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        <title>Moonpig.com Limited (LSE:MOON) Share Price, History, &amp; News | The Motley Fool UK</title>
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	<title>Moonpig.com Limited (LSE:MOON) Share Price, History, &amp; News | The Motley Fool UK</title>
	<link>https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/</link>
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                                <title>3 top FTSE 250 growth stocks to consider for an ISA today</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/04/19/3-top-ftse-250-growth-stocks-to-consider-for-an-isa-today/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:35:55 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben McPoland]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1676244</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Here are three excellent stocks from the FTSE 250 that are trading at reasonable valuations considering their growth potential. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/04/19/3-top-ftse-250-growth-stocks-to-consider-for-an-isa-today/">3 top FTSE 250 growth stocks to consider for an ISA today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The <strong>FTSE 250</strong> is home to a handful of small quality growth firms, in my opinion. What&#8217;s more, these stocks are typically valued a lot more cheaply than in the US.</p>



<p>Here are three UK growth shares to check out in April.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moonpig">Moonpig </h2>



<p><strong>Moonpig</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>) is the UK and Netherlands&#8217; leading online greeting card firm, with over 12m active customers. </p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2021-04-19" data-end-date="2026-04-19" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>I&#8217;m one of these customers, and I use it all the time to send personalised cards. And I&#8217;m not alone because Moonpig enjoys tremndous loyalty, with roughly 91% of revenue coming from existing customers. </p>



<p>Looking ahead, this should create a solid base for continued expansion. For fiscal year 2026, ending 30 April, the firm expects adjusted earnings per share growth to be as much as 12%.</p>



<p>The stock&#8217;s trading at 11.5 times forward earnings, which is attractive considering the board just announced a new £65m <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-the-market/share-buybacks/">share buyback</a> programme for FY27. There&#8217;s also a near-2% forward <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/dividend-yield/">dividend yield</a>, which could grow nicely over time (no guarantees, of course).</p>



<p>One potential risk I see is further pressure on consumer budgets (sadly, a common theme today). However, UK online card penetration is still only 6% by value, suggesting there&#8217;s a strong secular growth story unfolding here. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hollywood-bowl">Hollywood Bowl </h2>



<p>Next, we have <strong>Hollywood Bowl</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-bowl/">LSE:BOWL</a>), the UK&#8217;s largest ten-pin bowling operator. The stock&#8217;s also trading at around 11.5 times forward earnings, but offering a much larger 5.1% forecast yield. </p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Hollywood Bowl Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:BOWL" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2021-04-19" data-end-date="2026-04-19" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>Beyond the income potential, I like the company&#8217;s growth prospects. By 2035, it expects to have 130 centres, up from 93 today. And a growing number are expected to be in Canada, where it&#8217;s successfully applying its UK expansion playbook.  </p>



<p>Again, consumer spending pressure is the biggest risk, exacerbated by rising inflation. But in the six months to 31 March, revenue rose  9.5% to £141.5m, with 2.6% like-for-like sales growth in the UK. </p>



<p>Therefore, the company&#8217;s showing resilience in a tough market. It makes me wonder how well this business could do in future if and when the cost-of-living crisis eases. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genus">Genus</h2>



<p>The third stock is animal genetics specialist <strong>Genus</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-gns/">LSE:GNS</a>). The stock&#8217;s up 62% in one year but down 50% over five.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Genus Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:GNS" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>Now, this one isn&#8217;t conventionally cheap because it&#8217;s trading at 25 forward earnings. However, the long-term growth could be substantial due to the company&#8217;s PRRS-resistant pig programme (PRP).</p>



<p>What on earth is that? Well, PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) is a devastating viral disease that causes reproductive failure in sows and respiratory illness in piglets. It has long been the bane of the global swine industry (losing around $1.2bn per year in the US alone). </p>



<p>Genus has used gene-editing (CRISPR) technology to produce PRRS-resistant pigs. Canada has approved use of the PRP gene edit, while Genus is making progress with other key international regulators, including China, Mexico, and Japan.</p>



<p>Of course, the big risk here is Chinese or US regulators rejecting these gene-edited pigs. But brokers are getting excited about the potential for high-margin royalties from this programme. </p>



<p>For example, house broker Panmure Liberum recently told clients: &#8220;<em>We remain of the view that Genus is a multi-year growth story and that it stands a reasonable chance of being a <strong>FTSE 100</strong> stock by 2030</em>.&#8221; </p>



<p>That&#8217;s an exciting prospect, considering Genus&#8217; current £1.7bn market cap.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/04/19/3-top-ftse-250-growth-stocks-to-consider-for-an-isa-today/">3 top FTSE 250 growth stocks to consider for an ISA today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>1 top FTSE 250 growth stock to consider for an ISA in April</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/03/28/1-top-ftse-250-growth-stock-to-consider-for-an-isa-in-april/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 08:33:11 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben McPoland]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1666102</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This FTSE 250 growth stock has fallen 20% since June, creating what looks like an interesting opportunity, argues Ben McPoland.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/03/28/1-top-ftse-250-growth-stock-to-consider-for-an-isa-in-april/">1 top FTSE 250 growth stock to consider for an ISA in April</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>After sliding over 11% in a month, the <strong>FTSE 250</strong> index looks great value again. And many mid-cap stocks that appear to have years of potential growth left in the tank now appear cheap.</p>



<p>Here&#8217;s one high-quality FTSE 250 growth share that I think deserves closer attention in April.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-moonpig">Moonpig</h2>



<p>With over 12m active customers, <strong>Moonpig</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>) is the&nbsp;leading online greeting card company in the UK and Netherlands. And despite low consumer confidence, the firm&#8217;s still managing to grow, suggesting it&#8217;s capitalising on a strong secular trend. </p>



<p>For fiscal 2026 (FY26), ending April, Moonpig expects high single digit percentage revenue growth. Growth in adjusted earnings per share is anticipated to be as much as 12%, driven by strong free cash flow generation and the impact of this year&#8217;s £60m <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-the-market/share-buybacks/">share buyback</a>.</p>



<p>Speaking of which, the board has authorised a £65m buyback for FY27. This indicates Moonpig is clearly confident in its growth prospects.</p>



<p>Beyond the strong brand and market-leading position, Moonpig&#8217;s data advantage stands out to me. It has over <span style="text-decoration: underline">107m</span> customer occasion reminders (birthdays, anniversaries, etc), which it uses very effectively to drive repeat business. </p>



<p>Indeed, an impressive 90.9% of revenue was generated from existing customers in H1 (up from 88.3% the year before). I believe this large and growing database gives Moonpig a significant edge over rivals. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-compelling-customer-proposition">Compelling customer proposition</h2>



<p>Speaking as a customer myself, I like designing a card online and having it delivered. It&#8217;s far better than rushing to the supermarket at the last minute to rummage around the shelves for a generic card. </p>



<p>What started as a personalised birthday card for my daughter a while back has mushroomed into birthday cards for other loved ones. And Christmas cards and a funny engagement card for my mate recently. </p>



<p>At some point soon, I&#8217;ll probably join the Moonpig Plus annual subscription service, which now has over 1m members. </p>



<p>Also worth mentioning are the AI-generated stickers and audio or video messages, which allow highly personalised cards and inside jokes. These are now very popular.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cheap-stock">Cheap stock</h2>



<p>Moonpig&#8217;s revenue has surged from £173m in FY20 to an expected £400m next year. And <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-company-accounts/the-profit-and-loss-account/">net profit</a> is set to almost double over this time. </p>



<p>Yet, the share price has crashed around 51% since the firm listed in 2021.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2021-03-26" data-end-date="2026-03-28" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>Today, the stock trades cheaply at just 11 times FY27&#8217;s forecast earnings. The firm has also started paying a small but growing dividend (the forward yield is around 2%).</p>



<p>What could go wrong? Well, Moonpig&#8217;s Experiences segment (spa days, stadium tours, etc) has struggled. And rising inflation could see some struggling customers cut back on personalised cards. </p>



<p>Then again, the UK is arguably the greeting card capital of the world. We send them not just for birthdays and Christmas, but for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, to say &#8216;Thinking of You&#8217;, &#8216;Get Well&#8217;, or to congratulate someone on getting a promotion.</p>



<p>Yet today, online card penetration is still only 6% by volume and 15% by value in the UK. Then there&#8217;s international potential. This suggests Moonpig has a large market opportunity ahead of it, making the stock worth looking at in April.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/03/28/1-top-ftse-250-growth-stock-to-consider-for-an-isa-in-april/">1 top FTSE 250 growth stock to consider for an ISA in April</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>2 top stocks to consider from the FTSE 250 in March</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/03/02/2-top-stocks-to-consider-from-the-ftse-250-in-march/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:02:11 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben McPoland]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1655698</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These FTSE 250 stocks are already leaders in their markets, but Ben McPoland thinks they still have years of growth left in the tank. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/03/02/2-top-stocks-to-consider-from-the-ftse-250-in-march/">2 top stocks to consider from the FTSE 250 in March</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p><strong>FTSE 250</strong> stocks are enjoying a renaissance after a 23% rise in the mid-cap index in two years. As such, many shares aren&#8217;t as cheap as they were in early 2024.</p>



<p>However, there are still some potentially lucrative long-term opportunities, especially in growth stocks. Here are a pair of FTSE 250 shares that I think are worth researching further today.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-market-leader">A market leader </h2>



<p>First up is <strong>Moonpig</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>), the leading online greeting card company in the UK and the Netherlands. It offers an&nbsp;extensive range of cards, curated gifts, and personalisation features. </p>



<p>Moonpig&#8217;s due to release a trading statement on 18 March. But in the six months to 31 October, the firm reported a 6.7% uptick in revenue to £168.6m, with adjusted earnings per share rising 13.1%. </p>



<p>Second-half trading up to early December had been &#8220;<em>encouraging</em>&#8220;. And in a show of confidence in its prospects, Moonpig hiked the interim dividend 25%. </p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2021-03-01" data-end-date="2026-03-02" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>Mind you, the forecast yield is still modest at 1.85%. And if the UK economy were to hit the rocks, the company&#8217;s growth could slow as consumers cut back on curated cards and gifts. </p>



<p>However, the FTSE 250 stock trades at 12 times forward earnings, which isn&#8217;t expensive for a digital-first firm that boasts a strong <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/return-on-equity-and-return-on-capital-employed/">return on capital</a>. It&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-the-market/share-buybacks/">buying back</a> up to&nbsp;£60m worth of shares in FY26. </p>



<p>Moonpig now has over 12m customers, with a database of 107m customer occasions. This data allows the company to predict what cards or gifts customers might like based on previous purchases and upcoming calendar events. </p>



<p>I use the firm&#8217;s app to create personalised birthday cards for my daughter, and I like the AI-generated stickers you can create. I’m not alone. Over 50% of customers are now using its innovative creative features to make their cards more personal.</p>



<p>Looking ahead, I&#8217;m bullish on the company&#8217;s growth prospects. There&#8217;s a long-term structural shift from offline to online card buying, and Moonpig is a market leader with a strong brand. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-another-leader">Another leader</h2>



<p>Next, I want to highlight <strong>Hollywood Bowl</strong>&nbsp;(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-bowl/">LSE:BOWL</a>), which is the UK and Canada&#8217;s largest 10-pin bowling operator.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Hollywood Bowl Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:BOWL" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2021-03-02" data-end-date="2026-02-02" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>What I like here is that the business is showing resilience during a tough period of weak consumer spending. In the 12 months to the end of September, like-for-like revenue in the UK and Canada grew 1.1% and 3.2% respectively.</p>



<p>However, spend per game was up 9.2% in the UK and 14.8% in Canada. So the firm&#8217;s managing to sell more food and drink to customers when they&#8217;re inside. It has also invested £11m in new amusement machines and is increasing its mini-golf offer.</p>



<p>Total revenue rose 8.8% last year to £250.7m, with a record five new sites opened in the UK and two in Canada. The growth opportunity in Canada looks attractive because the 10-pin bowling market there is very fragmented.</p>



<p>Similar to Moonpig, any deterioration in the economy would present a risk. However, it&#8217;s worth noting that a family of four can bowl in the UK for £26. So Hollywood Bowl offers value for money at a time when families are sadly struggling financially.  </p>



<p>The company&#8217;s on track to reach 130 centres by 2035, up from 92 at the end of September. And the stock&#8217;s reasonably priced at 11 times forward earnings while sporting a 5% yield.</p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/03/02/2-top-stocks-to-consider-from-the-ftse-250-in-march/">2 top stocks to consider from the FTSE 250 in March</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>Is the FTSE 250 set for a rip-roaring comeback in 2026?</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/12/24/is-the-ftse-250-set-for-a-rip-roaring-comeback-in-2026/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben McPoland]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Value Shares]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1620196</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>With the FTSE 250 index trading very cheaply, Ben McPoland reckons this market-leading tech stock's worthy of attention in 2026.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/12/24/is-the-ftse-250-set-for-a-rip-roaring-comeback-in-2026/">Is the FTSE 250 set for a rip-roaring comeback in 2026?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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<p>The <strong>FTSE 250</strong>&#8216;s performed poorly for what seems like ages now. Even in 2025, when most indexes have surged 15%-20% (including the <strong>FTSE 100</strong>), the mid-cap index has risen by around 8%, before dividends.</p>



<p>Over the past five years, the FTSE 250&#8217;s total return has only been around 34%. That&#8217;s not great. But with the new year nearly upon us, might 2026 be the FTSE 250&#8217;s time to shine?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-wrong">What&#8217;s wrong? </h2>



<p>Unlike the FTSE 100, the FTSE 250 contains a lot of domestically-focused companies. Around half of revenue comes from these shores, making it more of a barometer for the health of the UK economy.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, as we&#8217;re all aware, the economy&#8217;s flatlined for a long time now, with very poor productivity rates. We can argue till the cows come home what the structural barriers preventing UK economic growth are. But in my opinion, stifling regulation and high taxes are two key contributing factors.</p>



<p>The UK also has some of the world&#8217;s highest energy bills. So it&#8217;s incredibly expensive to manufacture things here and operate businesses, which is obviously having a negative impact. Consumers also have less disposable income due to this.</p>



<p>Combine this with anaemic economic growth and it&#8217;s easy to see why the UK&#8217;s mid-cap share index continues to underwhelm. This is a shame because there are some cracking companies in the FTSE 250.</p>



<p>Another thing holding the index back is the poor performance of <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/isas-and-investment-funds/investment-trusts/">investment trusts</a>. They make up around a third of the constituents but trade at an average 13% discount to their underlying asset values.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-2026">What about 2026?</h2>



<p>Given all this, I don&#8217;t see the FTSE 250 having a rip-roaring 2026. But lower interest rates could help by boosting retail stocks while also potentially luring money back into undervalued investment trusts. So if the UK economy doesn’t weaken, I think the FTSE 250 will rise in 2026. </p>



<p>Currently, the index trades at 13 <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/pe-ratio/">times earnings</a> versus around 18 for the FTSE 100. This suggests there are plenty of undervalued mid-cap shares waiting to be found.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cheap-shares">Cheap shares</h2>



<p>I think <strong>Moonpig</strong>&#8216;s (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>) potentially one of them. The stock&#8217;s fallen 21% since June and 50%+ since listing in 2021.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2021-02-02" data-end-date="2025-12-24" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>Now around 200p, it&#8217;s trading at just 10.8 times next year&#8217;s forecast earnings. My view is that this is cheap for the UK&#8217;s leading online greetings card company, which has over 12m customers.</p>



<p>Crucially, Moonpig has a vast database of 107m customer occasion reminders (birthdays, anniversaries, etc). So it knows when a customer needs to buy a card and/or gift for someone, which is incredibly valuable for repeat sales. </p>



<p>Of course, the tough UK retail market backdrop undoubtedly adds risk. But in the six months to the end of October, revenue rose 6.7% to £169m, boosted by expansion into Ireland, Australia and the US. Overseas sales jumped more than 32%, while earnings are growing by double digits.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, more customers are signing up for the Moonpig Plus subscription service, as well as using AI-generated stickers, audio and video messages. I&#8217;ve recently started using the app myself (it saves me trips to my local <strong>Tesco</strong> for cards!).</p>



<p>I think Moonpig&#8217;s worth considering. It&#8217;s just one of a few FTSE 250 opportunities I see as we head into 2026.</p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/12/24/is-the-ftse-250-set-for-a-rip-roaring-comeback-in-2026/">Is the FTSE 250 set for a rip-roaring comeback in 2026?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>This FTSE 250 stock could rocket 49%, say brokers</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/12/12/this-ftse-250-stock-could-rocket-49-say-brokers/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:51:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Ben McPoland]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1617317</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Ben McPoland takes a closer look at a market-leading FTSE 250 company that generates plenty of cash and has begun paying a dividend. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/12/12/this-ftse-250-stock-could-rocket-49-say-brokers/">This FTSE 250 stock could rocket 49%, say brokers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p><strong>Moonpig</strong>&#8216;s (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>) a <strong>FTSE 250</strong> company I&#8217;m familiar with, but I’ve never given the stock more than a passing glance &#8212; until now.</p>



<p>What caught my eye was the average share price target among City brokers. It sits 49% above the current level of 202p. In theory then, it&#8217;s trading well below what these experts think it could possibly reach over the next 12 months.</p>



<p>So can Moonpig stock really fly next year?</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-data-advantage">Data advantage </h2>



<p>After digging into this company, I&#8217;m actually quite bullish. It&#8217;s the UK&#8217;s leading online card and gift retailer, with a very strong brand (no doubt helped by those strangely catchy &#8216;MOOOOON-PIG-DOT-COM&#8217; ads). It also owns Dutch gifting brand Greetz.</p>



<p>At the end of October, the company had 12.1m active customers. And over 90% of orders come from repeat customers, showing it enjoys loyalty.</p>



<p>This is helped by its Moonpig Plus subscription service, which offers discounted cards and perks for £9.99 a year. Add in Greetz Plus and total subscribers hit 1.02m in October, a sharp 36% jump on the year before.</p>



<p>This subscription service adds a recurring revenue stream, as well as encouraging customers to spend more. I reckon there&#8217;s a large opportunity to add millions more subscribers in future as it expands into new markets such as Ireland, Australia and the US.</p>



<p>Half-year revenue increased 6.7% to £168.6m, with the Moonpig brand growing at 9.4%. The retailer also boasts attractive margins (an adjusted <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/what-is-ebitda/">EBITDA</a> margin of 26.7%). </p>



<p>Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) jumped 13.1%, boosted by &#8220;<em>growth in trading, operating leverage and the impact of share buybacks</em>&#8220;.</p>



<p>Interestingly, renowned growth investor Baillie Gifford named the stock among its best three UK ideas in September. It said Moonpig has over 100m &#8220;<em>special occasions on their platform, so they will nudge users at just the right moment to make it quite personal and relevant for everyone that uses the platform&#8230; more data gives it more opportunities to engage with its customers</em>&#8220;.</p>



<p>At last, Moonpig&#8217;s seeing success with generative AI, with lots of customers creating AI-generated stickers. I just tried this in the app for a Christmas card. I created an image of Santa&#8217;s sleigh being pulled by capybaras (my daughter&#8217;s favourite animal).</p>



<p>Finally, the company&#8217;s started paying a dividend, with the <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/dividend-yield/">forward-looking yield</a> around 2%.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p><em>We have built a resilient, cash‑generative and profitable platform with a clear strategy, a highly engaged, loyal and growing customer base and a data advantage that continues to compound year after year</em>.</p>



<p>CEO Nickyl Raithatha.</p>
</blockquote>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-stock">The stock </h2>



<p>Admittedly, there are a couple of things I&#8217;m less bullish about. One is the company&#8217;s Experiences business (which offers spa breaks, meals, live events, etc). It continues to display weakness, with first-half revenue declining 8.9%. Meanwhile, growth at Greetz in the Netherlands is likewise underwhelming.</p>



<p>Also, Raithatha&#8217;s stepping down as CEO after seven years at the helm. While experienced <strong>Auto Trader</strong> CFO Catherine Faiers will be taking over, it still adds a bit of uncertainty moving forward.</p>



<p>On balance though, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. The stock&#8217;s trading at just 11 times next year&#8217;s forecast earnings. At this price, I think Moonpig&#8217;s worth checking out.</p>



<p>The majority of greetings cards are still bought in stores, suggesting the UK company has a long potential growth runway ahead.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/12/12/this-ftse-250-stock-could-rocket-49-say-brokers/">This FTSE 250 stock could rocket 49%, say brokers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>The Moonpig share price flies higher after the group issues its latest trading update!</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/09/17/the-moonpig-share-price-flies-higher-after-the-group-issues-its-latest-trading-update/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 17 Sep 2025 15:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[James Beard]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Market Movers]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1576292</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>For drama and excitement, forget about watching TV. Instead, just follow the Moonpig share price whenever it makes a stock exchange announcement.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/09/17/the-moonpig-share-price-flies-higher-after-the-group-issues-its-latest-trading-update/">The Moonpig share price flies higher after the group issues its latest trading update!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p>The <strong>Moonpig Group</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>) share price was up over 6% by early afternoon today (17 September) after the online cards and gifting group issued its latest trading update ahead of its annual general meeting.</p>



<p>The magnitude of this change doesn’t surprise me. As the table below shows, more often than not, whenever the group announces its results or gives the market a progress report, its share price moves significantly (up and down).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table has-p-small-font-size"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Date</strong></th><th><strong>Announcement</strong></th><th><strong>Share price movement</strong> (%)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>26 June 2025</strong></td><td>FY25 final results</td><td>-9.2</td></tr><tr><td><strong>3 April 2025</strong></td><td>Trading update</td><td>+1.8</td></tr><tr><td><strong>10 December 2024</strong></td><td>HY25 results</td><td>-14.6</td></tr><tr><td><strong>14 March 2024</strong></td><td>Trading update</td><td>-3.3</td></tr><tr><td><strong>27 June 2023</strong></td><td>FY24 final results</td><td>+15.2</td></tr><tr><td><strong>5 December 2023</strong></td><td>HY24 results</td><td>-10.2</td></tr><tr><td><strong>29 June 2023</strong></td><td>FY23 final results</td><td>+4.0</td></tr><tr><td><strong>30 March 2023</strong></td><td>Trading update</td><td>+10.7</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><sup>Source: <strong>London Stock Exchange Group</strong>; FY = 30 April; HY = 31 October</sup></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-positive-outlook">A positive outlook</h2>



<p>Today, investors were told that the group, which operates in the UK and the Netherlands, was on course to deliver earnings for the year ending 30 April 2026 (FY26) <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-the-market/broker-forecasts/">in line with expectations</a>.</p>



<p>It says it continues to deliver constant revenue growth of approximately 10% a year. And adjusted <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/what-is-ebitda/">EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation)</a> is expected to grow at a “<em>mid-single digit percentage rate</em>”.</p>



<p>More importantly, adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is forecast to grow by 8%-12%. During FY25, it reported EPS of 15p. If the group’s prediction is right, this means EPS for FY26 could be between 16.2p and 18p, implying a <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/pe-ratio/">price-to-earnings ratio</a> of 11.7-13. In my opinion, anywhere within this range seems reasonable for a high-margin internet-based business.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table has-p-small-font-size"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Financial year</strong></th><th><strong>Revenue</strong> (£m)</th><th><strong>Adjusted basic earnings per share</strong> (pence)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>2025</strong></td><td>350.1</td><td>15.0</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2024</strong></td><td>341.1</td><td>12.7</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2023</strong></td><td>320.1</td><td>13.1</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2022</strong></td><td>304.3</td><td>9.3</td></tr><tr><td><strong>2021</strong></td><td>368.2</td><td>6.1</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><sup>Source: financial year = 30 April</sup></figcaption></figure>



<p>The group’s strong cash flow means it’s recently started paying a dividend. And it’s been repurchasing its own shares.</p>



<p>Much of its progress has been attributed to customers “<em>embracing our innovative personalisation features to express themselves, with adoption continuing to rise &#8212; around 50% of all cards now including options such as AI-generated stickers, audio or video messages, or personalised handwriting</em>”.</p>



<p>All in all, the group appears to be in good shape.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pros-and-cons">Pros and cons</h2>



<p>But since the pandemic, its share price has been in decline. And then there’s the volatility noted above. The stock has a five-year beta value of 1.25. This means if the market moves by 10% (up or down) then, on average, the Moonpig share price will change by 25%. This is unlikely to appeal to cautious investors.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="2020-09-17" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>However, analysts appear to have bought in to the growth story. The average of their 12-month price targets is 310p &#8212; even after today’s bounce, this is 47% higher than the current price.</p>



<p>And while I do have some doubts as to whether the group’s activities could be easily replicated by others, it has a long track record of EPS growth. The group claims that only 15% of card purchases are made online so there’s plenty of scope to expand further.</p>



<p>Its online-only business model means it has a lower cost base than its high street competitors. And it must be good at what it does because over 90% of its business comes from repeat customers.</p>



<p>For these reasons, I think Moonpig Group shares are worthy of consideration. But anyone taking a position needs to be braced for some pretty big share price swings whenever it releases its results or issues a trading update.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/09/17/the-moonpig-share-price-flies-higher-after-the-group-issues-its-latest-trading-update/">The Moonpig share price flies higher after the group issues its latest trading update!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>These FTSE 250 stocks are red hot! Time to consider buying?</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/05/28/these-ftse-250-stocks-are-red-hot-time-to-consider-buying/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 12:40:44 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Summers]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Value Shares]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1524135</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Paul Summers picks out two mid-cap stocks that have massively outperformed the FTSE 250. Can the momentum continue for the rest of 2025?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/05/28/these-ftse-250-stocks-are-red-hot-time-to-consider-buying/">These FTSE 250 stocks are red hot! Time to consider buying?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p>Any mid-cap stock that jumps in value over a short amount of time will always grab my attention. But there are two examples from the <strong>FTSE 250</strong> that have really taken me by surprise lately.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-electrifying-performance">Electrifying performance!</h2>



<p>Shares in electricals retailer <strong>Currys</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-cury/">LSE: CURY</a>) have been on an absolute tear over the last 12 months, rising 73%. In 2025 alone, they&#8217;re already up 34%. That&#8217;s hugely impressive considering the index as a whole is barely in positive territory. It goes down as yet another example of how stock-picking has the potential to be <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-invest-in-shares/how-you-can-beat-the-market/">far more lucrative</a> than owning a fund that simply tracks an index&#8217;s return.</p>



<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Currys Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:CURY" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>




<p>Then again, Curry&#8217;s current purple patch isn&#8217;t all that surprising considering it recently raised its guidance on full-year adjusted pre-tax profit for the <em>third</em> time this year.  Around £162m is now expected, up £2m on what it predicted one month ago. </p>



<p>Investors will also have cheered news that the company is now in a position to resume <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-shares-are-taxed-2/how-dividends-are-taxed/">dividends</a>. It hasn&#8217;t returned any cash since January 2023.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-should-investors-consider-buying">Should investors consider buying?</h2>



<p>The significant rise that we&#8217;ve seen leads me to question whether the good news is all priced in.</p>



<p>On paper, a <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/pe-ratio/">price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio</a> of a little less than 12 for the current financial year suggests the £1.4bn cap isn&#8217;t overvalued. Even among consumer cyclical stocks &#8212; many of which have been suffering during the cost-of-living crisis &#8212; the price tag doesn&#8217;t look extreme.</p>



<p>On the other hand, the recent bounce in inflation wasn&#8217;t encouraging. The firm had to contend with tax rises in April too. Tellingly, a couple of potential suitors also walked away last year when the share price was an awful lot lower! </p>



<p>However, I reckon the most convincing argument for bears is that this will likely remain a (very) low-margin business in a highly competitive space.</p>



<p>That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m inclined to think that the shares might begin to drift as targets become tougher to hit.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rocketing-share-price">Rocketing share price</h2>



<p>Another mid-cap that&#8217;s been in sparkling form is online greetings card and gifting platform <strong>Moonpig Group</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE: MOON</a>). Its stock is up 19% in 2025 and 55% in 12 months.</p>



<p>Go further back and anyone brave enough to invest when the shares hit their lowest ebb a couple of years ago will have doubled their cash!</p>



<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>




<p>As with Currys, the question is whether the &#8216;easy money&#8217; has already been made. The P/E of 16 is higher than its index peer, but Moonpig generates better margins and returns on the money it invests. But is that sufficient?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-missing-moat">Missing moat</h2>



<p>April&#8217;s trading update stated that full-year revenue would be between £350m and £353m, helped by &#8220;<em>strong growth</em>&#8221; in gift attachment rates and more people signing up to its subscription scheme. This would represent a slight improvement on what it made in FY24 (£341m), albeit lower than analysts were expecting.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, I still can&#8217;t get excited by Moonpig. Like the electricals retailer, it operates in a crowded part of the market with no clear economic moat. Things look set to get even more challenging as similar businesses abandon their high street presence and move wholly online.</p>



<p>The recent introduction of dividends is positive but I&#8217;m not seeing big catalysts for further big price gains.</p>



<p>I&#8217;m not convinced either is worth considering at present.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/05/28/these-ftse-250-stocks-are-red-hot-time-to-consider-buying/">These FTSE 250 stocks are red hot! Time to consider buying?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>1 growth stock most analysts are saying is a Buy right now</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/04/28/1-growth-stock-most-analysts-are-saying-is-a-buy-right-now/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 28 Apr 2025 11:17:01 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon Smith]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1509537</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Jon Smith spots a growth stock that's getting more praise and attention from analysts, with current forecasts not to be ignored.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/04/28/1-growth-stock-most-analysts-are-saying-is-a-buy-right-now/">1 growth stock most analysts are saying is a Buy right now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p>I enjoy looking at analyst ratings from large banks and brokers. Although their viewpoints are subjective, the research members are experts in their field. So when I came across a growth stock from the <strong>FTSE 250 </strong>that had a host of Buy recommendations with target prices above the current level, I decided to do some more digging.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-predicting-more-of-the-same">Predicting more of the same</h2>



<p>The stock I&#8217;m referring to is <strong>Moonpig</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE:MOON</a>). Over the past year, the stock&#8217;s up 46% and is currently trading at 227. Founded back in 2000, the e-commerce company specialises in personalised greeting cards and gifts.</p>



<p>Some might think this growth stock has peaked, with the business model quickly becoming outdated. Yet it continues to prove its doubters wrong, as noted in the latest <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-company-accounts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">half-year results</a>. Revenue ticked 3.8% higher versus the same period a year earlier, with gross profit up by 5.1%.</p>



<p>The 11 analysts who currently have a rating on the company all have either a Buy rating or an Overweight recommendation. The average 12-month target price is 297p, with the highest at 330p. If I use the average figure, it would indicate a 31% jump from the current price. Of course, this isn&#8217;t guaranteed. But it shows the trend of where analysts think it could go.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reasons-to-back-the-view">Reasons to back the view</h2>



<p>One factor why the share price could keep heading higher is the <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/market-sectors/investing-in-tech-stocks-in-the-uk/]" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and technology</a>. The management team is focusing on leveraging technology to enhance customer experience and drive sales. For example, the company utilises data analytics and AI to personalise offerings and marketing strategies. This can help retain customers and entice them to make a purchase.</p>



<p>Late last year, it even launched AI handwriting, enabling customers to add their personal script for use as a font. Even though some might see this as a gimmick, it&#8217;s translating into higher revenue and profit, so I&#8217;m not turning my nose up!</p>



<p>Looking forward, I think the stock can continue rising as it expands its product offer and geographical reach. It&#8217;s seeing strong growth in Ireland and Australia and is expanding the Experiences division.</p>



<p>One risk is that the non-core offer could become a distraction.Selling experiences has been tough, with the business flagging up <em>&#8220;the challenging macroeconomic environment</em>&#8220;. This is a risk going forward and might force a strategy pivot at some point.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-momentum-s-with-the-company">Momentum&#8217;s with the company</h2>



<p>The fiscal year end is on Wednesday (30 April), so we&#8217;ll get a more in-depth view of the business in coming months. However, on the basis of what we currently know, I think analysts are correct in forecasting a continued share price rally this year. On that basis, I think investors should consider adding the stock to their portfolios.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2025/04/28/1-growth-stock-most-analysts-are-saying-is-a-buy-right-now/">1 growth stock most analysts are saying is a Buy right now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>1 bargain FTSE 250 share I&#8217;d buy today before it rockets</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/07/09/1-bargain-ftse-250-share-id-buy-today-before-it-rockets/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 09 Jul 2024 04:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Harshil Patel]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1330890</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Moonpig is an innovative FTSE 250 share that’s at the top of my buy list. Here’s why I think it’s primed to soar to new heights. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/07/09/1-bargain-ftse-250-share-id-buy-today-before-it-rockets/">1 bargain FTSE 250 share I&#8217;d buy today before it rockets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p>The <strong>FTSE 250</strong> is filled with shares that have so much potential to become the giants of the future. After all, many <strong><a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/personal-finance/share-dealing/guides/what-is-the-ftse-100/">FTSE 100</a></strong> shares started their journeys in the smaller mid-cap index.</p>



<p>Shares in smaller companies have the potential to deliver extraordinary returns. Veteren UK investor Jim Slater even had a well-known saying for it: “<em>elephants don’t gallop</em>”.</p>



<p>One FTSE 250 share that I reckon is on the verge of soaring is online greeting card business <strong>Moonpig</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE: MOON</a>). It first listed its shares in 2021, amid an online boom during the pandemic. The company was valued at £1.2bn at the time of its listing but is now almost half. I taste an opportunity.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-ftse-250-share-ready-to-soar">A FTSE 250 share ready to soar?</h2>



<p>I reckon Moonpig shares are now ready for a turnaround. Pretax profit rose 33% to £46.4m in the year ending 30 April. The company has been investing in new AI technologies to deliver personalised experiences to its customers.</p>



<p>These features are often innovative and not feasible with high street card shops. And using technology like this could keep existing customers and attract new ones too.</p>



<p>For instance, Moonpig now allows customers to attach voice and video recordings to some of their cards in the form of QR codes.</p>



<p>The Moonpig Plus subscription has exceeded the company’s expectations and passed 500,000 members within a year. For £9.99 a year, members are given a range of benefits including 30% off the cost of birthday cards and other multi-purchase offers.</p>



<p>Such a model does two things. First, it creates a reoccurring revenue stream, providing reliable cashflow for the business. Second, it influences members to continue shopping with Moonpig as they receive a discount by doing so.</p>



<p>I reckon this subscription model could continue to grow over the coming years.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-quality-at-a-reasonable-price">Quality at a reasonable price</h2>



<p>This FTSE 250 share offers decent quality metrics at a reasonable price. For instance, it has a <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/return-on-equity-and-return-on-capital-employed/">return on capital employed</a> of 45% and a profit margin of 19%.</p>



<p>Given the drop in share price over the past few years, it now trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of just 14, which strikes me as good value given a steady growth in profits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-more-debt-please">No more debt please</h2>



<p>Bear in mind that it doesn’t have the strongest balance sheet I’ve seen. My favourite businesses have net cash to be able to withstand economic and business shocks. Moonpig does not. That said, it has been able to reduce a chunk of debt over the past year. And given its cash generation, its debt looks manageable.</p>



<p>It’s something that I’d monitor, though. I’d be less positive if the company decided to take on more debt.</p>



<p>Also, note there are cheaper alternatives to its cards and gifts. Any downturn in customers’ finances could shift them to competitors.</p>



<p>Overall though, I’d say the pros outweigh the cons for me. I wasn’t keen on this share when it first listed as I felt it was too expensive and its sales bump was temporary during the pandemic. But now, it trades at a much more reasonable valuation. It’s now one of my favourite FTSE 250 shares.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/07/09/1-bargain-ftse-250-share-id-buy-today-before-it-rockets/">1 bargain FTSE 250 share I&#8217;d buy today before it rockets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>Up 25% in a month! 3 red-hot FTSE 250 buys to light up my Stocks and Shares ISA?</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/07/06/up-25-in-a-month-3-red-hot-ftse-250-buys-to-light-up-my-stocks-and-shares-isa/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sat, 06 Jul 2024 15:15:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Harvey Jones]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Growth Shares]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1330976</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Harvey Jones wants to put a bit of fire into his Stocks and Shares ISA and wonders if these three FTSE 250 companies have staying power.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/07/06/up-25-in-a-month-3-red-hot-ftse-250-buys-to-light-up-my-stocks-and-shares-isa/">Up 25% in a month! 3 red-hot FTSE 250 buys to light up my Stocks and Shares ISA?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p>I&#8217;m looking to inject some excitement into my Stocks and Shares ISA. I’ve spent the last year buying undervalued <strong>FTSE 100</strong> <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/personal-finance/share-dealing/guides/should-i-buy-growth-or-income-shares/">income stocks</a>, now I&#8217;m looking to generate some growth as well. These three <strong>FTSE 250</strong> shares are up almost 25% in the last month. Is this where I should start my hunt?</p>



<p>Past performance is <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-invest-in-shares/how-to-be-a-good-investor/">no guide to the future</a>, especially over the short term. So I’m approaching <strong>Moonpig Group</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-moon/">LSE: MOON</a>) with caution. Its shares have rebounded 24.94% in the last month. That’s a fabulous result, but all that matters today is where they go next.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growth-opportunities">Growth opportunities</h2>



<p>The Moonpig share price is up 20.55% over one year, but that follows a rocky ride for the online greetings card supplier whose shares plunged by two-thirds after listing in February 2021.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Moonpig Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:MOON" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>The mood changed on 28 June when it posted a 6.6% increase in full-year revenues to £341.1m, with pre-tax profits up nearly 33% to £46.4m. Its subscription service Moonpig Plus, which offers discounted cards and perks for £9.99 annually, exceeded expectations with half a million members in a year.</p>



<p>Broker Berenberg has praised the group&#8217;s technology-led strategy and hiked its price target from 265p to 280p. Today, it trades at around 192p. That’s a potential rise of 38% from here. With consumers likely to start feeling better off, it could continue to grow. Trading at 14.72 times earnings, the stock isn&#8217;t expensive. I&#8217;m tempted to buy before more investors wake up to its recovery, but recent volatility makes me wary.</p>



<p><strong>XPS Pensions Group </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-xps/">LSE: XPS</a>) only joined the FTSE 250 last month but it&#8217;s going great guns, up 23.95% in a month. Over one year, it’s up a blockbuster 76.22%. It’s pricier than Moonpig, trading at 19.26 times earnings.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Xps Pensions Group Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:XPS" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>It&#8217;s also got a lift from a positive set of results, reporting on 20 June that group revenue jumped 21% last year to £196.6m.</p>



<p>XPS is the biggest pensions consultancy in Britain. It should benefit as the population gets older and starts worrying about retirement. In contrast to Moonpig, it pays dividends, with a current trailing yield of 3.07%. That&#8217;s pretty impressive, given its stellar share price growth. Better still, the board hiked last year’s payout by 19%.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-time-to-buy">Time to buy?</h2>



<p>One risk is that it has grown quickly through acquisitions, which don’t always add value. They have so far, though. I like Moonpig, but I like XPS more.</p>



<p>Soft drinks firm <strong>Britvic</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-bvic/">LSE: BVIC</a>) was the FTSE 250’s third best performer over the last month, up 23.66%. A £3.1bn takeover proposal by Danish brewer <strong>Carlsberg</strong> has put some fizz into the stock, which has now climbed 42.02% over 12 months.</p>





<p>The board has so far rejected two proposals, one at 1,200p per share and another at 1,250p. Today, the shares trade at 1,216p.</p>



<p>Top Britvic shareholder <strong>Aviva</strong> reckons Carlsberg needs to go higher. It says it hasn&#8217;t factored in the anticipated improvement in Britvic&#8217;s finances. Today, the £2.98bn group trades at 19.84 times earnings. </p>



<p>Personally, I never buy on takeover talk. There is too much uncertainty, plus a risk the share price will flop if it falls through. XPS is firmly on my radar and I’ll look to buy once the excitement over its results ebbs. Then I&#8217;ll take a second look at Moonpig.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/07/06/up-25-in-a-month-3-red-hot-ftse-250-buys-to-light-up-my-stocks-and-shares-isa/">Up 25% in a month! 3 red-hot FTSE 250 buys to light up my Stocks and Shares ISA?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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