Playing FTSE

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Oct 26, 2025 • 1h 15min

Netflix Sinks & B&M Stinks - Plus A Hot New IPO!

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.
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Oct 19, 2025 • 1h 10min

Is The AI Bubble About To Burst?

► 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.
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Oct 12, 2025 • 1h 15min

Is A Crash Coming?

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.
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Oct 5, 2025 • 1h 11min

Greggs, AG Barr & Why Pharma Is Rocketing!

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.
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Sep 28, 2025 • 60min

Reviewing Our Portfolios Q3!

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.
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Sep 21, 2025 • 1h 19min

Trumps Market Changes - How Bad Are They For Investors?

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.
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Sep 14, 2025 • 1h 3min

Our Favourite Episode Ever (Re-Release)

► 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.
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Sep 7, 2025 • 1h 17min

Google, Zscaler & The High Yield Financials

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.
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Aug 31, 2025 • 1h 13min

From GPU to Gate Gourmet

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.
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Aug 24, 2025 • 1h 14min

Clockwork Earnings, Soft Cycles and Accounting Blunders

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.

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