So a New Post, following on from Twixmas musings to cover my thoughts as we settle into 2026.
Let’s get the bad news out of the way. I’ve sold out of Money Supermarket (MONY) this morning. I’ve been dithering about this for a while as it hasn’t really been going anywhere over the last few years. This month, however, has seen it on a trajectory worthy of the downhill skiers in Italy, dropping by about 20% in short order.
Whilst it was a good idea a few years ago, it no longer seems to me to be a good Business model. It is constantly advertising to stay in the game – TV, Radio, not cheap – and it genuinely is being usurped by AI that can search for the best prices. OK, so AI can’t get the deals that I’m sure have been agreed between MONY and the providers, but in a highly competitive Market it is still finding them. Sold for an average 20% loss. It’s best shot is probably to merge with Compare the Market – which is probably suffering a similar fate.
Is this the end of Kier Starmer? There has been flak from all sides and the latest Peter Mandelson episode is probably the straw that breaks the back. Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying he went bankrupt slowly, then suddenly and it feels very much like this. His credibility is being chiselled away bit by bit. Current candidates (Angela Rayner for instance) will lurch the party to the left. Personally? If he knows he is to go, then perhaps he might invite Andy Burnham back into the fold. Currently a threat, but if Kier knows his time is up, it may be a way of not rocking the boat too much by appointing him as successor. Stranger things have happened.
As a consequence I’m keeping my powder dry.
Having said that, Jet2 (JET2) and Warpaint London (W7L) are both hovering on the ‘buy’ button. Both seem remarkably good value at the moment. I just can’t be sure whether Kier is about to make them even better value…