Insights on 3 FTSE Stocks: Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc, Associated British Foods Plc & W.H. Ireland Group Plc

Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc (LSE:ULE)

Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc (LSE:ULE) is a Greenford, the United Kingdom based electrical and electronics engineering company that is engaged in the development of defence products as well as product in the other highly regulated markets. The company operates through three main divisions, which are Aerospace and Infrastructure, Communications and Security and Maritime and Land.

ULE Trading Update

On 6^th November 2019, the company made a press release announcing a trading update for the third quarter ended 30^th September 2019. The company reported that there was a good order book development post the half year results. The company also reported to have continued to trade in accordance with the anticipations. The company’s major divisions are growing, and the robust technological capabilities have placed the company in a great position for the future.

ULE Share Price Performance

On 8^th November 2019 (after the market closed), the Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc’s share price closed at GBX 2,100.00 per share, an increase of 1.547 per cent or GBX 32 per share as compared to the previous day’s closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 2068.00 per share. At the time of writing, the Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc share price was trading 8.45 per cent below the 52-week high share price, which was at GBX 2294.00 per share, set on September 05, 2019. Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc’s market capitalisation has been reported to be at GBP 1.49 billion.

By the time of writing, 807 of the company’s stocks had been traded in the market. The average volume of trading per day was 167,738. The share has reportedly shown a positive return of 45.50 per cent in the last one year.

The beta of the Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc’s share has been reported to be at 0.68. This implies that the movement in the company’s share price is less volatile in nature, as compared to the movement of the benchmark market index.

Associated British Foods Plc (LSE:ABF)

Associated British Foods Plc (LSE:ABF) is a London, the United Kingdom based Food Producer company that is mainly engaged in the business of selling and retailing of grocery, sugar, agriculture as well as other ingredients. The company operates globally with a significant presence in the regions like the United States of America, Mexico, Southern Africa, China and Europe including the largest geographical presence in the United Kingdom. The company’s business units include the Agriculture business, the Ingredients business as well as the Retail business.

ABF Financial Performance

On 5^th November 2019, the company announced its final results for the year ended 14^th September 2019. The company reported that the revenue increased by 2 per cent year on year to £15.8 billion during the year and the adjusted operating profit was up by 1 per cent year on year to £1,421 million. The company highlighted that in the computation of the adjusted operating profit, the amortisation charge on non-operating intangibles items, gains and losses on sale of non-current assets, any transaction costs that might have been incurred, amortisation of the purchased stock fair value adjustments as well as extraordinary items were not included. It was reported that for FY 2019 Earnings attributable to equity shareholders were £878 million and the weighted average number of shares outstanding in FY 2019, were reported to be at 790 million, which was the same as 2018. The company reported that the earnings per share (EPS) were down by approximately 13 per cent year on year to at GBX 111.1 per share as compared to FY 2018. The company also highlighted that the Adjusted earnings per share, which provides a better reflection of the company’s performance during the year, was reported at an upside of 2 per cent year on year from GBX 134.9 per share in FY 2018 to GBX 137.5 per share in FY 2019.

Source: Company Website

ABF Share Price Performance

On 8^th November 2019 (after the market closed), the Associated British Foods Plc’s share price closed at GBX 2443.00 per share, an increase of 0.494 per cent or GBX 12.00 per share as compared to the previous day’s closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 2431.00 per share. At the time of writing, the Associated British Foods Plc share price was trading 8.12 per cent below the 52-week high share price, which was at GBX 2659.00 per share, set on November 12, 2018. The market capitalisation (m-cap) of the Associated British Foods Plc has been reported at GBP 19.25 billion.

By the time of writing, 306,420 of the company’s stocks had been traded in the market. The average volume of trading per day was 958,961. The share has reportedly shown a negative return of 6.8 per cent in the last one year.

The beta of the Associated British Foods Plc’s share has been reported to be at 0.98. This implies that the movement in the company’s share price is roughly the same as compared to the movement of the benchmark market index.

W.H. Ireland Group Plc (LSE:WHI)

W.H. Ireland Group Plc (LSE:WHI) is a London, the United Kingdom based financial services company that is majorly engaged in the business of Wealth Management as well as Corporate Finance Advisory. In the wealth management division, the company’s offerings for Individuals include Savings and Investments services, Retirement and Pensions services, Estate Planning services as well as management of international clients. For the corporate clients, the company’s services include, EIS Discretionary Portfolios as well as Discretionary Portfolio Management, etc. In the Corporate Finance Advisory segment, the company’s offerings include Corporate Finance and Broking, Institutional Sales, Equity Research, Market Making as well as Investor Relations. Some of the company’s significant recent deals include Cadence Minerals £1.6 million Placing, Angus Energy £3 million Placing, Action Hotels £35 million deal advisor and European Lithium Limited’s corporate advisor on a £40 million deal.

WHI Financial Performance

On 6^th November 2019, the company reported its interim results for the six months ended 30^th September 2019. The company highlighted that the revenue declined by 11 per cent year on year to £11.36 million in H1 2019 as compared to H1 2018 revenue at £12.82 million. There was also a 17 per cent year on year decline in administrative expenses to £12.25 million in H1 2019 as compared to £14.76 million in H1 2018. The company also highlighted a 54 per cent year on year reduction in operating loss for H1 2019 of £0.89 million compared to the loss in H1 2018 at £1.94 million albeit challenging economic conditions in the market. The company announced that there was a 37 per cent year on year decline in the net loss in H1 2019 of £1.35 million as compared to the H1 2018 net loss reported at £2.14 million. As far as divisions were concerned, the Wealth Management Assets Under Management (AUM) had declined by 8 per cent valued at £2.3 billion as on 30^th September 2019, an indicator of the difficult market environment.

WHI Share Price Performance

On 8^th November 2019 (after the market closed), the W.H. Ireland Group Plc’s share price closed at GBX 49.00 per share, no change in price as compared to the previous day’s closing price. At the time of writing, the W.H. Ireland Group Plc share price was trading 47.92 per cent above the 52-week low share price, which was at GBX 33.13 per share, set on March 20, 2019. W.H. Ireland Group Plc reported its Market Capitalisation at GBP 21.01 million. The share has reportedly shown a negative return of 36.77 per cent in the last one year.

The beta of the W.H. Ireland Group Plc’s share has been reported to be at 0.36. This implies that the movement in the company’s share price is less volatile in nature, as compared to the movement of the benchmark market index.