FTSE 250 movers: PayPoint, Crest Nicholson in favour
By Frank Prenesti
Date: Thursday 12 Jun 2025
(Sharecast News) - FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,371.76 -0.26%
Shares in PayPoint sparked on Thursday, after it posted an uptick in revenues and said it had taken "significant steps" towards its full-year earnings target.
The tech firm, which provides in-store and online payment services, said revenues rose 1.4% in the year to 31 March, to £310.7m.
Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation jumped 10.7% at £90m.
Pre-tax profits fell 45%, however, to £26.3m, on the back of one-off costs, including legal fees and accelerated amortisation.
Nick Wiles, chief executive, said: "These results reflect both the resilience of our business in the current challenging economic environment and the impact of our growing capabilities as we unlock further opportunities and growth across our four business divisions.
He added that the company had also taken "further significant steps" towards delivering EBITDA of £100m by the end of the current year.
PayPoint also published longer-term targets, including net revenue growth in the range of 5% and 8% by the end of the 2028 full-year and reducing at least 20% of the issued share capital.
Wiles said: "Our continued confidence in the growth opportunities in the business, and the execution of our plan to deliver strong earnings growth and cash flow generation, combined with a sustained dividend policy, provide a robust platform for the board to further enhance shareholder returns through an increased and extended share buyback programme of at least £30m per annum until the end of March 2028."
House builder Crest Nicholson on Thursday held annual guidance after a rise in adjusted half-year earnings amid an easing in mortgage costs as interest rates fall.
Adjusted pre-tax profit rose to £7.9m from £2.6m. Completions fell to 739 from 788 as the company switched focus to open market homes in the mid premium segment to increase profitability. Forward orders for the full year were 763 units at the end of May.
On a statutory basis, the company swung to a £9.4m profit after a £31m loss last year.
"Trading in the first half of the financial year was in line with expectations with a stronger than anticipated balance sheet position at the period end. sales have continued to progress in line with expectations in the first few weeks of the second half of the financial year," the company said.
"We remain mindful of volatility in the macroeconomic backdrop, which continues to impact consumers through concerns around affordability and job security. However, the market is now starting to benefit from increased lender support and better mortgage affordability as the interest rate environment starts to ease."
"Planning reforms continue to move slowly but positively. As such, we anticipate further stabilisation in the trading environment in the second half of the year."
Crest added that it was not experiencing any major build cost inflationary pressures, either from wages or materials prices.
FTSE 250 - Risers
PayPoint (PAY) 796.00p 4.74%
Great Portland Estates (GPE) 357.50p 4.53%
ITV (ITV) 82.80p 4.48%
Endeavour Mining (EDV) 2,322.00p 3.85%
WH Smith (SMWH) 1,109.00p 3.55%
Crest Nicholson Holdings (CRST) 195.90p 3.49%
FirstGroup (FGP) 225.20p 3.40%
Ithaca Energy (ITH) 155.00p 2.92%
Genus (GNS) 2,015.00p 2.60%
NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red (NESF) 71.80p 1.99%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Diversified Energy Company (DEC) 1,031.00p -5.84%
Mobico Group (MCG) 26.00p -4.83%
IntegraFin Holding (IHP) 312.50p -4.43%
Alpha Group International (ALPH) 3,002.50p -3.92%
Auction Technology Group (ATG) 463.00p -3.84%
SDCL Efficiency Income Trust (SEIT) 47.40p -3.66%
Carnival (CCL) 1,559.00p -3.44%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 47.85p -3.24%
RS Group (RS1) 564.50p -3.01%
3i Infrastructure (3IN) 352.50p -2.89%
Email this article to a friend
or share it with one of these popular networks:
You are here: news
10 Lower Thames St,
London EC3R 6EN