Halfords Share Discussion Threads

[quilarvium] 19/2/2015 13:24

If halfords wanted a cunning plan they should buy out Evans.Then rebrand them all Cycle Rebublic, its a no brainer but I thought I'd better help them along on that one.Unless Ashley starts a bidding war?

[yewtrees] 18/2/2015 11:29

I have not read anywhere that Mike Ashley is definitely buying Evans Cycles. The article I read said that a number of companies were looking at the company, one being Halfords.

[kendonagasaki] 15/2/2015 08:24

Casino. I hear Mike Ashley is going ahead to purchase Evans CyclesThat's all halfords needs a dedicated billionaire trying to take halfords market share.Also I disagree that TESCO will not go after the cycle market!Do you not think Matt has not thought of a plan for this lucrative and most profitable market of cycling and cycling accessories?As for Halfords tents or Hubs someone has mentioned that are on TESCO car parks ( I've never seen any) but then again I'm an M&S man.What makes someone think Matt can not replicate this at TESCO?An artist creates but only a true genius steals???

[kendonagasaki] 15/2/2015 08:12

I would say the CEO leaving is a big deal IMO, I mean.... Just look at what happened to TESCO since Terry Leahy left?Total obliteration and destruction of the share price!Some question that Terry's timing was perfect as he knew TESCO was stretched to breaking point over the years and he handed the sinking ship to his successor????Some say it was simply his successors doing?Matt Davies had implemented a 3 year turnaround plan at Halfords, this was to borrow more money from the banks, lower the return of dividend to halfords investors and throw loads of cash at the training and development side of the business as well as rebranding and refitting stores and not forgetting the huge investment on TV and Radio advertising???He was also going to do something with the AutoCentre side of the business but I can't recall what it was.....?Looking at the curve over the last 30months Matt Davis joined the business at the time when halfords had actually turned the corner, they just had the best 2nd quarter and year half results on the back of Tour de France with Wiggo winning it and flying the flag for UK cycling enthusiasts.Matt has kept the business moving and growing with his " getting retail into gear" plan.I would like to know where we really are with that plan?Was it worth it?What's the real impact of it?How much is it really costing?How much more profitability has it generated?But the thing with any plan is if your not going to be hear to see it through and its full execution it is not a plan anymore.If I were a director at Halfords I would be more than aware a new CEO will also have a new plan and as sure as night us day he will also have some idea of who he will wish to bring in with him to for-fill his his execution of this plan.The new CEO have some idea of who will have to leave and who can stay. Think back to how many Matt bought in and those he let go to ensure he could execute his plan.You all know my thoughts and opinions on the matter.Matt should not be allowed to stay until April.A new CEO needs to be found that will have his own plan of solid execution and one that will stay the course to see his plan through. I say be judged on what you do and not who you are!Matt Davies is not a bad CEO, we will just be unable to judge his results?However the share price is a lot further than where it was when he started, and he purchased about 650,000 shares when he joined as his commitment to the business.Well his commitment to the business gas been proven to be null and void.However the done £790k profit from his share purchase should be recognised. So a well done to Matt for his business acumen!

[grahamburn] 14/2/2015 15:05

You are correct that it isn't just the CEO that matters in a large retail operation. However, since Matt's appointment he has transformed Halfords prospects and figures compared to the previous occupant. That's down to his retail abilities, his decision-making and implementation and his motivational abilities. The boss really does matter.

That's probably why Dave Lewis at Tesco has recruited him to run the UK side of that business!

PS Mind you, the previous occupant came from Tesco, so it will be interesting to see how Matt makes out there.

[21ant] 14/2/2015 11:10

I think you've got this all wrong. Yes Matt is a great CEO but the success isn't just down to him. I'm sure the hard working teams across the business would have something to say about that and they will still be there. As for Tesco competing with Halfords, why would they bother? They already have an agreement along with other supermarkets to let halfords fit their bulbs and wiper blades on their sites - there's two on the ground already. With an eBay shop now up and running and cycle Republic shops opening to name a few they have loads of good stuff going on. Maybe when they announce a new CEO and put in yet another good set of results people might change their mind - just my opinion but I'm hoping for good things here.

[casino444] 11/2/2015 22:44

,tesco and sports direct will undercut them big time no wonder the city dont like it

[yewtrees] 09/2/2015 08:15

Cycling still extremely popular. Prudential London Bike Ride last year was great fun, and I can only imagine that this year it will be as busy or busier than last. The Prudential London-Surrey 100 was over subscribed, 83,000 applied for 25,000 places.

[quilarvium] 28/1/2015 23:05

I'm out here. They need to sort out the new CEO the sooner the better....let's just hope we do not have a Terry Leahy effect when he or she? Begins their new role!

[mortimer7] 22/1/2015 10:46

HFD tradersown BUY recommendation :
"This new cycle of growth at Halfords seems well placed to recapture the benchmark 200-day moving average, currently at 470p in the first instance, followed by a return to year highs around 511p"

[mortimer7] 22/1/2015 10:44

hxxp://tradersown.co.uk/blog/44735/A-New-Cycle-Of-Growth-For-Halfords

[kendonagasaki] 21/1/2015 18:43

The CEO is leaving in under 3 months and potentially his NO 2 also. IMO its good for £4 yet.

[nick9013] 21/1/2015 14:53

Look I'm here to trade I say what I want. As I said I'm not in here at present. Not my issue if you had your pants pulled down here. I've made good money here over the last 3 years.

[kendonagasaki] 21/1/2015 12:10

Wynmck. That's not a nice thing to say.I think £4 is definitely coming.

[wynmck] 21/1/2015 10:29

Shauney2-agree-the same little band turn up regular as clockwork here pre statements/results with their "inside" info -all designed to scare holders out and get in cheaper for their trades

[kendonagasaki] 21/1/2015 09:56

Also they should have RNS's the departure of Jason Keegan as a matter of courtesy and to provide shareholders with clarity.I still don't know why he left but a couple of you have implied your thoughts on the matter.

[kendonagasaki] 21/1/2015 09:53

Well I am not convinced.The CEO is walking away after 2 years into a 3 year turnaround plan. The half year results already showed margins were being squeezed and starting to decline?There is no mention of margin increase or erosion this QTf just an increase of LFL.Halfords seem to know how to spend money to buy growth, if that works than good, if not it is a dangerous startergy to maintain as the CEO's mind is not going to be focussed on the job at hand.From what I can recall Matt Davis bought in a lot of good people and cleared out the deadwood rather swiftly. So how many of this current team will remain when the new CEO arrives?That's what makes me a little nervous, the retail director at Halfords 'Robert Swyers' was also at 'pets at home' and I think from his LinkedIn profile has supermarket experience.So potentially Matt Davies could, ( I think he will ) take Robert with him across to TESCO along with the HFD online marketing director.We are going to have to wait another three months to see the full carnage. IMO the chairman should really have let Matt go on garden leave for 6 months and put in an intermediate CEO.I see this trading in the 3.90 - 4.10 range, much lower obviously if margins have continued to weaken.All in my own opinion, one should always do ones research.

[neilgbudd] 21/1/2015 09:35

Liberum Capital Buy 439.05 600.00 600.00 Reiterates

[yewtrees] 21/1/2015 09:34

Results good. Cycling still increasing in popularity so great for the company.
Dividend good. Happy to hold.

[kendonagasaki] 21/1/2015 09:33

Shuany2. That hurts.

[kazoom] 21/1/2015 09:06

I don't know Nick's credentials or posting history, but to be fair I do know that it is often very hard to translate operational information from "middle management" layers into the top line performance of large companies.

It could well be that the Area Managers felt that performance was compromised, but they may not have been clear that this was because sales were running ahead of what was shared with the city. (Internal targets would almost certainly have been higher).

There has to be some reason why the logistics director left.

[mortimer7] 21/1/2015 09:05

Pleasing announcement today. Hopefully will see a recovery of the share price over the next few weeks.
"We now anticipate the full year Retail gross-margin to be in the better half of the guided year-on-year range"