...and the rest

The Daily Telegraph

B&Q owner Kingfisher’s like-for-like sales were 5% higher year-on-year in June, compared with a 2% rise for the overall market. The group has an “above average” chance of maintaining its edge over rivals. Lockdown was a huge boost for home improvement and the pandemic introduced many people to “the joys of DIY”. Hold (371p).

Shares

Recent acquisitions by refusespecialist Biffa have cemented its lead in waste-recycling. It has recovered from the crisis more rapidly than expected: revenue for the first five months of the year to 31 August was 12% higher than in the same period of 2019. Earnings forecasts for 2022 and 2023 have risen strongly recently. Buy (385p).

Investors’ Chronicle

Higher demand from private patients boosted operating profits at Spire Healthcare

Group, Britain’s second-biggest private provider, to £46.2m in the six months to 30 June 2021; the previous year it made a loss. Demand should remain robust. Hold (236p).

The Mail on Sunday

Palm oil “is a controversial commodity” but Indonesiabased

MP Evans prides itself on sustainable production, proper treatment of workers and supporting local communities. The company looks after investors too: it has maintained or increased its dividend every year for the last 25 years. The firm has announced a 588% increase in half-year profits to £30m and a doubling of the interim dividend to 10p. It has also pledged to increase the annual dividend by 36% to 30p. Existing shareholders should hold, and new investors “could dip their toes in”(788p).