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Articles by Stuart Blair
Gruesome or necessary? Should you post dead pests on social media?
PPC119 | OPINION In PPC119, Stuart Blair and Kelly Farrant took opposing views on a controversial topic: whether pest management companies should post graphic images on social media. FOR By Stuart Blair, Strathearn Pest Control The general public enjoys watching lions kill prey on TV because it showcases raw nature, survival instincts, and the predator-prey dynamic. These scenes evoke awe, excitement, and respect for wildlife. It’s my view that this also transfers to the culling of pests.
Gruesome or necessary? Should you post dead pests on social media?
PPC119 | OPINION In PPC119, Stuart Blair and Kelly Farrant took opposing views on a controversial topic: whether pest management companies should post graphic images on social media. FOR By Stuart Blair, Strathearn Pest Control The general public enjoys watching lions kill prey on TV because it showcases raw nature, survival instincts, and the predator-prey dynamic. These scenes evoke awe, excitement, and respect for wildlife. It’s my view that this also transfers to the culling of pests.
Stuart Blair's private equity loans round up
Our Debt Finance team work on all kinds of loans, including more and more sponsor-led private equity deals. These joint effort loans have been a growing part of Director of Debt Finance Stuart Blair’s work, who looked back on the range of businesses he’s helped to support. t OakNorth, we’ve seen a huge growth in our private equity-backed loans.
Oaknorth Bank Provides £6M Loan to Returning Customer and Leading Care Home Provider in Jersey, LV Care Group, To Support Future Growth
OakNorth Bank, the neobank for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs, has provided a £6m loan to returning customer and leading care home provider in Jersey, LV Care Group. Founded in 2011 by Nick Bettany and Chris Shelton, LV Care Group was established to develop care homes for elderly clientele in the community including home care, dementia care, mental health and wellbeing care, as well as nursing and residential accommodation.
I’m listening to Warren Buffett and buying these cheap growth stocks
Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo Warren Buffett has outperformed the market year-on-year and is known as one of the greatest investors of all time. One of Buffett’s most famous quotes is “be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful”. I feel this advice can be followed when considering growth stocks at the moment. Indeed, while many such stocks soared during 2020 and the start of 2021, they have since declined rapidly.
A FTSE 250 stock I think could double my money
Image depicting web connectivity from a mobile phone I’m always on the lookout for shares that can double my money. For this, I look for strong profit and revenue growth, modest valuations in comparison to peer companies and large sector growth. Airtel Africa (LSE: AAF) seems to fit all these criteria, and despite several risks associated with the company, I feel that this FTSE 250 stock has the potential to boost my returns. Here’s why. What does Airtel Africa do?
2 no-brainer FTSE 100 stocks to buy to beat inflation
Inflation in newspapers Inflation has been soaring in recent months, hitting around 7% in the US in December. The UK is also seeing high rates. This has become a key factor for me in deciding which stocks to buy. It is also the reason why multiple growth stocks have crashed recently. But there are still several companies that should be able to cope well with inflationary pressures and may even benefit. Here are my top two.
If I’d invested £1,000 in easyJet shares 5 years ago, how much would I have now?
An easyJet plane takes off easyJet (LSE: EZJ) is a favourite among many consumers as a low-budget airline that’s based in Europe. In the past, its popularity has seen the easyJet share price soar, reaching highs of over 1,900p in 2015. It has also sported a very healthy dividend yield. However, everything turned around a couple of years ago, with the emergence of Covid-19. This saw demand for airlines grind to a halt, forcing easyJet to raise extra cash through both debt and equity to say afloat.
A beaten-down growth stock I think can recover in 2022
A stock price graph showing declines, possibly in FTSE 100 Growth stocks have faced a torrid time in recent months. But this is no surprise. Indeed, inflation is at a 40-year high, reaching 7% in the US most recently. As already confirmed by the Fed, and implemented by the Bank of England, this will lead to higher interest rates, making it far more expensive to borrow. High inflation rates also lowers the value of future cash flows, which is where growth stocks obtain a large amount of value.
Bridging the gap between banking and digital accessibility
By 2024, it is estimated that over 3.6 billion people will use online and mobile banking. The banking industry should be a leader in digital accessibility The pandemic has sped up today’s digital landscape as more people complete everyday tasks online. For that reason, companies must understand the importance of digital accessibility. A lack of website accessibility can cause major problems for many that often go unnoticed until it’s too late.
What am I doing about Supply@Me (SYME) shares?
The Supply@Me Capital (LSE: SYME) share price has been extremely volatile since going public through a reverse takeover. Indeed, over the past year, it has managed to rise from 0.15p to its current price of 0.34p. Nonetheless, it also reached highs of 0.74p last August. Therefore, it’s clear that SYME shares are unpredictable, yet may have have significant upside potential. So, what am I doing about the shares now?
At under $40, is the Pfizer share price too cheap?
Since it announced that it had developed a Covid vaccine, the Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) share price has risen 18%. And it’s up almost 24% in the past year. Nonetheless, with a recent trading update that was excellent, in the views of many, Pfizer shares are now too cheap. But are they really? Yes, the company has managed to grow both profits and revenues.
I think this penny stock is an absolute bargain
Although some penny stocks are ‘smaller’ companies that can be riskier than FTSE 100 giants, they can also achieve greater growth. Pan African Resources (LSE: PAF) is a penny stock that I am particularly attracted to. Indeed, the gold-miner has performed strongly these past few years, delivering consistent profits and growth. As such, I added the stock to my portfolio a few weeks ago. Here are the main reasons why.
What am I doing with my Aviva shares now?
The Aviva (LSE: AV) share price has performed excellently since the start of the pandemic, rising over 80%. This has been driven by strong financial results, the economy recovering more quickly than many had expected and new management making key changes to the business. Recently, the Aviva share price also rose on the news that Europe’s largest activist investor Cevian has built up a 5% stake in it. As such, is this a good time for me to buy more Aviva shares or is it time to bank profits?
After its 25%+ fall, what am I doing about Clinigen shares?
Clinigen (LSE: CLIN) is a pharmaceutical and services company that provides access to medicines on a global scale. While this business model has proved effective over the last few years, with consistent strong financial results being the evidence of this, the pandemic has adversely affected the company. Today, this resulted in the pharmaceutical company issuing a profit-warning, causing the Clinigen share price to fall 25+%. It’s down by 24% over 12 months.
What am I doing with my BP shares?
A year ago, it was hard to be optimistic about BP (LSE: BP) shares. Oil prices were very low, the company had to take extremely large impairment charges and it was also unprofitable. Despite this, I bought BP shares, due to its strong recovery prospects and the fact that it is transitioning into greener energy. Since then, things have become slightly better for the oil giant. Indeed, oil prices have made a strong recovery and BP has returned to profitability.
Would I buy The Hut Group shares?
Since a strong IPO, The Hut Group (LSE: THG) share price has fallen around 25%, currently sitting at 611p. Nonetheless, in my view, this has given the company a more reasonable valuation. As such, is now the time to buy or is there further to fall? Trading Update The Hut Group’s recent trading update was fairly strong, in particular demonstrating good revenue growth. Indeed, in comparison to 2019, its 2020 revenues were over 40% higher at £1.6bn. This was driven by an increase in customers.
Can the Royal Mail share price keep on delivering?
Throughout 2021, the Royal Mail (LSE: RMG) share price has performed well, rising 60%. Further, its current price of nearly 600p is a rise of 370% since its lows in April last year. This strong performance has been driven by a willingness among management to implement changes, which has also been accompanied by rising profits. Is this now a chance to cash in profits or can the Royal Mail share price continue delivering?
Is the Kanabo share price a bargain not to be missed?
Since a very strong IPO, where the Kanabo (LSE: KNB) share price rose from 6.5p to over 40p in 48 hours, it has since struggled. Indeed, it closed Wednesday around 20p, higher than the IPO price, but well down on its all-time high. The fall has mainly been caused by diminishing optimism, rather than any bad news. As such, is the Kanabo share price a bargain not to be missed for me, or are the risks too great? Let’s take a look.
My top FTSE 100 stocks to buy in June
The FTSE 100 has performed well over the past few months, with it now firmly over 7,000 points. This has been driven by the successful vaccine rollout and optimism among investors of a strong economic recovery. Nonetheless, I believe this has left certain stocks overpriced, and vulnerable to a correction in the near future. Therefore, it’s very important to be discerning when picking stocks, and these three FTSE 100 stocks are what I’m looking at closely for my portfolio in June.
What am I doing about the volatile Argo Blockchain share price?
Argo Blockchain (LSE: ARB) is a company focused on large-scale cryptocurrency mining and it has performed extremely strongly since December 2020. Indeed, since this date, the Argo Blockchain share price has climbed 1,500%. This is due to its rising productivity and the strong performance of many cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Nevertheless, the share price has been significantly more volatile recently, with some investors deciding to cash in profits but others still seeing a good opportunity to buy.
The FTSE 100 soars 5% on vaccine hopes. Is it time to buy these travel stocks?
travel company bus greets tourists at the airport to take to the hotel Last week, I wrote an article about how the FTSE 100 was at its lowest level since March. Since I wrote this article, it has climbed nearly 12%. This has been due to both the ‘Biden bounce’, and news that Pfizer has developed a Covid-19 vaccine with a claimed 90% protection rate. This has caused a number of FTSE 100 stocks to climb rapidly, with a specific focus on travel stocks.
The FTSE 100 is at its lowest for six months. I’d buy these FTSE 100 stocks now
Globe Newswire Cargotec Corporation: Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting 2020 CARGOTEC CORPORATION, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 2 NOVEMBER 2020 AT 10:00 EET Cargotec Corporation: Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting 2020 Notice is given to the shareholders of Cargotec Corporation (Cargotec or the Company) of an extraordinary general meeting to be held at 1:00 p.m. EET on Friday, 18 December 2020 at Cargotec’s headquarters at Porkkalankatu 5, Helsinki, Finland.
At 30p, are Cineworld shares now a bargain not to be missed?
Road sign warning of a risk ahead On Monday 5 October, Cineworld (LSE: CINE) announced that it would temporarily be shutting its 536 Regal theatres in America and its 127 British outlets. This led to a single-day 30% drop and the share price has been volatile ever since. This means that the cinema has now lost over 80% of its value since the start of the year and for many value investors, the company may now seem too cheap to ignore.
The Boohoo share price just fell 20%. Is it the perfect time to buy?
Refinery 29 UK People Are Still Hiding Their Beauty Treatments — Here’s Why Alex* is a fermentation scientist who never misses a Botox appointment, even in a pandemic-stricken year when the service has been deemed non-essential. Thanks to a deal too good to pass up, she’s also tried Voluma injections during the past few months, along with a clandestine spray tan appointment (“They ushered me in through the back door,” the scientist says).
I was right before about easyJet shares. What would I do now?
Back in May, with the easyJet (LSE: EZY) share price at around 500p, I wrote an article about how the shares were too cheap to ignore. A few weeks later, with them priced at nearly 900p, I then stated that it was time to sell. Since then, easyJet shares have faced a torrid time, falling over 40% to around 510p. But after its fourth-quarter trading update, is it now time to buy the stock or has it got further to fall? Fourth-quarter trading update Unsurprisingly, the Q4 update was pretty grim.
What would I do now with Greatland Gold shares?
View of a gold mine from above If you bought Greatland Gold (LSE: GGP) shares at the start of the year, you would have seen the value of these shares rise by more than 1,000%. In fact, the incredible rise of the gold miner these past few months has seen its market capitalisation reach £1bn. This is despite the fact that the company is still in its exploration stages and is therefore unprofitable. As a result, is this high share price justified, or is it now the time to bank profits?
Best UK shares: I reckon this FTSE 250 stock could be a millionaire-maker!
One million achievement celebration Investing in UK shares can be very lucrative or, in some circumstances, can lead to large losses. As a result, it’s important to be discerning when picking stocks. Airtel Africa (LSE: AAF) is one stock I believe has significant potential. In fact, through dividend reinvestment over a number of years, I actually believe that it could be a millionaire-maker! Here’s why.
This FTSE 250 growth share has risen over 300%. Should investors keep on buying?
Unlike many other UK shares, AO World (LSE: AO) has profited from the pandemic. As an online-only household appliances retailer, this growth has been driven by the increasing popularity of e-commerce, and the fact that people have been spending more time at home. Consequently, since the middle of March, its share price has risen over 300%. But with the reopening of shops around the country, and people starting to return to normality, will the growth share be able to continue this performance?
The BT share price hasn’t been this low since 2009. Is it time to buy?
Image depicting web connectivity from a mobile phone At its current price of around 100p, the BT (LSE: BT-A) share price has not been this low since the Financial Crisis of 2009. In that case, it was able to recover strongly over the next few years. As a result, many believe that it will be able to achieve a similar feat this time round. But with a huge number of problems associated with the company, is it still too risky to buy?
Is it the perfect time to buy Diageo shares?
Shelves holding drinks bottles Diageo (LSE: DGE) shares have always been a favourite in the FTSE 100. This has been thanks to a history of rising sales and dividend growth. But even the drinks giant has not been invincible to the impacts of coronavirus, with many unimpressed by the recent half-year results. This has seen its share price fall nearly 20% year-to-date.
Best UK shares to buy: This FTSE 250 stock looks like a bargain to me!
Portrait of construction engineers working on building site together Ibstock (LSE: IBST) shares have been punished significantly during the stock market crash. Despite recovering to over 200p at the start of June, it is now priced at just over 150p, which is a 52% decline year-to-date. But at this price, the FTSE 250 stock now looks majorly underpriced.
With insider buying recently, would I buy these UK shares?
Business development to success and FTSE 100 250 350 growth concept. When an insider buys shares of a company, this is often a very bullish signal that indicates the stock could grow further. This is because insiders often have unique insights into their own company and can therefore determine whether the stock is undervalued. As Peter Lynch once stated: “Insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise”.
Despite the recession, I’d buy these UK shares today
Economic Uncertainty Ahead Sign With Stormy Background At the moment, the stock market does not look the most appetising place to invest your hard-earned cash. The second quarter saw GDP contracting by over 20%, officially placing the UK in a recession. By comparison, during the financial crisis, GDP only declined by 2.1%. This demonstrates the extent of the economic crisis within the UK at the moment. Nevertheless, the FTSE 100 has still risen over 20% since the middle of March.
At 145p, I think this travel stock looks like a bargain! I’d buy today
Compass pointing towards 'best price' In its first-half trading update, National Express (LSE: NEX) warned of a slow recovery. This was accompanied by the firm reporting losses of over £60m. Such losses were the result of a sharp drop in passengers, combined with the need for larger operating costs. As a result, the travel stock fell over 10% that day and is currently down nearly 70% on the year.
This bank stock is down 96% in two years. Is it a good contrarian buy?
It’s been a disastrous couple of years for Metro Bank (LSE: MTRO). Its share price has been driven down by reporting errors, regulatory investigations, and currently, the pandemic’s severe impact upon banks. But with new management from the start of this year, and the recent acquisition of RateSetter, is it now time to buy the bank stock? The bank is plagued with problems Metro Bank came to the UK 10 years ago with major expectations.
Are Rio Tinto shares the perfect income stock? Or is it time to sell?
Diggers and trucks in a coal mine Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) shares have recovered strongly from their recent lows. In fact, the mining company has risen by nearly 60% from the middle of March, and its current share price is higher than at the start of the year. With a dividend yielding over 6%, it’s also one of the largest dividend payers on the FTSE 100. At this time of mass dividend cuts, it’s no surprise many investors have bought.
The HSBC share price is down 20% this month. Is it now time to buy?
Scene depicting the City of London, home of the FTSE 100 The bad news keeps on piling up for HSBC (LSE: HSBA). Firstly, the pandemic has led to a large number of bad loans, and the bank has had to set aside huge amounts of money for these. Low interest rates have also strained profits. Unlike other UK banks, Asia-focused HSBC has also been heavily involved in the geopolitical tensions between the US and China, thanks to the national security law in Hong Kong.
This FTSE 100 stock has just reinstated its dividend. I’d buy today!
Having suspended its final 2019 dividend in April, Mondi (LSE: MNDI) announced today that it would be resuming dividend payments. Along with a fairly strong trading update, this has seen the stock price of the paper and packaging company rise significantly. But I believe that this rise is set to continue, and I’d therefore buy the FTSE 100 stock today. Trading update Although profits were hit by the pandemic, the damage at Mondi was limited compared to many other FTSE 100 stocks.
After its dividend cut, would I buy BP shares?
Despite its worst quarterly results on record, BP shares managed to close up 6.5% yesterday. This bullish sentiment was brought about by slightly better than expected results, the dividend ‘only’ being cut in half and new plans of shifting away from fossil fuels. Nevertheless, despite this bounce in the share price, BP shares are still trading at a 40% discount year-to-date. Would I buy or are they still too much of a risk? BP’s trading update The quarterly update affirmed the oil sector’s misery.
This FTSE 100 stock looks ripe for a recovery. I’d buy now!
Compass pointing towards 'best price' A couple of months ago, I recommended that investors buy Aviva (LSE: AV). Since then, the FTSE 100 stock has managed to rise by 15%. But I don’t think that investors should stop buying now. In fact, I believe that now is the perfect time to be buying Aviva shares. New management At the start of the month, Aviva chief executive Maurice Tulloch stepped down for “family health reasons”. Amanda Blanc was the immediate replacement.
This FTSE 250 housebuilding stock looks oversold to me. I’d buy today
A house being constructed in the countryside The pandemic has devastated the UK housing market. In fact, the current economic slump has resulted in both a fall in house prices and the volume of housing sales. But in many respects, the housing market is starting to look up. Firstly, Rishi Sunak’s stamp duty changes have given many people an incentive to buy, and this should boost demand.
The price of gold is soaring! Would I buy these gold stocks?
Gold is often seen as an inflation hedge and a safe-haven investment. At the moment, with interest rates near zero, many investors have understandably turned to gold. As such, the price currently stands near its all-time high, and Citigroup analysts reckon there’s a 30% chance of it rising above the $2,000 mark in the next five months. This bodes well for both of these gold stocks.
Premier Oil shares: Is it time to buy or sell?
With Brent crude now priced at over $40, it’s evident that oil has made a decent recovery. This resulted in the Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) share price rising over 300%, to 54p. It is currently around 42p. While there has been a slight recovery in the oil sector, problems still abound. As such, is the Premier Oil share price a definite buy or is it destined for a decline?
This FTSE 250 stock has recovered strongly. Would I keep on buying?
Businessman standing in front of screen Dunelm (LSE: DNLM) has made a strong recovery since its recent lows. The FTSE 250 stock has seen its share price rise 85% since the middle of March and is now up 5% on the year. This recovery has been driven by strong demand for housewares, such as baking trays, garden furniture, and wallpaper. But at its current high price of around 1,240p, should investors carry on buying or is it now too expensive?
Look to the future! I’d buy these AIM stocks today
Businessman leading a chart upwards Investing in the AIM market certainly has its risks. The companies are often much smaller than those listed on London’s main market, and they face less regulatory scrutiny. This means that AIM stocks can make heavy losses in a small period of time. Nevertheless, the AIM market can also be very lucrative if you’re discerning when picking stocks. I believe that these particular AIM stocks are the best picks.
Burberry shares are down 8% this week! Is it a good time to buy?
Dice engraved with the words buy and sell, possibly in FTSE 100 While the FTSE 100 gained ground on Wednesday, Burberry shares fell over 6% following news of poor first-quarter earnings. The losses were extended yesterday, with the stock dropping another 3%. But the FTSE 100 share still has a lot of promise, and this could offer an excellent buying point for investors. Poor Q1 earnings The pandemic has seen a drop in luxury demand, and this was clearly reflected in Burberry’s Q1 trading update.
Leisure shares: with lockdown easing, I’d buy these 2 today
Businessman leading a chart upwards Finally, after being closed since March, leisure centres will be allowed to reopen on Saturday 25 July. Although a slightly later date than many would have wanted, this is still excellent news for leisure companies. The leisure shares I’m looking at here, seem to be in decent shape and should profit accordingly. A high-potential share Hollywood Bowl (LSE: BOWL) is the first firm that should profit from this reopening.
Are Tesco shares the perfect defensive stock?
Supermarket aisle with empty green trolley In a crisis, consumers will always need food and drink. In fact, grocery sales have increased during lockdown by around 14.3%. With a market share of nearly 30%, Tesco (LSE: TSCO) is the largest of the UK supermarkets and could therefore be an excellent defensive stock. But with potential problems on the horizon, would I buy Tesco shares at the moment? Recent trading update On the face of it, Tesco’s Q1 results looked fairly impressive.
National Grid shares were down 12% last week. Is it a good time to buy?
A person holding onto a fan of twenty pound notes At the start of July, National Grid (LSE: NG) shares were trading at nearly 1,000p. But over the next week, these gains were lost, with the share price dropping to around 850p. It currently trades at 870p. So at this low price, is it the perfect time to buy? What caused the National Grid share price drop? Two things caused this share price fall. Firstly, its dividend of 32p per share went ex-dividend on 2 July.
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