WINNERS & LOSERS: B&M jumps on profit rise, Dr Martens slumps

(Alliance News) - The following are the leading risers and fallers among FTSE 100 and 250 index constituents on Thursday.

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FTSE 100 WINNERS

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Burberry Group PLC, up 8.1% at 1,181.00p, interim profit and sales beat expectations

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3i Group PLC, up 4.6% at 2,682.50p, hikes dividend, starts new share buyback and ups Action stake

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Barratt Redrow PLC, up 4.0% at 338.90p

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Rolls-Royce Group PLC, up 2.9% at 1,380.80p, plans new buyback amid strong second half

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Weir PLC, up 2.3% at 2,452.00p

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FTSE 100 LOSERS

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Endeavour Mining PLC, down 6.7% at 3,850.00p, reports lower third-quarter gold production

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Babcock International Group PLC, down 3.3% at 1,005.50p

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ICG PLC, down 2.5% at 1,906.00p

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Fresnillo PLC, down 2.2% at 2,464.00p

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Polar Capital Technology Trust PLC, down 1.7% at 580.00p

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FTSE 250 WINNERS

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B&M European Value Retail PLC, up 16% at 323.40 pence, interim pretax profit rises 54%

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Alfa Financial Software Holdings PLC, up 6.1% at 171.10p, expects annual profit "slightly ahead" of expectations

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Persimmon PLC, up 5.8% at 1,325.00p, says on track to deliver full-year 2026 performance in line with market expectations

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Metro Bank Holdings PLC, up 5.4% at 188.20p, announces strategic review and launch of formal sale process

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Michael Page PLC, up 4.9% at 217.00p

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FTSE 250 LOSERS

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Dr Martens PLC, down 17% at 52.85p, reports disappointing interim results

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Lancashire Holdings Ltd, down 8.0% at 647.50p

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Volex PLC, down 7.3% at 525.50p

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WH Smith PLC, down 6.3% at 400.30p, swings to pretax loss

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Hochschild Mining PLC, down 3.6% at 454.90p

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FTSE 100 & 250 movers in focus:

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Burberry Group PLC, up 8.1% at 1,181.00 pence, 12-month range 953.40p-1,376.50p. The British luxury fashion house reports a return to profit and stronger-than-expected revenue in the first half of its financial year, as its turnaround strategy delivers five consecutive quarters of comparable sales growth. Pretax profit reaches GBP19 million in the 26 weeks to September 26, swinging from a GBP48 million loss a year earlier, while adjusted operating profit jumps to GBP62 million from GBP19 million, ahead of GBP44 million company-compiled consensus. Revenue rises 6.8% to GBP1.10 billion from GBP1.03 billion, beating GBP1.08 billion consensus. Comparable retail sales grow 4.0% in both the first half and second quarter, while wholesale revenue increases 17%. By region, comparable sales rise 12% in the Americas, 7% in Greater China and 3% in Asia Pacific, but decline 2% in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. Burberry reports double-digit growth in outerwear sales and improving demand for leather goods. It expects further revenue growth and margin expansion in financial 2027, despite an uncertain external environment. Chief Executive Joshua Schulman says: "Five consecutive quarters of growth and improved quality of sales demonstrate that our strategy is working."

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3i Group PLC, up 4.6% at 2,682.50 pence, 12-month range 1,825.00p-4,216.00p. The London-based private equity investor raises its interim dividend, launches a new GBP750 million share buyback and increases its stake in Dutch discount retailer Action, its largest investment. Net asset value per share rises to 3,154p at September 30 from 3,030p at March 31 and 2,857p a year earlier, while total return for the six months falls to 5% from 13% a year before. The interim dividend increases 16% to 42.25p per share from 36.50p. The new GBP750 million buyback begins immediately, following completion of a programme of the same size launched in May, and is expected to finish by May 31, 2027. Meanwhile, 3i increases its holding in Action to 67.5% after acquiring an additional 2.1% stake for GBP764 million, settled in 3i shares. Action reports a 14% rise in net sales to EUR14.26 billion and a 12% increase in operating Ebitda to EUR1.96 billion in the 10 months to October 25. Like-for-like sales grow 3.7% in the year to week 45, with growth of around 4% expected for the full year. Chief Executive Simon Borrows describes Action as an "exceptional business", citing its consistent growth and international expansion opportunities.

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Rolls-Royce Group PLC, up 2.9% at 1,380.80 pence, 12-month range 990.00p-1,586.00p. The aerospace and defence company announces an additional GBP1.5 billion share buyback and reiterates its full-year guidance following a strong trading performance in the second half of 2026 so far. Rolls-Royce remains confident of delivering underlying operating profit of GBP4.7 billion to GBP4.9 billion and free cash flow of GBP3.8 billion to GBP4.0 billion, compared with GBP3.46 billion and GBP3.27 billion, respectively, in 2025. The new buyback, to be completed by its annual results on February 25, follows the substantial completion of its existing GBP2.5 billion programme and forms part of its GBP7 billion to GBP9 billion repurchase plan for 2026 to 2028. In Civil Aerospace, demand remains strong, with its large engine order backlog reaching around 2,500 engines. Large engine flying hours rise 4% year-on-year in the first 10 months to 114% of 2019 levels. In Power Systems, order intake jumps 62% in the first nine months, with the order backlog reaching a record GBP8.6 billion at September 30, up from GBP8.0 billion at June 30, driven partly by demand for data centre power generation. Orders for gas engines nearly triple year-on-year. Chief Executive Tufan Erginbilgic says the company will revisit its medium-term targets alongside full-year results in February.

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B&M European Value Retail PLC, up 16% at 323.40 pence, 12-month range 140.00p-334.40p. The discount retailer reports a 54% rise in pretax profit to GBP115 million in the first half of its financial year, from GBP75 million a year earlier, as revenue increases 3.6% to GBP2.85 billion from GBP2.75 billion. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rise 6.0% to GBP203 million from GBP191 million, while diluted earnings per share increase to 8.3p from 5.2p. The company raises its interim dividend to 3.6p per share from 3.5p. UK like-for-like sales grow 0.4% in the first half, accelerating to 3.2% in the second quarter. Looking ahead, B&M expects adjusted Ebitda of GBP450 million to GBP500 million for financial 2027.

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Dr Martens PLC, down 17% at 52.85, up 16% at 323.40 pence, 12-month range 52.70p-90.40p. The footwear retailer reports a narrowed pretax loss of GBP8.5 million in the first half of financial 2027, from GBP11.0 million a year earlier, although its adjusted pretax loss widens to GBP13.7 million from GBP9.4 million. Dr Martens swings to an adjusted loss before interest and tax of GBP2.8 million from a GBP3.1 million profit, while maintaining its interim dividend at 0.85p per share. The company says direct-to-consumer trading remains challenging, with October revenue showing signs of improvement from a particularly weak September, although sales continue to decline amid weakness in boots. Resilient demand for shoes and sandals is insufficient to offset the decline in boot sales. Looking ahead, Dr Martens warns that a "wide range of outcomes" remains possible for revenue and profit in financial 2027.

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By Eva Castanedo, Alliance News senior economics reporter

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