SHARE PUNT OF THE WEEK

PRICE: 5.5p

WHAT IS IT? The People’s Operator, known as TPO, is a mobile phone provider which does not have its own infrastructure. Instead, it piggybacks on Three’s network, in a similar way to how Tesco Mobile uses O2’s signal.

The company’s unique selling point is that it allows customers to donate 10pc of their phone bill to a charity of their choice.

WHAT’S THE LATEST? The company, which floated in 2014, was marred by technical issues in its transition from 3G to 4G in the US. It has also been hit by very high levels of cash burn, which saw its share price plunge to 2.5p.

But in March, a trading update showed revenue for the 12 months ended December 31 was £3.6m. It also saw US revenue grow 25.6pc in the first two months of 2017.

WHO BACKS IT? One of its largest shareholders is the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, who also serves as a non-executive director. He owns a 4.3pc stake in the firm. Its largest shareholder is Juliet Rosenfeld, who was previously an adviser to the communications secretary in the UK Government.

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST The firm’s share price has yet to rise to reflect its improving outlook, and with its final results due out soon it could be a great recovery play.

If the growth continues and it has kept an eye on costs, as it has suggested in previous updates, then much more growth could be on the horizon.

…AND WHY YOU SHOULDN’T There is no guarantee the full-year results will be strong, so it may be suited to a punt rather than a large investment. Tech firms can be cashhungry and it can take a long time for profits to materialise – if they ever do.