Category: 3. Business

  • Investors in Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (KLSE:F&N) have seen favorable returns of 68% over the past three years

    Investors in Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (KLSE:F&N) have seen favorable returns of 68% over the past three years

    One simple way to benefit from the stock market is to buy an index fund. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. For example, the Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (KLSE:F&N) share price is up 55% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 11% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven’t been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 18% in the last year, including dividends.

    Let’s take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they’ve been consistent with shareholders returns.

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    While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

    During three years of share price growth, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd achieved compound earnings per share growth of 9.9% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 16% average annual increase in the share price. This suggests that, as the business progressed over the last few years, it gained the confidence of market participants. It is quite common to see investors become enamoured with a business, after a few years of solid progress.

    The company’s earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

    KLSE:F&N Earnings Per Share Growth November 23rd 2025

    This free interactive report on Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd’s earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

    As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It’s fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd’s TSR for the last 3 years was 68%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

    We’re pleased to report that Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 18% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 3%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. It’s always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we’ve spotted 1 warning sign for Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd you should know about.

    Of course Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks.

    Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

    Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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  • Walmart makes African debut with South African store launch

    Walmart makes African debut with South African store launch

    Item 1 of 2 Shoppers queue outside the first Walmart store in South Africa during its opening in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, South Africa, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Siyanda Mthethwa

    [1/2]Shoppers queue outside the first Walmart store in South Africa during its opening in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, South Africa, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Siyanda Mthethwa Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
    JOHANNESBURG, Nov 22 (Reuters) – Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab opened its first store in South Africa on Saturday, marking the U.S. retail giant’s debut on the African continent as it seeks a stake in a competitive market.

    More than a hundred shoppers queued for hours outside the store to take advantage of Walmart’s “Everyday Low Prices” and shop international products that are not easily available in South Africa such as designer counter-top air fryers by Drew Barrymore, Labubu dolls and Dr.Pepper sodas.

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    “I’m actually here for a specific product that you can’t really get in South Africa….it’s a children’s toy, Labubu,” Refilwe Mabale, told Reuters.

    Some, like Tshepo Rambau, were hoping to snap up deals during Black Friday weekend. The 44-year-old told Reuters while standing in the queue that he was eyeing tech products like WIFI extenders.

    “Hopefully I’ll get them cheaper here,” he said.

    The retailer will also be offering a sixty-minute online delivery service. This places it in direct competition with Checkers’ Sixty60 on-demand delivery service owned by South Africa’s largest grocery retailer Shoprite (SHPJ.J), opens new tab.

    “Opening the first Walmart store in South Africa is about much more than a business milestone, it is a commitment to helping customers save money and live better by consistently delivering the lowest total cost for the basket of products they need,” Andrea Albright, executive vice president of Walmart, said in a statement.

    The store, located in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, has has created 80 new jobs and has collaborated with 15 local small- and medium-enterprises, the retailer said.

    Reporting by Siyanda Mthethwa, Editing by William Maclean

    Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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  • X’s new country-of-origin feature shakes MAGA and Democrat circles as many ‘US’ accounts revealed to be foreign-run

    X’s new country-of-origin feature shakes MAGA and Democrat circles as many ‘US’ accounts revealed to be foreign-run

    Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, has introduced the country of origin feature that seems to have thrown both the MAGA and Democrats’ worlds online into chaos. Several profiles online, that had pushed certain narratives are now being found to have been operating from outside the US.

    X has introduced a feature that lets people see where an account is based out of. (REUTERS)

    The social media platform introduced a feature where one can see the country the account is based in. One has to head to an account and click on the date joined tab, which opens up onto a new page. This shows the country where that particular account is being operated from. While the feature was briefly removed after its introduction, it has now been added again, and both sides of the political spectrum are having a field day, calling out each other online.

    What to know about ‘American’ accounts based out of US

    The accounts being discussed here have pushed agendas within the US, and commented on US politics regularly. Many are also named to echo political movements, like some MAGA accounts.

    However, these ‘political influencers’ have been found to be based outside the US, raising questions about the motives.

    One profile going by ‘MAGA NATION’ with a follower count of over 392,000, is based out of eastern Europe. Similarly, ‘Dark Maga’ a page with over 15,000 followers is based out of Thailand. ‘MAGA Scope’ which boasts over 51,000 followers is actually operated out of Nigeria, and ‘America First’, an account with over 67,000 followers is based out of Bangladesh.

    “At this time thousands of MAGA-aligned influencer accounts and large political pages that claim to be based in the U.S. are now being investigated and exposed with many of them traced to India, Nigeria, and other countries,” a news aggregator page on X noted.

    It wasn’t just on the MAGA side. An account going by ‘Ron Smith’ whose bio claims he’s a ‘Proud Democrat’ and ‘Professional MAGA hunter’ is operated out of Kenya. The account has over 52,000 followers.

    ‘Republicans against Trump’ an anti-Donald Trump page on X, which tries to push politics against MAGA, was reportedly operating out of Austria. While the location now shows US, X notes that the account location might not be accurate due to use of VPN. “The Anti-Trump account “Republicans Against Trump” which 1M followed has been identified as a non-American from Austria and is currently using a VPN to hide their location,” a page said, making note of this.

    ‘Republicans against Trump’ has over 978,000 followers.

    On a side note, an account going by ‘Mariana Times’, with over 78,000 followers, which posts pro-Israel content has been found to be based out of India.

    People within the MAGA orbit have also reacted to this new feature. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna wrote on X from her personal account, “All of these pretend “pro-America” accounts that were pushing infighting within Maga are literally foreign grifters. I’m telling you, the foreign opp is real and so are the bot accounts.”

    Alexis Wilkins, FBI director Kash Patel’s girlfriend, also added, “I hope that everyone sees, regardless of their specific reason, that the enemy is outside of the house. The people posing as Americans with big American opinions but are actually operating from a basement across the world have one common goal – to destroy the United States. We have our issues, but we really can’t allow them to succeed.”

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  • Private companies among PropNex Limited’s (SGX:OYY) largest stockholders and were hit after last week’s 5.7% price drop

    Private companies among PropNex Limited’s (SGX:OYY) largest stockholders and were hit after last week’s 5.7% price drop

    • Significant control over PropNex by private companies implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

    • 56% of the company is held by a single shareholder (P&N Holdings Pte. Ltd.)

    • 23% of PropNex is held by insiders

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    To get a sense of who is truly in control of PropNex Limited (SGX:OYY), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. We can see that private companies own the lion’s share in the company with 56% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

    Following a 5.7% decrease in the stock price last week, private companies suffered the most losses, but insiders who own 23% stock also took a hit.

    Let’s delve deeper into each type of owner of PropNex, beginning with the chart below.

    View our latest analysis for PropNex

    SGX:OYY Ownership Breakdown November 23rd 2025

    Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

    Institutions have a very small stake in PropNex. That indicates that the company is on the radar of some funds, but it isn’t particularly popular with professional investors at the moment. If the company is growing earnings, that may indicate that it is just beginning to catch the attention of these deep-pocketed investors. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it’s the future that counts most.

    earnings-and-revenue-growth
    SGX:OYY Earnings and Revenue Growth November 23rd 2025

    PropNex is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that P&N Holdings Pte. Ltd. is the largest shareholder with 56% of shares outstanding. This implies that they have majority interest control of the future of the company. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 10% and 8.6% of the stock. Two of the top three shareholders happen to be Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, respectively. That is, insiders feature higher up in the heirarchy of the company’s top shareholders.

    While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock’s expected performance. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

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  • Temozolomide Plus Radiotherapy Yields Survival Benefit in IDH-Mutant LGG

    Temozolomide Plus Radiotherapy Yields Survival Benefit in IDH-Mutant LGG

    The addition of temozolomide (Temodar) to radiotherapy improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) vs radiotherapy alone in patients with IDH-mutant, symptomatic or progressive low-grade glioma (LGG) without codeletions of 1q and 19q, as well as patients with codeletions, according to findings from a molecular analysis of the phase 3 ECOG-ACRIN E3F05 trial (NCT00978458), which were presented at the 2025 Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting.1

    A statistically significant OS benefit with the addition of temozolomide to radiotherapy vs radiotherapy alone was seen among patients with IDH-mutated disease without codeletions (n = 38; HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.74; stratified log-rank P = .02). An OS benefit was also seen among patients with codeletions (n = 74; HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.19-1.42). Numerical PFS benefits were also seen among patients without codeletions (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.16-1.54) and those with codeletions (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.24-1.35).

    “These numbers were too small to allow us to declare statistical significance,” lead study author David Schiff, MD, said of the findings in the population of patients with codeletions during the presentation.

    Schiff is the Harrison Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Neurological Surgery and Medicine in the Department of Neurology, Division of Neurology at the University of Virginia (UVA), as well as the codirector of the UVA Neuro-Oncology Center in Charlottesville.

    ECOG-ACRIN E3F05 Trial Key Highlights

    • The ECOG-ACRIN E3F05 trial investigators performed methylation profiling to determine IDH mutational status in enrolled patients following trial closure.
    • The addition of temozolomide to radiotherapy provided a statistically significant OS benefit compared with radiotherapy alone for patients with IDH-mutant LGG who did not have codeletions of 1q and 19q (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.74; stratified log-rank P = .02).
    • Among patients with IDH-mutated, non-codeleted disease, the 10-year OS rate was higher in the temozolomide plus radiotherapy arm (80%) compared with the radiotherapy alone arm (39%).

    What was the design of the ECOG-ACRIN E3F05 trial?

    E3F05 enrolled patients at least 18 years of age with grade II glioma who had receive no prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Patients also needed to be younger than 40 years of age or have radiographic progression or have uncontrolled symptoms/seizures. Following surgery, patients were randomly assigned to receive radiotherapy at 50.4 Gy alone or with concomitant temozolomide followed by 12 cycles of temozolomide on days 1-5 of each 28-day cycle. After study treatment, patients underwent follow-up.

    Patients were stratified by age, deletion 1q/19q status, Karnofsky performance score, tumor diameter, and contrast enhancement.

    How has the E3F05 trial evolved as glioma classification systems have changed over time?

    The E3F05 trial was activated in September 2009, which Schiff noted was prior to the advent of IDH testing in glioma. In January 2014, updated findings from the phase 2 RTOG 9802 trial (NCT00003375) of radiation with or without procarbazine/lomustine/vincristine chemotherapy in patients with LGG showed a benefit with the addition of chemotherapy, making the control arm of E3F05 unethical. At that point, accrual to E3F05 was stopped with 172 of the planned 540 patients enrolled.

    “These non-codeleted tumors were agnostic as to their IDH [mutation] status and were 2 World Health Organization classification systems past what we started with when the study was conceived,” Schiff explained. “To try to ascertain IDH mutational status to characterize…patients according to contemporary neuropathology, we reached an agreement with the National Cancer Institute…database group to perform methylation profiling on our patients.”

    Among the 172 enrolled patients, 74 had codeletions. Additionally, 97 patients had adequate samples for methylation profiling, 52 of whom did not have codeletions. Among those 52 patients, Heidelberg v12 classification was used to determine that 13 had IDH wild-type disease (diffuse high-grade subtype F, n = 3; glioblastoma, n = 2; ganglioglioma, n = 2), and 38 had IDH-mutant diffuse glioma (IDH-mutant low-grade astrocytoma, n = 36; IDH-mutant high-grade astrocytoma, n = 2).

    What efficacy data from E3F05 have been previously reported?

    Efficacy findings that were previously reported at SNO 2024 showed that the addition of temozolomide to radiotherapy significantly improved OS vs radiotherapy alone (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31-0.95).2 OS benefits were also seen among patients with codeletions of 1q and 19q (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.20-1.60) and those with 1 or both of these intact (HR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.27-1.04). Numerical PFS benefits were also seen in the overall population (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.44-1.28), those with codeletions (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.24-1.64), and those with 1 or both intact (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.43-1.56).

    What additional updated efficacy data from E3F05 were presented at SNO 2025?

    Among the patients with IDH-mutated, non-codeleted disease, the 5-year PFS rate was 76% in the temozolomide arm vs 53% in the radiotherapy alone arm.1 The 10-year PFS rate with temozolomide was 59%. At 5 years, the OS rates were 94% with temozolomide plus radiotherapy and 71% with radiotherapy alone. These respective rates at 10 years were 80% and 39%.

    “The benefit of adding temozolomide in the IDH-mutant astrocytomas is particularly evident when you look at 10-year OS with radiation alone,” Schiff added.

    Among the patients with codeletions, the 5-year PFS rate was 79% in the temozolomide arm vs 64% in the radiotherapy alone arm. The 10-year PFS rates in these respective arms were 47% and 69%. At 5 years, the OS rates were 97% with temozolomide plus radiotherapy and 92% with radiotherapy alone. These respective rates at 10 years were 90% and 68%.

    “In summary, we’ve shown a statistically significant OS benefit with the addition of temozolomide to radiation in grade 2 IDH-mutant astrocytomas, and we still see a trend toward [an] OS benefit in the oligodendrogliomas as well,” Schiff concluded. “We [also] see suggestive HRs for PFS in both the astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas.”

    References

    1. O’Neill A, Brown P, et al. Molecular analysis of outcomes in ECOG-ACRIN E3F05: phase III study of radiation therapy with or without temozolomide of symptomatic or progressive low-grade gliomas. Presented at: 2025 SNO Annual Meeting; November 19-23, 2025; Honolulu, Hawaii. Abstract CTNI-29.
    2. Schiff D, O’Neill A, Brown P, et al. LTBK-07. Progression-free and overall survival results of ECOG-ACRIN E3F05: a phase 3 intergroup trial of radiation ± temozolomide for grade II gliomas.Neuro Oncol. 2024;26(suppl 8):viii1-viii2. doi:10.1093/neuonc/noae165.1303

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  • Conservative Young Women Flip the Script: Kids First, Then Career

    Conservative Young Women Flip the Script: Kids First, Then Career

    For generations of women, the logic has seemed airtight: Focus on a career in your 20s, and worry about starting a family once you are established in a job.

    This mindset has catapulted women into higher-earning positions, and into traditionally male-dominated fields. The share of women in their prime working years who are in the workforce is around a record high. And women are having babies later, if they have them at all. The answer to fertility constraints, they’re told, is egg freezing.

    Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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  • Exploring Valuation After Recent 10% Share Price Drop

    Exploring Valuation After Recent 10% Share Price Drop

    Okta (OKTA) has been catching investors’ attention lately, as its stock price has seen a dip of nearly 10% over the past month. This movement has prompted fresh discussion about the company’s current valuation and future prospects.

    See our latest analysis for Okta.

    Zooming out, Okta’s 1-year total shareholder return is up just 2.8% even as the stock price has given back nearly 10% this month. This shows that momentum has faded after a volatile stretch of gains and setbacks. Most recently, the company saw its share price return slip by 14.5% over the last 90 days, which could reflect investors recalibrating expectations around its growth potential and risk profile.

    If you’re curious to see what other growth stories are developing beyond Okta, now’s a smart moment to check out fast growing stocks with high insider ownership.

    With shares lagging and trading at a notable discount to analyst price targets, the question now is whether Okta’s current weakness signals an undervalued opportunity or if the market already reflects all of its potential upside.

    Compared to Okta’s last close at $78.68, the most popular narrative pegs fair value above $120. This supports a bold thesis centered on cloud identity growth and increasing security needs.

    The proliferation of AI agents and nonhuman identities is creating new, urgent security use cases that require sophisticated identity governance, privileged access management, and policy controls. These are areas where Okta is innovating (Cross App Access, Auth0 for AI Agents, Axiom acquisition), opening incremental growth avenues and potential margin expansion through higher-value and differentiated products.

    Read the complete narrative.

    Want to know what financial forecasts power this striking discount? The foundation here is aggressive profit expansion, ambitious margin targets, and revenue acceleration that could catch the market off guard. Find out which key growth bets and financial leaps are at the heart of this narrative. Are the numbers bold enough to deliver on the massive upside?

    Result: Fair Value of $120.37 (UNDERVALUED)

    Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what’s behind the forecasts.

    However, ongoing cybersecurity consolidation and execution risks from frequent product expansions could quickly challenge Okta’s growth story if there are any missteps in integration or innovation.

    Find out about the key risks to this Okta narrative.

    Shifting focus from growth assumptions to how the market values Okta compared to its peers shows a less optimistic picture. Okta currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 82.6x, notably higher than the US IT industry average of 27.8x and its peer average of 28.1x. The fair ratio for Okta, based on broader trends, stands at just 40.7x. This sizable gap could indicate more downside risk if investor sentiment reverts to the mean. Are markets getting ahead of themselves, or will Okta’s earnings prove robust enough to justify such a premium?

    See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown.

    NasdaqGS:OKTA PE Ratio as at Nov 2025

    If you have a different perspective or want to dig into the numbers yourself, you can build your own viewpoint in just a few minutes, your way. Do it your way.

    A good starting point is our analysis highlighting 4 key rewards investors are optimistic about regarding Okta.

    There’s no reason to limit yourself to just one opportunity. Use the Simply Wall Street Screener and uncover unique stocks before others even notice.

    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

    Companies discussed in this article include OKTA.

    Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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  • How Investors May Respond To Restaurant Brands International (QSR) Expanding Burger King in China With CPE Backing

    How Investors May Respond To Restaurant Brands International (QSR) Expanding Burger King in China With CPE Backing

    • Earlier in November 2025, Restaurant Brands International announced a joint venture with Chinese asset manager CPE to grow Burger King’s restaurant count in China from about 1,250 to more than 4,000 locations by 2035, backed by a US$350 million investment from CPE.

    • This move aligns with RBI’s strategy of expanding via franchise-led models and underlines the significance of China’s rapidly growing consumer market for global quick-service restaurant brands.

    • We’ll consider how this ambitious partnership and expansion plan could influence the company’s investment narrative and future growth opportunities.

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    To be a shareholder in Restaurant Brands International, you need to believe in the company’s ability to drive profitable growth through its global franchise model, while balancing the risks of international expansion and margin pressures. The recent China joint venture is a meaningful step for long-term unit growth but, in the near term, does not materially resolve the biggest risk: the potential for margin compression from persistent commodity inflation and competitive discounting, especially in the key U.S. and international markets.

    The recently completed US$1.21 billion follow-on equity offering stands out in the context of these expansion plans. This fresh capital further strengthens RBI’s ability to fund initiatives like the ambitious China partnership, reinforcing the company’s commitment to international growth as a primary catalyst, while also highlighting the need for disciplined capital allocation should near-term pressures on margins intensify.

    By contrast, investors should be aware that executing large-scale international growth ventures can introduce risks that…

    Read the full narrative on Restaurant Brands International (it’s free!)

    Restaurant Brands International’s outlook anticipates $10.1 billion in revenue and $2.0 billion in earnings by 2028. This is based on a 3.5% annual revenue growth rate and a $1.1 billion increase in earnings from the current $862.0 million.

    Uncover how Restaurant Brands International’s forecasts yield a $78.25 fair value, a 11% upside to its current price.

    QSR Community Fair Values as at Nov 2025

    Simply Wall St Community fair value estimates for Restaurant Brands International range from US$43 to nearly US$87 across 4 separate perspectives. While these views underscore broad uncertainty, the recent China expansion plans highlight that international initiatives can significantly shape future performance, reminding you to explore several alternative viewpoints before making up your mind.

    Explore 4 other fair value estimates on Restaurant Brands International – why the stock might be worth 39% less than the current price!

    Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes – extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

    Our top stock finds are flying under the radar-for now. Get in early:

    This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

    Companies discussed in this article include QSR.

    Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

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  • Do mushroom and protein ‘functional’ coffees have health benefits?

    Do mushroom and protein ‘functional’ coffees have health benefits?

    Getty Images Trendy superfood mushroom coffee in green cup on wooden background. Getty Images

    Zak Haddad has been kickstarting his day with a cup of coffee infused with lion’s mane – a type of mushroom – for the past three years.

    He says it gives him a “really clear, focused feeling”, without the “spike and crash you can sometimes get from strong coffee”.

    Coffees made with extra ingredients like mushrooms, protein and collagen are known as “functional coffees” – which aim to provide consumers with benefits beyond the typical caffeine boost.

    For years they’ve been a familiar sight in the aisles of health food stores, but more recently they’ve been cropping up in high street coffee shops too.

    So when Zak opened his own coffee shop – Sipp in Chorlton, Greater Manchester – in late 2023, he was eager to include mushroom coffees on the menu.

    Zak’s shop has four different types of mushroom powder on its menu, which he says all have different benefits. Customers can pay an extra £1 to add a mushroom powder or a supplement called collagen to drinks from lattes to cappuccinos.

    Zak Haddad A close-up of a man in a white and grey striped shirt. He has short brown hair and a bushy beardZak Haddad

    Zak has been drinking lion’s mane coffees for three years

    ‘From niche wellness corners into the mainstream’

    Coffee made with mushrooms, like lion’s mane, reishi and chaga, are believed to give people better focus “without the jitters of regular coffee”, according to nutritionist Eli Brecher, though she notes that research is still ongoing.

    Over the past year as demand has risen, health food chain Holland and Barrett has almost doubled its range of mushroom coffees, it told the BBC.

    Coffee giant Starbucks started selling barista-made protein coffee in its US stores in September, with high-protein milk and cold foam. In the UK, you can pick up a bottle of Starbucks’ pre-made protein coffee from the fridges at its coffee shops and in supermarkets, where it might be sold alongside chilled protein coffees by other brands such as Jimmy’s and Emmi.

    Food research company Tastewise lists functional coffee as one of its top trends for 2026. It found the number of mushroom coffees on UK coffee shop menus has grown 30% over the past year.

    “Functional coffees are shifting from niche wellness corners into the mainstream,” says Ms Brecher, who herself drinks mushroom coffee. She says people are becoming “much more interested in wellbeing, stress support and energy stability”, and that adding extra ingredients to a cup of coffee “feels like an easy upgrade, rather than an overhaul”.

    Rii Schroer A woman in a patterned brown and black top with long brown, curly hair sits in front of a windowRii Schroer

    Nutritionist Eli Brecher says coffee made with mushrooms is believed to give people better focus “without the jitters”

    The Black Sheep Coffee chain has been offering scoops of protein powder and CBD as add-ons to its drinks for some time, but earlier this year, it launched its “functional health” latte range.

    One, containing prebiotic fibres, aims to improve gut health. Another, with collagen, is meant to help people’s skin. But it’s the lion’s mane latte that is Black Sheep’s bestseller, according to Ben Fenton, their chief operating officer. And customer response to the drink has been “far beyond” what the company expected.

    Customers add functional add-ons to about 15% of all coffee, matcha and smoothie orders from Black Sheep, he says.

    Prices vary by location but at Black Sheep Coffee in Birmingham, adding a shot of lion’s mane to your coffee costs 99p, and a shot of collagen costs £1.09. So if you buy a functional coffee every day, rather than your regular one, over the course of a month you’ll spend about £30 more.

    Meanwhile, in the US Starbucks customers are paying $1 (76p) to add high-protein milk or $2 (£1.52) to add high-protein cold foam to their coffee.

    At Liverpool Street Station in London, not everyone I speak to seems enticed by the idea of paying extra for a functional coffee. And many say they haven’t come across the concept of coffees made with ingredients like mushrooms and ashwagandha – a herb some people think helps with stress – before.

    Someone who is well-aware of the trend, however, is Mariam Begum.

    Every day, the 31-year-old drinks coffee with a shot of collagen, a protein some people take in supplement form because they believe it will help their skin, joints and hair. And sometimes Mariam adds protein powder, too.

    The self-described caffeine addict drinks three or four coffees a day. She’ll either make them at home with collagen she’s bought online or grab an iced coffee or flat white with collagen or protein from a coffee shop near where she lives in London.

    Unlike Mariam, Lauren Devlin, a former competitive power-lifter, has never bought a functional coffee from a cafe, but says she would if she ever saw them on a menu – even if she had to pay more.

    For years, she’s been drinking both coffee and protein shakes every day. But about five years ago, the 38-year-old started combining the two.

    She now buys instant coffee containing collagen and protein powder online to make at home, which she says makes her “feel fuller” than a regular coffee.

    Lauren Devlin A woman with brown hair smiles and looks at the camera, holding up a pale pink mugLauren Devlin

    Lauren Devlin likes to start her day with a protein coffee

    So how does functional coffee actually taste? I ordered a lion’s mane coffee with oat milk from Black Sheep, dubbed its “brain blend”, alongside a regular oat-milk latte.

    Andrew Salter, cofounder of mushroom drinks brand Dirtea, says lion’s mane in particular has a subtle taste, and I found there was next to no difference between my functional coffee and the regular one. The mushroom latte was possibly slightly more bitter, but my perception may have been affected because I was expecting it to taste different. The texture and appearance of both coffees seemed identical.

    There’s still a lot of confusion about the purpose of functional coffee – Mr Salter says when he set up his brand “99.9% of people asked if they were going to get high”. But the mushrooms used in coffees, like lion’s mane, are a different species to magic mushrooms and aren’t psychoactive.

    Grace Dean/BBC Two cups of coffee, in white cups on white saucers, pictured on a brown wooden tableGrace Dean/BBC

    My regular latte (left) and my lion’s mane coffee (right) were pretty much indistinguishable

    Some who regularly drink functional coffees speak highly of their benefits.

    Ana Richardson, who lives in Cardiff, says lion’s mane coffee made her feel like her brain “just started working” and it was easier to focus on one thing at a time after drinking it.

    But the 29-year-old, who ordered lion’s mane online to add to coffees at home, found it expensive and switched to drinking lion’s mane tincture mixed into water instead.

    Recently, Ana has also tried coffee with ashwagandha.

    “I’m awake, but I’m not jittery,” she says of the drink. “I’m not anxious.”

    ‘An add-on, not a magic fix’

    Research into the effect of lion’s mane’s on brain function is still in its early stages, but it is “promising”, according to nutritional therapist Rakhi Lad. But she notes most mushroom coffees on the high street use small quantities of lion’s mane, and that the quality can vary.

    As for protein coffee, the general population “doesn’t really struggle” to get enough protein, says James Fleming, professor of sports nutrition at St Mary’s University. In general, only the elderly and professional athletes need to worry about adding extra protein to their diets, he explains.

    The health benefits of functional coffees “vary quite a lot and for most people, they’re not essential,” says Bini Suresh, from the British Dietetics Association. Often the doses of functional ingredients in coffees “are too low to replicate the effects reported in research trials”, she adds.

    “At present, there’s no robust evidence that lion’s mane in typical coffee doses can meaningfully improve memory, focus, or brain health.”

    But the research is “still emerging”, says nutritionist Eli Brecher.

    “So if it makes you feel good and you have the budget for it, then go ahead and enjoy,” she says. “But the key is to remember that it’s an add-on – not a magic fix.”

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  • Britain to introduce $2 billion package to help switch to EVs – Reuters

    1. Britain to introduce $2 billion package to help switch to EVs  Reuters
    2. Will pay-per-mile raise Reeves money or drive people away from electric vehicles?  The Guardian
    3. What taxes apply to electric vehicles and when will new petrol and diesel cars be banned?  BBC
    4. UK to Extend EV Subsidies to Blunt Tax Increase in Budget  Bloomberg.com
    5. Rachel Reeves finds £1.5bn to subsidise electric vehicles in net zero drive  The Independent

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