Managed services provider Tialis Essential IT (LON: TIA) has made a good start to 2025 with preferred partner and contract extensions totalling £17.8m. Some of these are five-year contracts and are higher margin lifecycle management contracts. The 2024 pre-tax profit is expected to be flat at £1.1m, but earnings are forecast to treble to 3.6p/share. The share price has been falling since the beginning of 2024. The share price recovered 18.6% to 25.5p.
Nostra Terra Oil & Gas (LON: NTOG) is averaging total production of 120 barrels of oil/day net. This means that the company is cash flow positive. Production from Pine Mills in Texas averaged more than 80 barrels of oil/day. The phase 2 workover programme started at the end of 2024 and the first well started production on 20 January. Bono Energy has doubled its stake to 3.38%. The share price improved 11.1% to 0.035p.
Christie Group (LON: CTG) says 2024 operating profit will be above the upper end of guidance at £1.4m, having made a loss in the first half. There will be a pre-tax profit of £300,000. The advisory business profitability recovered. The Venners hospitality stock audit business doubled profit. Net cash is £4.9m. The share price rose 10% to 110p.
Currency services provider Argentex (LON: AGFX) second half trading was better than expected with 2024 revenues of £50.3m. Client activity was more consistent in the second half. This means that the loss will be lower than expected at £3.7m. The Alternative Transaction Banking platform should be launched in the second half of 2025. The investment related to this means that there will be another loss in 2025. The share price increased 9.12% to 39.5p.
FALLERS
Yu Group (LON: YU.) increased energy supplied by 78% in 2024 and margins are better than expected. Revenues did not grow as rapidly because of lower prices, but they are two-fifths higher at approaching £650m. That is lower than the Panmure Liberum estimate of £680m. Managing bad debts and the hedging policy means that the pre-tax profit has edged up from £46m to £48.3m. The share price dipped 11.3% to 1645p.
Shoe retailer Shoe Zone (LON: SHOE) had already warned about the results for the year to September 2024. Pre-tax profit fell from £16.5m to £10m, which was slightly higher than forecast. There is no final dividend – the interim was 2.5p/share. Net cash is £3.6m. Several loss-making stores are being closed. The 2024-25 pre-tax profit is expected to halve to £5m. There was a further share price decline of 10% to 90p.
DRC-focused tin exploration company Rome Resources (LON: RMR) says laboratory results from drilling at the Mont Agoma tin prospect show significant tin widths from two of the holes. It appears that tin mineralisation increases and copper decreases at depths closer to the granitic source. This is similar to the tin mineralisation transition zone at San Rafael in Peru. Drilling will be focused on deeper depths. The share price slid 8.82% to 0.31p.
Premier African Minerals (LON: PREM) is not proceeding with the fundraising at 0.0275p/share because the retail offer did not raise enough to reach a total raising of £3.5m. The board is considering a change to the fundraising and alternative funding options. The share price fell 3.7% to 0.026p.