Playing FTSE

How many runs are England going to lose the next Test by? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves have been doing well this week in the stock market. But the S&P 500 has been ahead of both of them – just... Compass Group is a stock we liked very much when we looked at it earlier this year, but we thought it was expensive. It’s fallen since then, though, and the growth keeps coming. The big question for investors is how far organic sales growth rates are going to fall. Management thinks it might not be much further, though, so how’s it looking now?The big news this week was the UK Autumn Budget. There was a lot speculated before the event, but Steve D has the details of what actually happened on the day. Steve W’s been looking at some stocks that responded positively, but he’s not convinced they were the real winners. And that includes one from his own portfolio…Smiths Group is a FTSE 100 industrial conglomerate (this one’s not a travel retail business). And Steve W’s been steering around it for some time now. That’s changed in the last week or so, though. But while an activist investor is trying to unlock value, is there a chance to buy the stock at a bargain valuation?Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS9:08 COMPASS GROUP21:36 THE BUDGET 48:35 SMITHS GROUP ► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Who’s going to win the Ashes? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!In a down week for the stock market, it’s Steve W who’s been making it happen for the show this week. He’s down slightly less than Steve D – is that what winning looks like?Nvidia’s earnings this week looked pretty good – sales growth was strong and is expected to be strong in the next quarter. But the stock went the wrong way the following day. One reason is the Bitcoin fall, but Steve W thinks there’s more going on. Is the stock market getting suspicious of the firm’s growth with everything going on right now?We haven’t talked about Klarna on the show, but Steve D’s about to change that. With US delinquencies going higher, this seems like a strange time to be thinking about that stock.There’s more than this going on, though. There’s a full-blown bank beneath the surface and if things go wrong with buy-now-pay-later, someone else might be holding the bag…WH Smith finally released the report from Deloitte into its accounting irregularities. And the stock was up as a result, despite the news that this year’s profits are going to be lower. Steve W owns this one and is well down on it. But with some profits moved into the past and some lost, is it worth buying after the latest news?Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:02 NVIDIA26:19 KLARNA46:43 WH SMITH► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Who’s winning 2-0? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W’s matched the S&P 500 this week and Steve D’s not far behind. Despite some big movements, it’s all pretty tight in the stock market this week.3i – one of the FTSE 100’s top performers – crashed at the end of the week. It’s been a bad year for private equity firms, but the company had been holding up well. Steve W thinks he knows what’s going on. And it has less to do with the private equity theme than the ongoing retail theme of falling like-for-like sales growth…Steve D’s been looking at Taylor Wimpey. The latest results look decent and the stock moved a little bit as a result, but there are probably bigger things going on for the firm.The UK Budget is on the way and there’s plenty to focus on there. But is a 9% dividend yield part of the problem or something for investors to get excited about?QXO is a stock most UK investors probably don’t have on their radars, but Steve W thinks they should. He’s got his eye on a 500% gain in the next 10 years. The firm is planning to roll up the building materials industry and it has a CEO with a very impressive track record. There’s a lot of eggs in a basket called “Brad Jacobs”, though.Tecnoglass has released its latest earnings and our resident shareholder - Steve D - is not impressed. Higher costs are weighing on margins and that’s not a good sign. Should he cut bait with this one or wait around for a better environment? Steve W thinks it might still have some promise, but the big question is how long it takes to realise this.Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS7:50 3I25:39 TAYLOR WIMPEY50:41 QXO1:04:18 TECNOGLASS► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Who’s been making hailstones fall? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show.Steve W has had a dreadful week in the stock market and it’s not been better for Spurs on the football pitch. But Steve D’s here to save the show and the week. Rightmove shares crashed on Friday after the company issued its Q3 update. That bit was fine, but there are some lower profit margins on the way with AI investing.Is that enough to justify the stock falling so much? Steve W doesn’t think so, but software stocks in general have been under pressure this week. Steve D has a new name for the show - Coherent. It’s an AI infrastructure plan with the highest-paid CEO in the S&P 500. Figuring out the P/E isn’t entirely straightforward, but they’ve done a nice job of selling off their aerospace and defence business. Definitely one for further consideration…Where can investor find software stocks that aren’t in danger of crashing? Nowhere – but US local government platform provider Tyler Technologies might be worth a look. Steve W thinks its status as an approved provider won’t be easy to emulate. The trouble is, it’s trading at a P/E ratio of 64 and has some pretty high stock-based compensation.Duolingo shares crashed this week after the firm’s update. Steve D’s looking at some slightly light bookings and lower-than-expected user numbers. Steve W’s more concerned about the firm’s moat as it ramp up the number of language courses it offers via AI. But can we find something that stops competitors doing the same?Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS5:35 RIGHTMOVE22:06 COHERENT42:58 TYLER TECH57:03 DUOLINGO► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Who’s doing a Warren Buffett with a secret stock? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show.Steve W has had a dreadful week in the stock market and it’s not been better for Spurs on the football pitch. But Steve D’s here to save the show and the week. Alphabet is hitting new highs after a strong earnings report. Investors are impressed by its Google Cloud results – and future spending – and the stock is going higher. Steve D owns this one and he’s feeling good about the future. And that’s before we get onto the strength of Gemini, YouTube and Waymo, amongst other things…Meta is spending on AI as well, but its share price is going the other way. The stock market doesn’t like its spending on computing power in the hope it’ll need it in the future.Steve W outlines the difference between Meta – on the one hand – and Alphabet, Amazon, and Microsoft on the other right now. There’s clearly risk here, but also potential reward…It’s been another good week for Adyen. The stock is up 11% and the latest earnings report looks strong with some solid growth across the board. There’s a premium price tag, but the Dutch outfit is clearly the class of the field. Steve D’s been on this train for a while, but can anything derail it going forward?Paypal stock continues to flatter to deceive. It trades at a free cash flow multiple of 13 and it’s just signed a deal to provide checkout services for ChatGPT’s e-commerce offering. Except, that multiple is misleading and the deal isn’t what it sounds like. Steve W has the details, but what he can’t work out is where $23bn in cash has gone in the last 10 years.Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS5:49 GOOGLE23:28 META39:39 ADYEN55:56 PAYPAL► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Who buys branded tuna!? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves have nailed it this week – head of the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500. There are 51 other weeks in this year, sadly, but we’ll take the wins where we can get them.Netflix shares fell 10% as earnings came in below expectations. But this was the result of a one-off tax hit in Brazil that’s going to mess up the P/E ratio for the next 12 months.Does that make a buying opportunity? It’s hardly the 2022 situation where everything looked like it was going wrong, but valuation multiples do look a bit more attractive…Another week, another accounting issue at a UK company. This time it’s B&M where the CFO has resigned after a change in software has resulted in an error in cost recognition.We’ve seen this before with WH Smith and Vistry in recent months. Steve W owns both of those stocks, but it’s Steve D who’s looking at this one – what does he think of it?It’s a debut on the show for S&P 500 industrial CNH Industrial. Warren Buffett disciple David Einhorn was buying the stock around a year ago and it’s gone nowhere since. Steve W’s interested in a potential secular growth story. The balance sheet looks like a mess, but with receivables offsetting a lot of debt, is it actually as bad as it looks?There’s a new IPO coming to the UK markets and we’re not talking about the Princes people who make fish and tomatoes. It’s Shawbrook – an upstart fintech. It doesn’t have an app, but who needs one of those when you can make loans with 35% interest rates? Steve D has the details of a bank that looks like it’s doing things differently. Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS6:56 NETFLIX23:11 B&M EUROPEAN BARGAINHOLE43:02 CASE NEW HOLLAND58:21 NEW HOT IPO!► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

► Get a free fractional share!What’s the tail risk for the stock market? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!A big underperformance from one Steve this week and a big outperformance from the other one. But who’s managed to do what?October’s Bank of America Fund Managers Survey suggests investors are worrying about an AI bubble. So we’re revising this theme as a potential stock market crash. Steve W’s been looking at Nvidia’s unusual deals and the question of whether there are echoes of the dot-com bust. Maybe – but there are also some important differences.ASML looks like it’s back on track with its EUV sales. And Steve D has been checking out the situation after the latest earnings report.A strong book-to-bill ratio close to 1 is a very positive sign. So with the company’s moat still intact, is it too late to think about buying shares? LVMH shares are up after a surprise turnaround in revenues. The company is back to growth overall and some of its major divisions are showing positive signs. That means it’s now trading at a P/E ratio of around 27. So is Steve W – who’s well up on his investment – looking to move on to something else? Sartorius shares have been doing very well recently and that’s good news for Steve D. The life sciences lab supplies company looks like it’s on the up after a few disappointing years.Pfizer’s deal with the US government to invest heavily in domestic production should be a big source of future revenues. But what’s Steve’s plan for his investment?Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:45 MORE ON THE AI BUBBLE29:32 ASML45:24 LVMH57:24 SARTORIUS► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

What do hedge fund managers think is going to cause a stock market crash? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!All change this week – Steve W creeps back towards being average as Steve D’s portfolio has an off week. But why’s it a bad week to be Welsh?The stock market is definitely going to crash, the only questions are when and why? One candidate is a bursting AI bubble, which is what Steve D’s been looking at.Steve W’s been looking at the latest data from Bank of America for ideas. Hedge funds are leaning towards inflation as the concern, but this was before Friday’s tariff news…REITs are often popular with dividend investors and Steve W’s been looking at AEW – one we haven’t talked about before. It’s got a 7.5% yield, but that’s not what he’s interested in.Unlike most REITs, the firm has a growth strategy based on short-term lease renewals. It’s been working, too, so is this one for the passive income buy list?Steve D’s been looking at Grainger, the UK’s largest owner of private rental houses. For anyone that’s ever wanted to make money in buy-to-lets, this could be worth a look.The firm is transitioning towards becoming a REIT. And the longer it takes consecutive governments to increase housebuilding, the more rental demand there should be.FTSE 250 pub chain JD Wetherspoon has released its full-year results and the stock is down. But Steve W doesn’t think they were at all bad with growing sales and steady margins.Steve D thinks some cracks are starting to show, though. So should the company really be paying a dividend and buying back shares while increasing its net debt during the year?Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast! ► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS8:50 CRASH INCOMING29:11 AEW UK REIT44:17 GRAINGER1:00:29 SPOONS► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

What is Chinese tapas? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W’s had a below-average week, but Steve D is absolutely running away with it. Or at least, he would be if he hadn’t had such a big lunch…A year has passed since Steve W thought he saw 30% upside in AG Barr shares, so it’s time to check in on that idea. And the results so far have been… mixed.On the one hand, the company has done what it said it would and progress is actually ahead of schedule. On the other hand, however, the stock hasn’t responded as expected.Shares in pharmaceutical companies are up across the board this week as Pfizer managed to strike a deal with the US government. And Steve D has the details. Who were the winners and who were the losers? More importantly – what does it mean for investors looking for stocks to buy across the sector? Greggs shares jumped on the firm’s Q3 trading update. But Steve W couldn’t see anything very good in the FTSE 250 company’s report. Sales growth continues to be weak and it’s actually started going backwards after some signs of improvement. Steve D, however, has a slightly more positive view…Axcelis shares fell this week on news the company plans to merge with Veeco – a similar business elsewhere in the semiconductor production process. Steve D owns this one.There’s nothing unusual in a stock going down in an acquisition deal. But could the cross-selling opportunities and synergies unlocked by the merger make it a smart move?Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS07:23 GREGGS22:40 PHARMA41:04 AG BARR56:51 SEMI MERGER► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

Who does Steve D want to open the England batting? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!It’s the end of Q3 and time to check in on the PlayingTSE portfolios. And the last week hasn’t been a particularly good one for either Steve.Steve W has finally managed to buy a European stock for his portfolio. It’s LVMH, which has actually done quite well over the last three months or so. Elsewhere, there are a couple of new UK additions, one from the FTSE 100 and one from the FTSE 250. But which stock is he thinking about selling in the next three months?Steve D has graduated a couple of stocks up to his main portfolio from the capital incinerator. But he’s been reducing his stake in Walt Disney recently. The big buy in the last quarter has been Bloomsbury. But there are also big additions to the likes of Ashtead Technology to bump up the UK exposure.The Britbox has fared pretty badly over the last three months. And it’s the usual suspects letting the side down, with Greggs continuing to struggle and Diageo doing badly.The Eurobox has had a reasonable three months, but nothing worth paying fees for. Steve W thinks it’s partly due to missing a big boost in defence spending. Only on this week’s PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We’ll analyze what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.Don't miss out! Sign up today and start your journey with us.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS07:26 SW PORTFOLIO23:04 SD PORTFOLIO44:13 BBOX EBOX► Show Notes:What’s been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that’s accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.