EARNINGS AND TRADING: Norcros sales up; eEnergy eyes record first-half
The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates by London-listed companies, issued on Thursday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Mercia Asset Management PLC - alternative asset manager focused on regional UK small and medium enterprises - Expects earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for the financial year to March to be ‘materially’ ahead of current market expectations as continues to perform well in the second half. In the last three months of the financial year notification of proposed increases to existing fund mandates, plus successful VCT and EIS fund raises, totalled in excess of £200 million, it says. In addition, Mercia’s direct investment portfolio continues to make good overall commercial progress, despite the current elevated challenging market backdrop. Mercia’s closing cash position as at March 31 is £26 million, and it remains debt free.
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Verici Dx PLC - Cardiff, Wales-based developer of advanced clinical diagnostics for organ transplants - TutiviaTM testing volumes increase 32% to 392 in the three months to March from the prior quarter, and 34% from a year ago, ‘significantly ahead of management expectations’. Average reimbursement rate remains in line with management expectations, it adds. ‘Together with our ongoing progress in business development, this underpins our confidence in achieving further successful commercial traction across the rest of 2026 and beyond,’ says Chief Executive Sara Barrington.
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Savannah Resources PLC - Portugal-focused lithium development company - Pretax loss from continuing operations is £4.0 million in 2025, narrowed from £4.4 million the year prior. No revenue is reported, unchanged on-year. Bottom line benefits from foreign exchange gain of £231,552 compared to loss of £438,018 the year before. This offsets slightly higher administrative expenses of £4.4 million, up from £4.3 million. Chief Executive Emanuel Proenca says: ‘2025 and the first quarter of 2026 have been decisive periods for Savannah as we continued to strengthen the technical, financial and strategic foundations of the Barroso Lithium Project. During the period, we delivered a materially larger JORC Resource, advanced the Definitive Feasibility Study and environmental licencing workstreams, strengthened our team and the company’s balance sheet, and deepened support at local, national and European levels.’ The focus for 2026 is ‘clear’, to complete the DFS and environmental licencing process, progress financing and commercial discussions, and make the preparations required to begin constructing the project.
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Cooks Coffee Co Ltd - New Zealand-based coffee chain - Group store sales increase 18% to £11.2 million in the three months to March, the fourth quarter of the financial year, from £9.5 million the year prior, reflecting continued positive trading momentum. This takes full year sales to £43.1 million, up 23% from £35.1 million the year before. Full-year sales rise 22% in the UK and 24% in Ireland. Chief Executive Aiden Keegan comments: ‘We are pleased to report a strong finish to FY26, with double-digit growth delivered in both the fourth quarter and full year. Performance across the UK and Ireland highlights the strength of the Esquires brand and the dedication of our franchise partners. We remain focused on expanding our footprint and are encouraged by the group’s momentum heading into FY27.’
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Zinc Media Group PLC - television and audio production company - Pretax loss widens to £2.6 million in 2025 from £1.4 million the year before. Revenue increases 28% to £41.5 million from £32.3 million, with adjusted operating profit of £800,000, up from £700,000. Gross margins ease to 40.5% from 44.5%, reflecting the lower production margin on entertainment commissions but not yet reflecting the potential for associated high margin IP income in future years. Discloses £30 million of revenue is booked or highly advanced for recognition in 2026, with a further £28 million of sales ‘in discussions’, ‘more than double the remaining market consensus revenue for the year ahead.’
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eEnergy Group PLC - London-based net zero energy services provider - Makes a ‘strong start to a year’, delivering first quarter 2026 revenue of £11.0 million, adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £700,000 with a forward contracted order book of £10.7 million as at March 31. Expects to report record first half revenue of around £24.0 million, more than double the prior year’s £10.1 million, in line with management expectations. This is underpinned by around £21 million of revenue already delivered or contracted to be delivered. eEnergy says it is adopting a more conservative approach to revenue recognition after engagement with its new auditor, Cooper Parry. This results in a reduction of £4.0 million in 2025 reported revenue and a £4.0 million increase in 2026 revenue. As a result, the firm expects to deliver 2025 revenue of £19.0 million, down from a restated £22.4 million in 2024, and adjusted Ebitda of £2.2 million versus a £700,000 loss the year before. For 2026, forecasts revenue of £38.0 million and adjusted Ebitda of £4.5 million. The group expects to become increasingly cash generative during 2026, as working capital invested in the second half of FY25 unwinds.
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Norcros PLC - Wilmslow, Cheshire-based supplier of bathroom and kitchen products - Expects revenue for the 53 weeks to April 11 to be £393 million, up around 10% from £355.8 million the year prior, reflecting the contribution from Fibo and share gains in its markets which continue to be ‘challenging’. Like-for-like constant currency revenue growth for the period is expected to be 0.5% ahead of the prior year. ‘Mid-premium brand led [Repair, Maintenance, and Improvement] markets have remained stable, while new build activity continues to be weak across both Europe and South Africa,’ it says. In core European business, sales are seen 14% higher, while in South Africa revenue is expected to be 2.2% higher. Group underlying continuing operating profit is expected to increase to at least £47.5 million from £44.5 million on-year, with underlying continuing pretax profit expected to be at least £40.4 million, up from £37.8 million, in line with market expectations. In addition, says Chief Financial Officer James Eyre is stepping down after five years in the role, and 12 years at the business.
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