LAFDI market report - Friday 28th August

The Liberum AltFi Financial Disruptors Index out-performed in a tumultuous week for global equitiy markets, however it still suffered in absolute terms.  .

  * Returns are calculated for the week to local market close on Thursday.

Optimal Payments plc was top of the climbers this week after strong first half results and on news that the company will join the main market and likely as a member of the FTSE 250.  Optimal said revenues had increased 40 per cent to $223m, compared with $159.1m in the same period last year.  As a result of one offs relating to last years acquisition of Skrill analysts have been looking beyond statutory profits which showed a year on year fall.  Instead the focus was on Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation which jumped by 27.9% to $49.9m, and adjusted profit before tax rose by 18.7% to $37.3m.  Online payments remains a red hot space and Optimal Payments report that they have “started the process of identifying new candidates for acquisition”.

Fans of Lending Tree Inc will be glad to note that recent weakness appears to be largely a case of profit taking after the excellent recent performance.  Whilst the shares were down heavily on the week there was an absence of new news – in a week where risk appetite vanished it might simply there be that for the time being the Lending Tree valuation had left it looking vulnerable to those needing to bank some profits.  

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