LONDON (ShareCast) - Merlin Entertainments could be worth a bet, the Sunday Times’s Danny Fortson advised. The owner of Madame Tussauds, Legoland and other leisure sites unveils its first annual results, on February 27th, since its recent flotation. Analysts expect a strong 2013 with £386m in earnings from £1.8bn of income. Nick Varney, the Chief Executive, has to keep up the momentum and is launching various projects in Florida, including a branch of Madame Tussauds and a Sea Life aquarium. Potential pitfalls include currency movements in Asia and the US but of the many companies floated by private equity firms, Merlin looks like a good punt.

Buy shares in broker WH Ireland, the Mail on Sunday’s Midas column recommended. New Chief Executive Richard Killingbeck is likely to announce expectation-beating 2013 results and express confidence about the company’s prospects as the economy and stock market conditions improve. WH Ireland has done well from offering personal service to clients with slightly less cash while others have targeted the very rich. It has also expanded its corporate business. Results on February 26th should show a swing from 2012’s £200,000 loss to core profit of more than £750,000 last year. The underlying business should bring long-term rewards.

Mattioli Woods is a comfortable home for long-term investors, the Mail on Sunday’s Midas column concluded as it revisited the company it tipped in July 2008. The financial advice firm for businesspeople has seen its shares rise from 223p to 428.5p in that time and more growth is on offer from “fiercely ambitious” Chairman Bob Woods and Chief Executive Ian Mattioli who each hold large stakes. Shareholders who bought six years ago could take some profit by selling a quarter of their holding but there is still strong long-term value in the company.

SF

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