Dearg Doom
deargdoom.bsky.social
Dearg Doom
@deargdoom.bsky.social
A daily adrenaline rush to read and interpret results, takeovers, and general business news.
Exited both!

Halfords #HFD 141p
"Optimism Bias"—constantly promising a "Fusion" strategy that investors currently now viewing with skepticism.

​WH Smith #SMWH 635p
Suffering from "Complexity Fatigue"— pivot to global travel supposed to be seamless, but the management lost its grip on accounting.
December 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
​Rank #RNK
Share Price 98.4p (-6.6%)

Hit by €7.1m fraud in Spanish units Enracha & Yo.

​In reality, a small loss vs market cap, but internal control questions remain.

A once-off fraud or more to come? I'm not yet ready to gamble.

Just, more surprised, SP held up as good, post UK Budget.
December 22, 2025 at 3:33 PM
📉 DCC plc #DCC
Share Price 4706p (-5.43%)

Completed its £600m tender offer, buying back ~11.6m shares at £51.70 (~12% of issued stock) and cancelling them.

Yet, SP less than strike price —suggesting sentiment is weak. �

A Core Holding!
A decent long term investment.
Have to add on bargain price.
December 22, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Strix plc #KETL
Share Price 46.75p

I put the jig saw pieces together over the weekend. Ltle downside from here.

Mgmt can now focus on the control division, deal with copyists, innovations tarrifs, and no debts.

No surge in SP at the open.
Quickly doubled my position.

What will institutions do?
December 22, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Strix ​$KETL
Share Price 47p (+15.6%)

Billi sale is the ultimate "Get Out of Jail" card.

​No more operating under the bank’s thumb or dodging 2.75x debt rules.

Every decision is now for growth, not survival.

​New mgmt = clean closets
All now about selling controls.

I just bought a core holding!
December 19, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Strix ​#KETL
Share Price 47p (+15.6%)

Why hasn't SP jumped even further? 📉

Growth investors v Value!

1️⃣ Growth funds exiting as Billi (the star) leaves.

2️⃣ Macro fears on China/Tariffs.

3️⃣ Mgmt transition in 2026.

​But for value seekers,"Debt Overhang" can disapear.

Re-rating will take time. ⏳
December 19, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Strix ​#KETL
Share Price 45.7p (+12.5%)

Selling Billi for £110m!

🤯 Investors effectively get the world-leading kettle controls biz for "free."Net debt wiped out, £37m cash buffer.

Will take time to forgive mgmt and re-rate, as a Low Risk (Value/Income play)

Deal must get done.
I'm buying here.
December 19, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Whitbread #WTB
Share Price 2570p (+5.6%)

I know now why SP jumped!
Was content to keep averaging down lower.

Realising hotel rooms may get more difficult to fill because of consumer discretionary trends of not going places.

A core holding already acquired

Will watch CORVAX and their intentions!
December 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Saga #SAGA
Share Price: 353p

Funds received from Ageas as the insurance partnership goes live.

A simpler model, clearer earnings and sentiment turning positive after years of disappointment.

Leverage fears fade!

Off-loading a few shares on the way up.

The sun at last keeps shining!

Fair Value
December 16, 2025 at 11:17 AM
8 tech-leaders sitting on a beam!

Worth framing!
December 12, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Whitbread #WTB
Share Price 2360p

​Jefferies sees "strong market positioning & solid execution" but concerned by weak earnings momentum & capital allocation strategy, noting medium-term plan timing offers "little offset" to current challenges

Been averaging down.

My bullish sentiment is weakening.
December 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
💥 Card Factory #CARD
Share Price 74p (-23%)

Difference between the market's expected adj PBT of £70M and the new guidance of £55M - £60M is the core of the disappointment.

IMO. Other retailers creating space for cheaper cards is hurting #CARD's niche.

Likely to see similar warning in December '26
December 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Brookfield Asset Mgmt $BAM
Share Price $54.59

☆ Predictable fees
☆ High-quality real assets
☆ Conservative leverage
☆ A global diversification buffer

A solid long track record

Some loose or unusual accounting methods used. Hmm...

However still bought an initial position. Seeking slow compounding
December 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Year Ahead(IMO)

At best, Dec ’26 indices finish only 2–3% above their Dec ’25 close.

Profits do rise next year, but likely share face further P/E derating.

US growth holds up; but Europe and the UK remain flat.

Some firms gain market share even as the overall market shrinks.

Now how to shuffle!
December 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Uber Technology $UBER
Share Price $83.50 (↓5.7%)

Drop driven mainly by competitor moves & market sentiment

Risks include watching regulatory/labour costs, margin pressure, macro risks, execution, and pricing competition

Plenty of room for other competitors.

SP may fall further, but I added more!
December 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Auto Trader Group #AUTO
Share Price 597p (+0%)

It's interesting to hear a criticism of AutoTrader.

In the last month, the AutoTrader Share price is down 20%.

Are there structural problems?

Just watching and learning.

youtu.be/twXVoomxT0c?...
AutoTrader in SECRET CRISIS MEETINGS After Losing £1.3bn!
YouTube video by Shifting Metal
youtu.be
December 9, 2025 at 1:43 PM
SAGA plc #SAGA
Share Price 329p (+3.6%)

My "oversized position" looks like a bargain in hindsight.

Of course, it was high risk/reward!

Seems prudent now to reduce my Saga holdings by 40%.

The remaining 60% holding is large enough to remain a core holding.

I can be patient with the balance.
December 9, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Nomad Foods $NOMD
Share Price $11.91

Adding slowly to build a core holding

Nomad's share price is "relatively cheap". Short-term headwinds are apparent.

Not expecting much.
Giving it a year to work on margins.

Profitability under threat, but confident mgmt's plan should improve matters.

A Hold.
December 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Big Technologies #BIG
Share Price 67p (+6.7%)

A sentiment change might see SP climb back to 80p level in the short term.

Felt SP fall was over punished pending likely litigation outcomes.

I'm focusing on the #BIG cash level, new contracts & profit guidance.

A High Risk/Reward Core Holding!
December 8, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Big Technologies #BIG
Share Price 66.5p (+5.7%)

Sentiment is the key to the lock

Yes, litigation concerns continue to scare!

Falling SP is a jail "sentence" that is being paid by holders.

But, TU and the new contracts announced today help.

Pushing my doubts away.
Feeling released to add more.
December 8, 2025 at 11:14 AM
SAGA plc #SAGA
Share Price 317p (+8%)

No RNS news yet – market left to speculate

What’s not known?

Possibly improvement on the insurance side, a surprise strategic move, or even takeover chatter

Potential earnings upgrade looks more likely

Reducing holding a little in case the weather changes.
December 8, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Saga plc #SAGA
Share Price: 292p (+8.2%)

No fresh RNS.
No meaningful short interest.
Nothing from social chatter.

SP pushing higher

Today’s trading volume is well above the daily average.

Sometimes enough to draw in momentum buyers…

Is it just noise before the weekend? Doubt it.

A Core Holding
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Trustpilot plc #TRST
Share Price 129.2p (pre-open)

Shorters may try to drive the price lower at the 8:00 a.m. open after yesterday’s fear-filled drop.

Once negative sentiment pauses, a sharp rebound looks likely.

Bought for a trade — will add further on any early SP dip.

youtu.be/_xnX-29QA5E?...
Trustpilot's commitment to transparency
YouTube video by Trustpilot
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Trustpilot #TRST
Share Price 128p (-33%)

Shares plunge after short-seller claims “mafia-style” tactics: businesses pressured to pay or face negative reviews

History repeats itself – stock likely still overvalued, but if claims are overblown, could be approaching a buy zone

Tempted with Play Money
December 4, 2025 at 4:26 PM