Investing

FTSE 350 Look Ahead: Moonpig, Imperial Brands, Entain, and More

Moonpig Group PLC

By Anna Peel

Look ahead to FTSE 350, other companies reporting & economic events from 4 to 8 April

  • We’ll see what rising inflation means for demand at Moonpig Group PLC
  • Entain PLC should shed light on how much online demand is shifting back to in-store
  • Imperial Brands PLC hopes to find success with next-generation product trials

[Staff note: The FTSE 350 Index is a market-cap-weighted stock market index made up of the London Stock Exchange constituents of the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indexes.]

Moonpig Group, Trading Statement, Tuesday 5 April

Sophie Lund-Yates, Equity Analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown

Since listing its shares for the first time at the start of February 2021, Moonpig’s shares have fallen over 47%. That’s partly because the company’s valuation was quite demanding, meaning the market had very high hopes. The group reported a strong set of half-year results and upgraded revenue targets. However, things are still slowing quite dramatically. That’s because lockdowns were the perfect conditions for an online card company, and that helpful tailwind is petering out. Next week it will be important to see that Moonpig is on track to reach the £283 million in full-year revenue that analysts are expecting, although this might be a tall order.

The other thing to keep in mind is rising inflation. Rising costs have the ability to dent margins, but also negatively affect customer demand. As household budgets become tighter, Moonpig may find it more difficult to convince shoppers to add on lucrative extra gifts with their card orders. Things like flowers and chocolates may get rubbed off shopping lists. To that end, the outlook statement will be read very carefully.

Imperial Brands, Trading Statement, Wednesday 6 April

Matt Britzman, Equity Analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown

Next week’s trading statement might shed a little light on how suspended operations in Russia and Ukraine are impacting performance, although it isn’t expected to move the dial much. Last year the regions represented around 2% of sales and 0.5% of underlying operating profits. Attention will instead be on sales growth, or lack thereof, in the group’s 5 core markets. The US, UK, and Spain were all driving forces behind last year’s small increase in tobacco sales, offsetting drops in Germany and Australia. As we enter the second year of the ‘strengthening phase’ in those markets, we’ll be hoping to hear about improving market shares.

Aside from that, any commentary on consumer behaviours will be watched closely. There’s been some uncertainty about how the easing of restrictions will impact tobacco volumes, which are already under pressure from changing habits. Finally, as with any major tobacco company, next-generation products are the key for future success. Having ditched a few products last year, it’d give investors some confidence if more recent trials are showing signs of success.

Entain, Trading Statement, Thursday 7 April

Matt Britzman

Following a bumper period for online gaming, with punters not able to venture into stores for large periods over the last couple of years, online growth is expected to slow from the double-digit highs seen at the full year. What’s key is how much online demand remains sticky. Entain’s offering spans both the virtual and physical worlds, which means customers returning to betting shops isn’t all bad. But the online offering is more profitable and from a margin standpoint, the more demand that can remain online, the better. News relating to Bet MGM, the group’s growth jewel and joint venture with MGM in the US, will be watched with eager anticipation. Growth has been nothing shy of exceptional, as expansion in the growing US markets brings the business ever closer to profitability. For investors, that growth needs to continue, or the higher-than-average valuation could come under pressure.

Company Report/Event
Monday, 4 April Provident Financial Full-year results
Tuesday, 5 April HomeServe Full-year trading statement
Moonpig Group Trading statement
Wednesday, 6 April Hilton Food Group Full-year results
Imperial Brands Trading statement
Thursday, 7 April Entain Trading statement
Friday, 8 April CMC Markets Full-year trading statement
Ferrexpo Production statement

About Hargreaves Lansdown

Almost 1.7 million clients trust us with £141.2 billion (as at 31 December 2021), making us the UK’s number one platform for private investors. More than 98% of client activity is done through our digital channels and over 600,000 access our mobile app each month.

Originally published at ValueWalk

Is Your Money Earning the Best Possible Rate? (Sponsor)

Let’s face it: If your money is just sitting in a checking account, you’re losing value every single day. With most checking accounts offering little to no interest, the cash you worked so hard to save is gradually being eroded by inflation.

However, by moving that money into a high-yield savings account, you can put your cash to work, growing steadily with little to no effort on your part. In just a few clicks, you can set up a high-yield savings account and start earning interest immediately.

There are plenty of reputable banks and online platforms that offer competitive rates, and many of them come with zero fees and no minimum balance requirements. Click here to see if you’re earning the best possible rate on your money!

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.