Rolls Royce, banking stocks and Smith & Nephew: The Companies and Markets Show
Feb 28, 2025
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James Norrington, author of a deep dive into Rolls-Royce, discusses the company's impressive recovery, marked by a return to dividends and a 20% share price jump. He highlights the transformation in its civil aviation sector amidst post-COVID growth. Meanwhile, Jemma Slingo analyzes the UK banking landscape, revealing mixed performance among major banks while emphasizing opportunities for future growth amid valuation challenges. Both guests tackle insights on Smith & Nephew and other medical tech firms, underscoring market dynamics and investment strategies.
Rolls-Royce is poised for significant growth through 2028, bolstered by improved operational efficiency and a commitment to shareholder returns.
Smith & Nephew faces challenges in revenue recovery amidst activist investor pressures and pandemic-related impacts on elective surgeries.
Deep dives
Rolls-Royce's Positive Outlook
Rolls-Royce reported strong financial results, exceeding profit and cash flow expectations, which positively impacted its share price. The company anticipates substantial EBIT and free cash flow growth up to 2028, reflecting its improving operational efficiency and strategic initiatives. Key investments in technology have enhanced engine performance and reduced operational costs, further solidifying its competitive position in the aerospace sector. Additionally, the announcement of a dividend increase and a major buyback program demonstrates its commitment to returning value to shareholders while maintaining a robust growth trajectory.
Challenges for Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew's recent financial reports showed modest revenue growth, alongside scrutiny from activist investors calling for a strategic breakup of the company. The impact of the pandemic on elective surgeries has hampered its financial performance, exposing underlying vulnerabilities despite recent operational improvements. Ongoing challenges, particularly in the Chinese market and inflationary pressures, complicate its future outlook. Investors remain cautious as the company navigates its turnaround plan while dealing with mixed signals about recovery and profitability.
Unifar's Upgraded Position
Unifar received an upgrade to a buy rating due to promising growth in its MedTech division and a favorable pricing structure compared to consensus estimates. Recent operational improvements and a new distribution center in Dublin are expected to enhance its market presence and profitability. The company's attractive valuation relative to its growth prospects highlights the potential for significant returns in a competitive healthcare landscape. This positive sentiment from analysts underscores Unifar's capacity to capitalize on market opportunities, setting it apart from larger, struggling firms.
Insights into UK Banking Sector
UK banks have rebounded significantly, outperforming many sectors in the FTSE 350, driven by improved profit margins and strategic risk management. Although the recent results prompted a mixed investor reaction, structural hedges are likely to support profitability as interest rates stabilize. Analysts also emphasize the importance of liquidity metrics and return on tangible equity as key indicators of financial health and efficiency within the banking sector. The transition back to a more stable banking environment is seen as positive, but continued scrutiny on valuations remains essential.
Market darling Rolls Royce (RR) is going from strength to strength. After a return to dividends topped with a lucrative buyback, shares were up 20 per cent on the day of recording. James Norrington, author of this Rolls-Royce Deep Dive, unpacks the prospects for the business and everything investors need to know.
Smith & Nephew (SN), a medical equipment manufacturer, continues to improve operating performance. Mark Robinson and Julian Hofmann discuss the company and also touch on what’s going well for med-tech business Uniphar (UPR).
Last but not least, Jemma Slingo unpacks our latest Big Read on banks. It hasn’t been a huge season for guidance upgrades, but there are still positives for the year. Listen to find out more.
Timestamps
1:29 Rolls Royce
10:37 Smith & Nephew
19:15 Banks
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