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Brexit impasse could still bring a UK general election which could boost polling firm YouGov

Last updated: 16:00 02 Apr 2019 AEDT, First published: 22:00 01 Apr 2019 AEDT

Polling

Given the current Brexit impasse, the possibility of a UK general election in the near future has likely risen, so first-half numbers from polling firm YouGov PLC (LON:YOU) could be of some interest on Tuesday.

The FTSE Small Cap group issued a strong pre-interim close trading update at the end of January which said that full-year numbers would be ahead of expectations.

Analysts at Peel Hunt raised their forecasts then, as a result, and they expect the first-half numbers to show strong organic growth in data and services which is the main focus of the group, while segmental margins are expected to continue to expand.

In a preview, they pointed out: “The company has been testing YouGov Direct for a couple of months. We look to hear on the results of the testing which we expect to be positive.”

Growth to continue at Next Fifteen

Also among the small caps with news, Next Fifteen Communications Group Plc (LON:NFC) will report full-year results although the Peel Hunt analysts are not expecting any surprises given that the digital marketing firm’s firm’s pre-close season update in January also anticipated the numbers to be in line with expectations.

The City broker’s analysts are forecasting Next 15 reporting revenues of £227mln and earnings per share growth of 18% at 32.8p as operating margins rise to 16.3% from 15.3% a year earlier.

The analysts are hoping to hear more about the progress of the group’s plans to merge its Bite and Text100 businesses into a single agency and look for commentary on the current year outlook, especially with the Brexit issue.

Strategic stall already set-out at Hostelworld

Hostelworld Group PLC (LON:HSW) will issue full-year 2018 numbers as well, although these will be distorted by the impact of accounting for fully-cancellable bookings during the year.

On an underlying basis, Peel Hunt’s analysts are forecasting the small-cap hostels-focused booking platform group to post flat full-year revenue, having been slightly higher at the interim stage, however on a reported basis, they see Hostelworld’s revenues falling 6% to €81.6mln, with underlying earnings (EBITDA) dropping by 22% to €20.6mln.

The analysts said: “Management set out its strategic stall at a Capital Markets Day late last year and we are not expecting meaningful progress to have been made since then.

“Indeed the explicit strategy of (Hostelworld) management is to put the business in a position from which it can return to underlying revenue growth only in FY20E.”

Superdry showdown

Away from results, Tuesday also brings Superdry’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to consider the reappointment of founder Julian Dunkerton to the board, along with Peter Williams as a non-executive director.

Press reports have suggested that Dunkerton has the backing of two larger shareholders, with a combined vote of 9.2%, which added to this shareholding and that of fellow founder James Holder will give him control of around a 37% stake.

To be successful in his bid, analysts think that Dunkerton will need to reach around 45% based on a typical EGM turnout.

Significant events expected on Tuesday April  2:

Interims: YouGov PLC (LON:YOU)

Finals: Eden Research PLC (LON:EDEN), Belvoir Lettings PLC (LON:BLV), Next Fifteen Communications Group Plc (LON:NFC), Hostelworld Group PLC (LON:HSW), DP Eurasia NV (LON:DPEU), Hydrogen Group PLC (LON:HYDG), MP Evans Group PLC (LON:MPE), Nucleus Financial Group PLC (LON:NUC), Proteome Sciences plc (LON:PRM), TP Group PLC (LON:TPG), Trinity Exploration & Production PLC (LON:TRIN)

Economic data: UK construction PMI; US durable goods orders

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