Guidance upgrades and turnaround stories dominated the small and mid-cap news flow, with Helios Towers raising its 2026 outlook for a second time this year and Zoo Digital posting sharply improved earnings following its restructuring. Elsewhere, Alfa Financial reaffirmed full-year expectations despite a share price pullback, while Synectics landed a fresh US casino contract and Ondo InsurTech flagged widening losses even as American revenue grew.
Helios Towers upgrades 2026 guidance after record tenancy growth
Helios Towers (LON:HTWS) added a record 2,511 tenancies in the first half, lifting adjusted EBITDA 14% and prompting the independent mobile tower operator to upgrade its 2026 guidance for the second time this year. The company also declared its first-ever dividend, underscoring confidence in cash generation as shares rose 2.4% to 207.0p.
Alfa Financial reaffirms full-year outlook on strong contract growth
Alfa Financial Software Holdings (LON:ALFA) said it remains on track to meet full-year expectations, with chief executive Andrew Denton pointing to strong contract growth as the basis for confidence. The reassurance came even as shares fell 5.8% to 163.8p, with Denton stating the group is "well positioned to achieve our expectations for the year".
Haleon lifts interim dividend 9% as margins expand
Haleon (LON:HLN) raised its interim dividend by 9% after delivering what chief executive Brian McNamara called a "good first half performance in what remains a challenging consumer environment", with sequential improvement through the second quarter and a more balanced mix of price and volume growth. Shares slipped 2.6% to 369.9p despite the dividend increase.
Zoo Digital swings to sharply improved earnings as restructuring completes
Zoo Digital Group (LON:ZOO) reported sharply improved earnings as its restructuring programme reached completion, with chief executive Stuart Green citing a "stronger rightsized financial platform, improving customer activity and recent contract wins" as the group enters its new financial year focused on returning to profitable growth. The results sent shares up 10.3% to 10.75p.
Ondo InsurTech grows US revenue, but loss widens
Ondo InsurTech (LON:ONDO) grew US revenue over the period even as its loss widened, with chief executive Craig Foster saying the year demonstrated that its LeakBot technology works "at scale" in the American market. Foster pointed to expectations for order volumes to pick up in the second half of 2026, though shares fell 4.3% to 7.5p on the wider loss.
Synectics wins US casino surveillance contract
Synectics (LON:SNX) secured a new surveillance contract with a US casino operator, with chief executive Amanda Larnder noting that "leading casino operators increasingly need platforms that do more than manage video". Shares eased 2.7% to 180.0p despite the contract win.
Seagate rides commercial growth surge in latest results
Seagate Technology (NASDAQ:STX) reported strong growth in its largest business segment, with chief executive Anders Lundstrom saying the company was "pleased with the significant growth in our largest business segment, commercial, which represents two-thirds of total revenue, alongside strong overall prescription growth". Shares jumped 11% to 848.77p on the results.
