Latest Updates On Three FTSE Stocks – Mothercare Plc, Standard Chartered Plc and Johnson Matthey Plc

Mothercare Plc

Mothercare Plc (MTC) is a Watford, the United Kingdom based world retailing company for parents and young children with a history as an expert retailer, having opened the first Mothercare store in 1961. Across Mothercare’s United Kingdom and global operations, the company now has over 1,000 stores in approximately 50 countries. In the United Kingdom, products are sold through the Group's very own multi-channel (available and on the web) retail locations and by means of a smaller wholesale activity. Globally, the Group's items are sold through its Franchise Partners' retail locations with a small yet developing on the web presence and a newer wholesale business for segments where the company doesn't have Franchise Partners.

MTC Trading Update

On 26^th July 2019, the company announced a trading update for the 15-week period ended 13^th July 2019. The company reported making progress in the creation of the optimal structure for the United Kingdom retail operations as an independent Mothercare UK franchise. The company also reported that the board revised its expectation for the medium-term outlook for the UK market, as it is expected to be uncertain and volatile due to the political climate, along with customer confidence being low. Against this backdrop and the need for a continued promotional activity, gross margin improvements in the UK are expected to take more time to materialise than expected previously. Accordingly, underlying full-year profit before tax is predicted to be comparable to the previous year, including an estimated negative impact of £2 million of adopting IFRS16.

Source: Company Website

MTC Share Price Performance

On 6^th November 2019, at 01:20 P.M. GMT, by the time of writing, Mothercare Plc’s share price was trading at GBX 12.88 per share, an increase of 35.60 per cent or GBX 3.38 per share as compared to the previous day’s closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 9.50 per share. At the time of writing, the Mothercare Plc share price was trading 85.09 per cent above the 52-week low share price, which was at GBX 6.96 per share, set on November 04, 2019. The market capitalisation (m-cap) of the Mothercare Plc has been reported at GBP 32.47 million.

By the time of writing, 4.78 million of the company’s stocks had been traded in the market. The average volume of trading per day, for the last one year in the market, was 1.32 million stocks. The share has reportedly shown a negative change of 34.28 per cent in value in the last one year, from the price of GBX 19.60 per share.

The beta of the Mothercare Plc’s share has been reported to be at 1.2715. This implies that the movement in the company’s share price is more volatile in nature, as compared to the movement of the benchmark market index.

Standard Chartered Plc

Standard Chartered Plc (STAN) is a London, the United Kingdom based Banking and financial services company that is involved in providing Banking services for both Individuals as well as Companies and Sovereign entities. The company’s major divisions include commercial banking, retail banking and private banking. Through the retail banking segment, the company engages in providing banking services like deposits and credits to individuals. The company also provides various other products and services to individuals Savings, Education funds and Retirement solutions to individuals. Through Private banking, the company majorly engages in providing services for the High Net Worth individuals (HNWI) to ascertain as well as support them with their wealth and asset management needs. In the commercial banking segment, the company enables and helps various industries and companies of all sizes with their financing as well as transactional support as per their business needs.

STAN Financial Performance

On 30^th October 2019, the company announced its third-quarter results for the quarter ended 30^th September 2019. The company reported a robust operating performance in the reporting period of Q3 2019. It was highlighted that the Income increased in line with the top side of the medium-term guidance spectrum of 5 to 7 per cent and at the same time at a much faster rate in comparison to the growth in the costs. The company also reported that the profitability was better even after growth in impairments during the period. The company also expects that the costs in Q4 2019 would be more than that of the third quarter because of the investment phasing, albeit the FY 2019 costs are anticipated to rise under the inflation rate.

Source: Company Website

STAN Share Price Performance

On 6^th November 2019, at 01:10 P.M. GMT, while writing, Standard Chartered Plc’s share price was trading at GBX 738.80 per share, an increase of 0.30 per cent or GBX 2.20 per share as compared to the previous day’s closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 736.60 per share. While writing, the Standard Chartered Plc stock was trading 0.51 per cent below the 52-week high price, which was GBX 742.60 per share, set on July 10, 2019. The company’s market capitalisation was reported to be at GBP 23.797 billion.

By the time of writing, 2.38 million of the company’s shares had been traded in the market. The average volume of trading per day, for the last one year in the market, was 7.15 million stocks. The stock has reportedly gained 30.69 per cent in value in the last one year, from the price of GBX 565.30 per share.

The beta of the company’s stock has been reported to be at 1.3735. Through this, it can be inferred that the movement in the company’s stock is more volatile, in comparison to the movement of the benchmark market index.

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Johnson Matthey Plc

Johnson Matthey Plc (JMAT) is a London, the United Kingdom based speciality chemicals company that is engaged in the business of developing and selling various materials and technologies with chemical processes for various industries using its technological capabilities. The company’s operations span across divisions which are Emission Control Technologies, Battery Materials, Chemical process, Pharmaceutical and Medical as well as Precious metal chemicals. The company has a wide range of around 776 products and services across the mentioned divisions, which includes likes of Diagnostic Services, Metal Brazing and consulting, Process optimisation, Ceramic 3D printing, Gauze Catalysts, Diesel Oxidation catalysts, Gasoline Particulate Filter, Diesel Particulate Filter and many more. The company’s products and services are used across markets like Automotive, Chemicals, Oil and Gas, Agrochemicals and Fertilizers, Food and Beverages, Energy generation and storage, glass as well as other Industries.

JMAT Trading Update

On 17^th July 2019, the company announced a trading update for the first quarter of the year 2019-20. The company reported a moderate decline in sales in Efficient Natural Resources segment, because of the phasing in Catalyst Technologies, where sales of methanol were lesser post the robust demand during the previous year, as well as in additives, where the sales were weaker because of a previously planned maintenance stoppage at one of the company’s plants. The company also reported that the sales in New Markets segment were widely flatlined. The company reported having made progress in the research and development for commercialisation of a product called eLNO®, which has been going on in accordance with the company’s planning. The board has continued to anticipate sales and operating profit growth in this sector for the year 2019/20.

JMAT Share Price Performance

On 6^th November 2019, at 01:00 P.M. GMT, by the time of writing, Johnson Matthey Plc’s share price was trading at GBX 3254.00 per share, a decrease of 0.25 per cent or GBX 8.00 per share as compared to the previous day’s closing price, which was reported to be at GBX 3262.00 per share. At the time of writing, the Johnson Matthey Plc share price was trading 6.36 per cent below the 52-week high share price, which was at GBX 3475.00 per share, set on April 17, 2019. The market capitalisation (m-cap) of the Johnson Matthey Plc has been reported at GBP 6.313 billion.

By the time of writing, 179,770 of the company’s stocks had been traded in the market. The average volume of trading per day, for the last one year in the market, was 446,340 stocks. The share has reportedly shown a positive change of 8.47 per cent in value in the last one year, from the price of GBX 3000.00 per share.

The beta of the Johnson Matthey Plc’s share has been reported to be at 1.4989. This implies that the movement in the company’s share price is more volatile in nature, as compared to the movement of the benchmark market index.