A Hardide forecast upgrade (the second this year) pushed the advanced coatings supplier to the top of AIM’s risers on Tuesday, while Ariana Resources disclosed further detail on the restructuring of its Turkish mining interests following a $19.5m asset sale.
Hardide lifts full-year profit target after strong third quarter
Hardide (HDD) said third-quarter revenues of £4.1m took its year-to-date total to £8.9m, ahead of plan. The company lifted its full-year pre-tax profit forecast from £3.4m to £4.6m, with year-end cash expected at £2.3m.
The shares rose 18.1% to 88p, extending a gain of 376% for the calendar year so far.
The upgrade follows a strong run of trading. Stockopedia’s summary of Hardide’s annual results to 30 September 2025 showed revenue up 28% to £6m, with the company noting that strong trading momentum from the fourth quarter of that year carried into the first quarter of the following period.
A subsequent Stockopedia report on Hardide’s AGM trading statement indicated H1 revenue was expected to rise 50% to approximately £4.5m, with adjusted EBITDA of £1.3m against £0.4m in the prior-year first half. The company described itself as well positioned to deliver on recently upgraded full-year expectations, the latest trading statement now upgrades those targets again.
Ariana Resources restructures Kiziltepe stake after Zenit sale
Ariana Resources (AAU) provided an update on its Turkish operations, confirming that Kiziltepe interests have been transferred into a separate legal entity through an in specie distribution to Zenit shareholders, paving the way for a potential sale of that stake. The announcement follows the sale of a 13.6% interest in Zenit for $19.5m in cash, announced on 17 May 2026.
Ariana retains a 9.9% interest in the Tavsan mine, where it said ramp-up is complete and ore is being loaded onto heap leach pads at 4,000 tonnes per day, with processing enhancements under way. The Kiziltepe transfer was confirmed in a London Stock Exchange RNS dated 21 July 2026. Tavsan drilling at the Main and South Zones was reported by the company earlier in the year, with a resource update flagged following drilling results published in January 2026.
AAU shares gained 8.06% to 1.675p.
Other AIM movers
ProService Building Services Marketplace (PRO) director Thomas Shorten purchased 363,962 shares at 2.32p each and a further 275,504 shares at 2.08p each. The share price recovered one-fifth to 2.4p.
Hercules (HERC) non-executive director Martin Tedham bought 50,000 shares at 32p. The stock rebounded 9.38% to 35p.
Menel Energy and Resources is subscribing £750,000 in Shuka Minerals (SKA) at 4p per share. The final repayment date on the Gathoni Muchai Investments loan facility has been extended to end-2027. A cash payment of $250,000 will be made by end of July 2026 and will reduce the loan balance by $300,000. A restructuring fee of £119,000 is payable in shares at 4p each. SKA shares rose 7.69% to 2.8p.
Oil palm plantations owner MP Evans (MPE) reported crude palm oil production 11% higher at 192,300 tonnes in the first half, with the average extraction rate improving to 24.1% and the sale price slightly higher. The company cautioned that prices may ease in the second half. Full-year pre-tax profit is forecast at $133.7m. The shares rose 8.33% to £18.33.
Fallers
Harvest Minerals (HMI) gave back the previous session’s gains after announcing plans to acquire a portfolio of eight rare earth projects in Brazil. The shares fell 18.2% to 0.225p, reverting to Monday’s level.
James Halstead (JHD) warned that full-year revenues will be slightly lower at £259m, with pre-tax profit falling by more than 10%. Panmure Liberum forecast a decline in 2025-26 pre-tax profit from £55.1m to £48.2m, though the broker expects a recovery thereafter. Net cash should still reach £75m. UK market share is growing, but luxury vinyl tile sales were weaker in Europe and Australia. The shares fell 4.76% to 120p.
Orosur Mining (OMI) completed phase two of exploration at the El Pantano gold and silver project in Argentina and has assumed 100% ownership. The company may seek a joint venture partner to fund further work. The shares eased 4.22% to 14.75p.
With the Hardide forecast upgrade now delivering a near-quadrupling of the share price year-to-date, the next catalyst is the full-year result, where investors will test whether the £4.6m pre-tax profit target holds.
