Specialist coatings services provider Hardide (LON: HDD) has won a significant order worth £2.4m in the energy sector in North America. The US facility has improved its operational efficiency. This has increased the earnings forecast by 17% to 4p/share. The share price is 14.7% higher at 58.5p, which is less than 15 times prospective earnings.
Sovereign Metals (LON: SVML) says monazite containing heavy rare earths have been confirmed in multiple pits at Kasiya in Malawi. These include Dysprosium (Dy), Terbium (Tb) and Yttrium. These can be recoverable from tailings. The share price gained 10.5% to 37p.
Defence equipment and services provider Cohort (LON: CHRT) says full year trading is ahead of expectations, and the order book has reached the record level of £620m and £253m of the order book covers 80% of 2026-27 expectations. Operating profit will improve from £27.5m to £36m. The growth is coming from the communications and intelligence division. The share price increased 8.35% to $13.37.
Mathematical modelling and biostatistics company Physiomics (LON: PYC) has secured new contracts worth a total of more than £345,000 so far this month. Some of the projects will start imminently and they will produce revenues until the end of 2027. The share price rose 7.69% to 0.7p.
FALLERS
Shares in Sound Energy (LON: SOU) have fallen a further 21.8% to 2.15p following yesterday’s news that it is selling its development assets in Morocco for $57m in cash and relinquishing nearby exploration assets. The share price is at its all time low. Ten years ago, Sound Energy was one of the larger companies on AIM and it is currently worth £6.3m.
Health and safety consultancy PHSC (LON: PHSC) shares have declined an additional 8.82% to 7.75p following yesterday’s trading statement previewing a full year loss. There was an improvement in the second half. The annual results will be published in July.
Staffing provider RTC (LON: RTC) says that the trajectory of positive trading in the first quarter of 2026 and six major contracts have been won and rail maintenance demand is in line with 2025 levels. Rising costs will hit margins in rail and energy divisions, and it is also holding back activity levels in the second quarter. Permanent recruitment vacancy levels are at their lowest point since 2021. Daavid Stredder has put forward AGM resolutions for the appointment of Paul Hooper, former Alumasc boss, as independent chairman and Gerard Oates as an independent non-executive director. He objects to Andy Pendlebury being chairman and chief executive and there being only one independent non-executive director and he is employed by the company’s broker. He also complains about the rise in board pay. David Stredder also opposes the appointment of new director Andrew Kitchingham because of the number of directorships he currently has. The share price slipped 8.16% to 112.5p.
Defence contractor RC Fornax (LON: RCFX) interim revenues dipped from £2.5m to £2.2m and it fell into loss. There is improved revenues visibility Cavendish has maintained its 2025-26 forecast loss at £2m. Order momentum is improving. The share price fell 7.93% to 7.55p.
Union Jack Oil (LON: UJO) has published further information about AGM resolutions 7 and 10. Non-executive director John Americanos, who is the largest shareholder with 6.78%, disagrees with the other directors on the resolutions. Resolution seven is for the appointment of Craig Howie as a director. The board, other than John Americanos, is against Craig Howie being reappointed to the board following his removal as an executive director in January, prior to the appointment of John Americanos. The argument was that he did not have the knowledge for his job and breaches of confidentiality. A nominee shareholder requested that resolution 7 was included at the AGM, as well as resolutions for the re-election of directors. Resolution 10 would reduce the nominal value of shares from 5p, which is above the market price, to 0.05p, so that shares can be issued. The share price declined 7.5% to 3.7p.