Ashtead Share Discussion Threads

[lairddavid] 06/3/2017 08:11

Hi Ian, dont hold any AHT shares. I was out a long time ago ...on the fall from 280. I am practically all in on AGL but have a small playing pot for shorterm spread bets.

[fenners66] 06/3/2017 00:49

arab - By "we" I take it you mean Rangers - but I have to say I'm not a Rangers fan - it was just an easy to spell handle......

[arab3] 05/3/2017 22:47

ibrox
do you remember when we had a team ? !!

[fenners66] 05/3/2017 22:20

Juat for clarification - although I now use the Fenners tag - I am still Ibrox - just have that logged in on my phone so I dont have to log on every time - I know I said it before but since we are reminiscing...

[fingers xxd] 05/3/2017 20:41

Not an investor, but I have maintained a long term 'lurking' interest :-)

[ianwwwhite] 05/3/2017 17:53

Hi LAIRDDAVID,

Apologies, I have added you to the list in my earlier post of long serving AHT investors who have maintained an interest.

Do you still currently have a holding? I see that you have dabbled with URI recently with some success!

[ianwwwhite] 05/3/2017 17:42

Good afternoon bracke,

why those who have held throughout have done so?
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Good question, can't talk for the others, but I'll give my considered answer tomorrow!

Did I miss your answer to DD4's post 53413, we are all interested to know! :-)

[lairddavid] 05/3/2017 16:45

Another old timer here. Remember meeting Hatto, Rescuer, JOHNYM and a few others for golf and a meal. Neadles to say I would have been a lot better off holding on to my stake.

[bracke] 05/3/2017 14:47

ian

Perhaps you should be asking the question why those who have held 'throughout' have done so. Other than because of lethargy. ie. Fundamentals, TA, etc.

[ianwwwhite] 04/3/2017 18:37

Palwing13

My apologies, I hadn't realised that you were one of the 'originals' but mention of Hatto gets you an automatic entry to the 'roll of honour' so I have amended my original post to include you.

The question of when to realise your gains is always a difficult one, I can but agree. Good luck!

Ian
.

[palwing13] 04/3/2017 17:51

I wouldn't have been a millionaire, but a lot better off IF I hadn't sold so soon back in the Hatto days.Bought back in at circa 900p, but now have only a fraction of my original holding. With health declining and life flying past, there comes a point when you need to decide to "deal or no deal" before it's too late to reap the rewards.Decisions, decisions.......

[ianwwwhite] 04/3/2017 14:36

Good day bracke,

Lol!!

[bracke] 04/3/2017 12:38

Good day ian

"I am thinking of starting an 'I was nearly a AHT millionaire' club!"
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Please don't. It would be too painful.

[ianwwwhite] 04/3/2017 11:22

Good morning kilgallp,

My apologies, I have now added you to the 'roll of honour' in my post! I am sure there will be others.

Clarky5150 made a similar comment about missed AHT opportunities, I am thinking of starting an 'I was nearly a AHT millionaire' club! I stayed in, but would have made real money if 'hindsight trading' had been invented! Nevertheless, I am content with what AHT has returned, and it's been an interesting journey. :-)

C'est la vie!

[kilgallp] 04/3/2017 10:17

I too go back to the days of 'financial irregularities', but sorry to say I sold out with a sizeable loss. At the time I thought, 'I'll not touch them again', but I'm pleased to say I eventually succumbed. Boy would I be in a good place had I not jumped ship!

[discodave4] 03/3/2017 19:48

Thanks Ian.Who else can I ask!, besides you don't learn without asking and it's cheaper than learning by making mistakes!.Doubt I will do better but providing I hit my target/s I will be happy.This is without doubt the best board out of all the ones I frequent.........no childish snipes even when somebody declares a short position, we are all here for the same reason, so no need for stupid ramps/deramps etc.Good luck.DD

[ianwwwhite] 03/3/2017 18:59

DD4

Glad to help.

Potentially you will do far better than all of us because you are not afraid to ask questions!

Good luck!

Ian

[discodave4] 03/3/2017 18:15

Thanks Ian and Fenners for your potted investment history here over the years - blimey, didn't realise how bad the bad times were, as you say though it has come good for both of you in the end - buy and hold.Swing trading pfffttt :) only joking Bracke....do you actually hold anything long term?, sorry guys for being so curious, have known you a while now though! (Even if the newbie) and respect your views and vast experience (creep creep lol).DD

[ianwwwhite] 03/3/2017 16:06

Good day bracke,

Thanks, that's a lot clearer, although I had to consult investopedia ... never too old to learn, although remembering is becoming a problem!

[bracke] 03/3/2017 15:50

"What is your definition of top/bottom?"
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A major swing high or low.

[bracke] 03/3/2017 15:47

Good day ian

I had heard that saying but thought it an excuse for exiting too early.

[fenners66] 03/3/2017 12:11

No apologies needed off topic or as in this case clearly not.

I started with my holding about 2002 and originally purchased over a £1 - if I remember correctly the original US plant was purchased from BET not Rentokil.
Bought more when the price dropped - would be a whole lot better off if I had kept them all.

Considered selling them all and re-purchasing in the ISA - which would have saved me from the CGT liability ; but - I console myself - would probably have had me selling knowing there was no tax to pay, whereas with just selling parcels to get a tax free allowance this has kept me holding and riding the wave. com ci , com ca .

[ianwwwhite] 03/3/2017 09:34

Assume this applies to your good self Ian, thus would have to ask why did you sell some AHT over those twenty years?.....just curious.
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DD you have to remember that Ashtead today is a vastly different and better proposition than it was when I made my first purchase in 1997. Furthermore the share price increase has not been linear!

Briefly these are the more significant (and sometimes worrying) occurrences that I remember during the intervening period, I am sure that fenners66 (aka Ibrox), clarky5150, uppompeii, bracke, kilgallp, Palwing13, LAIRDDAVID, dcarn, rescuer, fingers xxd, and others will correct me if necessary:

• 19th Aug 1997 at 310p my initial purchase
• 4th Nov97 Script issue 1 for 1
• 2000 Acquired BET USA, an American subsidiary of Rentokil Initial plc
• 2003 Accounting irregularities in US,
• 13th Mar 2003 price fell 68% to <> 2.5p on interest payment default (cf Apr 99 high <> 229p)
• 2006 Acquired NationsRent Inc for $1bn
• 7th Mar 2009 price down to <>35.5p (owing to 2008 Credit crunch price had fallen 80%)
• Latest: 2017 Recent high 1751p

Not surprisingly as the price has risen and fallen I have both sold and bought AHT shares, but recent sales have been driven by my desire to manage risk, diversify, and balance my modest portfolio. I still have a holding.

Sale proceeds are always reinvested elsewhere, recently I have been a great fan of Fundsmith Equity Fund and Terry Smith (the new Buffett?) which has returned me 25% per annum (average) over the last three years and if sustained, using the 'rule of 72' and the power of compounding this would indicate a doubling of capital every three years! However I live in the real world, and don’t count unhatched chickens!

Finally if I have done well out of Ashtead it is not due to anything other than serendipity, but it is worth noting that the majority of my stock market investments are by way of mutual funds (Unit Trusts or OEICs), leaving trusted others to do the clever stuff.

Apologies for off topic, but question asked, question answered! (e&oe)

[discodave4] 03/3/2017 09:30

Morning 2 flat.The "see you in twenty years" was for Ian really.Agree this is cyclical and held for about 4.5 years so far, but my general mindset with AHT is that I am more than comfortable with just holding on indefinitely.Not trying to be anywhere near a TA expert, just the basics to see if it helps with shorter term trading - see how it goes......don't worry Bracke!.Apologies to our two high input and regular posters who dislike OT discussions - perhaps they will have something to contribute about Aunty Janet or Uncle Don a bit later today?.Have a good one.DD

[2flatpack] 03/3/2017 09:21

DD
As for AHT I do not intend to sell anymore and will keep holding indefinitely (well providing the fundamentals are sound and the story hasn't changed).

See you in twenty years


That sounds extreme Buffett to me.
With a cyclic stock 2 to 3 years is long term for me. Probable the most important factor though, is the board would be well past it's sell by date and I will be sat on a commode watching daytime TV ,if I'm lucky .
Have you give up your new career in TA or are you creating your own system ?
Buffett /TA you could name it after our mentor,THE DD STEEL BALLS system.
Sorry if this is too serious but we must no stray off thread.
Cheers