. It's a bold statement and credible one, according to various bits of research we'll discuss later.Many of these studies categorise a family company as one where the family owns at least a 20% stake in the business and has at least one member on the board.Global brands such as...

The small cap AIM index is enjoying a purple patch so far in 2017. Up 12% year-to-date against a flat FTSE 100 and 7.2% advance for the FTSE 250.Which companies have done best of all? Focusing purely on constituents of the FTSE AIM 100 index, which includes the 100 largest companies on the exchange, reveals the following top 10.AIM 100 starsCompanyPerformance year-to-date...

This is the total banked by family and directors behind student accommodation business Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) as they sell a near-20% holding.The company joined AIM a year ago and one of the stated reasons for going public was to 'allow incumbent shareholders to realise a proportion of value'.Woodford Investment Management, run by famous UK fund manager Neil Woodford, picked up just over half...

Shares sales are dragging on stock in Watkin Jones (WJG:AIM) today, the share price 6% down to 144.5p. A trust owned by the family behind the student accommodation company, and the chief financial officer (CFO) Philip Byrom, sell a near-20% holding combined for more than £70m.WHO IS SELLING WHAT?Watkin Jones says the shares have been placed through stockbroker Peel Hunt to meet demand from...