FTSE 250 movers: 4Imprint and Elementis lead risers in earnings barrage

(Sharecast News) - The FTSE 250 was up 0.3% in afternoon trade on Tuesday with well-received updates from the likes of 4Imprint, Elementis, Alpha Group, Kier and Abrdn providing a lift on a busy day for news on the second-tier index. 4imprint, the white-label promotional products and merchandise firm, jumped 11% after reporting the pre-tax profits for 2024 would be no less than $153m, exceeding the upper end of analysts' forecasts and surpassing the 2023 figure of $141m.

Similarly, Elementis impressed investors with the news that full-year operating profit would be ahead of market expectations following a strong fourth-quarter performance, with shares up 6%.

Rising 5% was Alpha Group after corporate financial solutions provider said full-year revenues for 2024 were up 23%, with growth accelerating strongly from the 16% top-line increase reported for the first half.

Meanwhile, construction and infrastructure services outfit Kier Group revealed a £20m share buyback alongside an in-line first-half update, and asset manager Abrdn impressed with a return to quarterly inflows in the fourth quarter and struck an upbeat note going forward.

Leading the fallers was QinetiQ, which tumbled 10% even after it maintained its full-year and mid-term guidance, as it cautioned of some slowness in UK services. The aircraft engineer said short-term order intake in the UK had been weaker than anticipated due to financial conditions, prompting the company to adjust certain capabilities within its UK intelligence business.

Landscaping and building products supplier Marshalls was down 7% after reporting a drop in revenues in 2024 and striking a cautious note on the outlook, on the back of "continued market uncertainty and a £3m increase in costs from higher National Insurance contributions".

Freight and road payments processing business WAG Payment Solutions also dropped 4.5% after revealing that chairman Paul Manduca will be stepping down from the role at the conclusion of its next AGM. The company also said it was confident in meeting expectations with its 2024 results.

FTSE 250 - Risers

4Imprint Group (FOUR) 5,510.00p 10.75% Elementis (ELM) 155.80p 6.13% Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,415.00p 5.75% Alpha Group International (ALPH) 2,365.00p 5.11% Kier Group (KIE) 144.80p 4.62% Abrdn (ABDN) 148.05p 4.56% Trainline (TRN) 391.60p 3.98% CMC Markets (CMCX) 267.00p 3.89% Tritax Big Box Reit (BBOX) 141.10p 3.29% Dr. Martens (DOCS) 70.55p 2.99%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 378.80p -9.94% Marshalls (MSLH) 238.50p -6.65% W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 81.00p -4.48% Grainger (GRI) 211.00p -2.31% Future (FUTR) 890.00p -2.09% Safestore Holdings (SAFE) 600.50p -2.04% Mobico Group (MCG) 76.35p -1.99% Greggs (GRG) 2,142.00p -1.92% Great Portland Estates (GPE) 272.50p -1.80% Senior (SNR) 158.40p -1.74%