Playing FTSE

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.

What has more rabbits than people? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Steve D is back from holiday and his portfolio is firing on just about every cylinder available. Steve W hasn’t done badly, but it’s been a great week for the man from Hull…Nearly nobody thinks the US stock market should be more like the UK. But President Trump has floated plans to shift US-listed firms to reporting twice a year. The idea isn’t entirely without merit, but it doesn’t look like an obviously good move. Steve and Steve have some questions – and even the odd answer.Shares in FTSE 250 telecoms company Gamma Communications just keep falling. But they had a big 11% jump after earnings, which reversed itself within half an hour.The stock market can be a volatile place, but it’s not usually as choppy as this. Steve W has a theory about investors misinterpreting the firm’s H1 report.A P/E ratio of 10, a 6.75% dividend yield, and an acyclical business. Is there anything not to like about Pets at Home? Quite a lot actually and it’s pretty much all of the above, along with the firm not having a CEO. Steve D takes a closer look.Judges Scientific is in both our portfolios and the Britbox. So Steve W’s been looking at what we think is one of the UK’s top growth stocks.At least, that’s what it looks like. But with a huge revenue contribution from an extremely erratic business, is there any hope of trying to value this stock at the moment?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 WEEKS8:36 TRUMPS CHANGES26:52 GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS41:07 PETS AT HOME57:43 JUDGES SCIENTIFIC► 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 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:► 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’s Steve W worrying about at the end of the month? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves are ahead of the market this week – or at least, they were when we recorded this week’s show! But one is more ahead than the other…The big story this week is Alphabet’s antitrust case and there are two parts to it. The significance of being forced to share data with competitors is not to be underestimated.The company can, however, keep spending its way to being the default search engine on the iPhone. But does that benefit Alphabet, or Apple?M&G is a new stock for the show and Steve D has been taking a look at the company’s latest update. It’s one that dividend investors might want to have on their radars.A mix of insurance and asset management is a familiar one. But risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing and is this something either Steve can process well enough?Rising bond yields send Legal & General shares to a 9% dividend yield. That’s unusually high, so should investors seize the opportunity?Maybe. But as Steve W outlines, this isn’t just a case where rising yields mean lower share prices – the bond selloff has meaningful consequences for the company’s dividend cover.However we pronounce it, Zscaler is an impressive cybersecurity operation. It doesn’t really make much in the way of free cash flow (after stock-based comp) but who cares?AI looks like a big threat that can drive demand for years to come, but Steve D has his eye on a lot of deferred revenue. Is this any different to Crowdstrike?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 WEEKS7:13 GOOGLE ANTITRUST25:45 M&G42:55 LEGAL & GENERAL59:32 ZSCALER► 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’s Steve D been doing with his plums? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Matching results this week for the Steves. Both down, both in between the FTSE 100 and the S&P 500, but both the same – not a particularly noteworthy performance.Nvidia’s remarkable growth story continues, but how remarkable actually is it? It’s twice Alphabet’s market cap for half the revenues and Steve W isn’t sure that’s a good deal.On top of that, there’s the China issue to think about. That’s weighing on guidance at the moment, but could things come through better than expected in Q3?Gamma Communications is a stock UK investors have been talking about for a while. But despite growing steadily, it’s down 33% over the last five years. It turns out remote working isn’t as much of a thing as people thought, but the business is impressive. And at a P/E ratio below 15, is it now in value territory?Steve D has a look at the latest earnings from Crowdstrike. Revenue growth is impressive and it’s fast-establishing itself as an indispensable part of business tech. So far, though, it hasn’t generated any cash net of share buybacks. So is a market cap north of $100bn too much for a company that still requires investors to wait?SSPG does not stand for Steve, Steve, and Paul. It’s a FTSE 250 travel retail company, with names like Upper Crust,and Caffe Ritazza, as well as some well-known franchises.With WH Smith in the middle of an accounting scandal, is the stock worth checking out? UBS has a Sell rating on it, but does Steve W have a more positive view?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 WEEKS8:43 NVIDIA26:40 GAMMA COMMUNICATIONS40:56 CROWDSTRIKE58:52 SSP► 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 in Steve D’s Fantasy Football team? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Both Steves seem to have solved the stock market this week, with portfolios going up on days where the S&P 500 has gone down. But only one has outperformed this week…Shares in WH Smith crashed 42% on Thursday after the company issued a profit warning. But it bounced back 11% on Friday as investors took in the news. Steve W is a shareholder. Accounting irregularities are never a welcome development, but is this a buying opportunity, or could there be more revelations on the way?Steve D has a new stock for the show. Morgan Advanced Materials makes speciality products for industries like aerospace, semiconductors, and clean energy.These are obviously cyclical and have been out of fashion recently. But is this the time to grab a bargain with the stock trading at some fairly modest multiples at the moment?Brown & Brown is a stock we haven’t covered before. But it has a familiar business model – it aims to build scale through acquisitions in an important market.The share price has faltered recently, with a softer insurance market weighing on profits for brokers. That, however, looks like a cyclical situation, so could this be an opportunity?Adyen shares usually go up a lot or down a lot after the company’s earnings reports. They went down this time, but only for a short while before recovering fairly well. The payment processing business increased revenues at its standard 20% and operating profits grew faster. And, of course, it’s time for our usual PayPal comparisons…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 WEEKS6:50 WH SMITH22:17 MORGAN ADVANCED MATERIALS42:35 BROWN & BROWN55:47 ADYEN► 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 gone from a partnership to a limited company? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Steve W’s away on holiday this week, but before he went away he sat down with Jamie from Stocks and Savings to catch up. It’s been a while, so how are they getting on?Jamie and Andreea have gone from being an Instagram operation to running a podcast of their own. And they’re storming up the Apple podcast charts…Axon Enterprise is one of the stocks that we haven’t really talked about much on the show. And it’s hard to see why, since there’s a lot to like about the business. Dominating a niche with software margins is very impressive. But is there any way around the fact the company pays out more in stock-based compensation than it makes in cash?Last time we spoke, Jamie’s portfolio was behind the wider market, but that was a tough time for growth stocks. With things improving recently, has he managed to catch up?Our guest has a pretty specific set of criteria for finding stocks to buy, inspired by a name that should be familiar to listeners. But he also thinks this is likely to change over time…Rolls Royce? Diageo? Nvidia? Jamie from Stocks and Savings plays Steve W’s game ‘Stocks? Or Savings?’. But which of the shares on Steve’s list does he actually own?In an unusual twist, Jamie’s also got a stock of his own for the team to consider. It’s MercadoLibre – which both Steves used to own – but don’t any longer…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/SNSBONUS. 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 STOCKS & SAVINGS INTERVIEW11:39 AXON PITCH41:32 JAMIES STOCK PICKING STYLE56:41 QUICKFIRE ROUND & MELI ► 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 a “Broista”? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!Mixed fortunes for the Steves this week in the stock market. It’s a return to normality for Steve D, but Steve W has underperformed just about everything. Diageo’s full-year results caused the stock to climb 10% – but Steve W owns the stock and didn’t see the results as terribly positive.It’s not long ago that investors were told to expect 5% per year in organic growth at least. Never mind, at least Gen Z are actually drinking more than they say they are, right?Toast continues to go from strength to strength. The business, that is – the stock is down almost 10% this week after Q2 earnings showed a lower take rate. The firm is branching into bigger businesses and retailers, so the decline is natural. But is the stock starting to emerge from under investor radars and become more mainstream?Steve W’s been looking at Airbnb, which fell this week after its Q2 results. The market didn’t take kindly to an announcement of a big investment in Experiences. This has been tried before and didn’t work – but maybe this time it really is different. Steve D was on the edge of selling not long ago, but might he go the other way now?Dutch Brothers – a Steve D favourite – is putting up impressive numbers. Like-for-like sales growth across the coffee chain’s outlets is above 6%, which is very strong.Equally impressive is the fact the firm has achieved this without putting up prices. That’s key to the firm’s value proposition for customers… as is the amount of sugar in its drinks.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 WEEKS8:57 DIAGEO21:00 TOAST36:35 AIRBNB50:46 DUTCH BROS ► 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 happened with Rentokil this week? Find out on this week’s PlayingFTSE Show!It’s not been a good week for either Steve – or the FTSE 100, or the S&P 500. Steve W’s in between the indexes and Steve D’s below them both. Taylor Wimpey is the latest addition to Steve D’s portfolio. But the firm made a loss and lowered its dividend as a result of cladding provisions during the first half of the year.That, however, should be a one-off thing. And Steve W has some macroeconomic data to support the idea that the construction industry could be about to pick up.Amazon’s share price fell sharply after the firm’s Q2 earnings report. And not just because tariff news sent the stock market down more generally. Steve W is putting it down to weak guidance for operating profits in Q3. So is the falling share price an opportunity to get back to buying the stock?Transmedics has been having an outstanding year so far in 2025. The stock market has responded well to the company’s latest earnings report – and for good reason.Revenues are profits growing strongly and the firm is working on the next iteration of its product lineup. All of that bodes well for Steve D’s investment. We’ve had a request to talk about Croda International’s latest earnings report. The stock market didn’t like it at all, but Steve W thinks the picture is more mixed. The dividend is up despite lower free cash flows and sales are growing, but not as quickly as they were. So what should Jamie from Stocks and Savings make of the report?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: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!)There are many ways to help support the show, liking, commenting and sharing our episodes with friends! You can also check out our clothing merch store: https://playingftse.teemill.com/We get a small cut of anything you buy which will be reinvested back into the show...► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:38 TAYLOR WIMPEY EARNINGS DEEP DIVE35:47 AMAZON48:20 TRANSMEDICS58:15 CRODA► 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 Twitter: https://twitter.com/playingftseshow Or 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.