Merrydown Share Discussion Threads

[daza65] 02/2/2004 09:43

IS IT GONNA BREAK OUT??

[daza65] 28/1/2004 12:11

Gateside i seem to follow you around. FFY and SGI still going well, did you get into SGI?? Ive just picked up some of these on a medium term basis.

[gateside] 28/1/2004 07:44

Merrydown PLC, owner of the market leading Shloer adult soft drink and Merrydown cider brands, is today issuing this trading update for the 3 months to 31 December 2003.

Shloer sales have continued to outperform their peer group in the adult soft
drinks sector and have achieved the top end of our expectations over the
important Christmas trading period. Our premium cider brand, Merrydown Vintage,
also enjoyed a slightly improved result compared with Christmas 2002 and a cider sector in general decline.

In view of this performance, and in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, the Board anticipates that the results for the year to 31 March 2004 will be ahead of current market expectations.

Nigel Freer, Merrydown's Chief Executive, commented:

"The consumer response to our Christmas activity has been very positive and
Shloer continues to be a significant driving force in the growth of the premium
adult soft drinks market."

[barnetpeter] 18/1/2004 21:04

Going back to 80p I think Gateside - which is when I will return.

BP

[gateside] 15/1/2004 22:40

Drifting down on no news, reckon we will be in for a 'level' day tomorrow.

Beginning to look very oversold

[gateside] 05/1/2004 18:24

The link above is from 'fingers' on his new thread. Excellent TA.

It's looking like that this going to test support at 87.5p

Still holding for the long term, remember that just before xmas there were some BIG directors buys in the low 80's, and Shloer has been everywhere in the shops in the run up to the festive period.

Reckon the xmas trading update is going to be sparkling!

[barnetpeter] 05/1/2004 14:41

Gateside - I should have told you that I sold out my entire holding at 96p when it couldn't break the 100p resistance level. Apologies.

[barnetpeter] 24/12/2003 01:25

Just you and me then gatey. Boy, have YOU got class and style!

[gateside] 23/12/2003 09:07

Good to see the price has not dipped at all after the recent big price rise.
£1 is a very significant level for both support and resistance.

I believe that the growth story is far from over and has a long way still to go in 2004 and beyond

[gateside] 23/12/2003 09:06

Good to see the price has not dipped at all after the recent big price rise.
£1 is a very significant level for both support and resistance.

I believe that the growth story is far from over and has a long way still to go in 2004 and beyond

[gateside] 17/12/2003 22:17

I live in a very rural area, and tiny out of the way shops are now stocking Shloer, the stuff is everywhere... bodes very well for Merrydown in my opinion ;-)

[gateside] 16/12/2003 16:59

Excellent, the OFFER reaches £1 and no profit taking... Onwards and Upwards :-)

[barnetpeter] 11/12/2003 14:15

Check this constant rise out.Bid approach?

[gateside] 11/12/2003 10:59

Up again today, will be interesting to see if this can break through 100p, and more importantly... stay above

[barnetpeter] 08/12/2003 12:59

Fingers, bang on!

[andrewhbruce] 08/12/2003 08:56

gateside.... have a look at my post under fizzing to explain recent trades....
ggod luck

[barnetpeter] 08/12/2003 00:19

Just you and me then gatey.

[gateside] 07/12/2003 22:25

As expected the price went up after the directors buys on Thursday. Good to see the price did not dip in the afternoon, as so many shares do, but then there was very little profit taking.

I feel that the director buys at 81.5p, put a good base on the price, making a buy at todays levels low risk.

Be interesting to watch over the coming week.

[andrewhbruce] 06/12/2003 18:57

shepherd neame have sold their 1,111,111 shares ( bought as part of the life saver op) 975,000 were bought by the company for cancellation and most of the rest by 2 directors who now own some 1.5m shares between them. the sheps sale is of no great significance as they will use it to fund strategic pub purchases
and their new distribution depot. ( this co is quoted on ofex and worth a look although shares are hard to come by). merrydown looks fit for an attack on new highs..... 125p+??.... wdyt barnetpeter??

[barnetpeter] 06/12/2003 16:07

No Pain, No Gain: 'Merrydown investors could enjoy a double celebration'
By Derek Pain
06 December 2003


Merrydown has had a colourful career since it was created just after World War Two by three former prisoners of war. On at least one occasion it seemed destined for the corporate graveyard, but at the eleventh hour managed the sort of escape its founders would have appreciated.

These days it is riding high. No thanks to cider, for years its leading product. Soft drinks, to be precise adult soft drinks, are providing the Merrydown sparkle. The Shlöer range now represents the biggest slice of group turnover. In the six months ended September Merrydown enjoyed a 29 per cent sales increase - only partly, the company maintains, due to the long, hot summer.

With cider sales achieving a rare gain, Merrydown produced its best interims for years. It normally suffers a half-time loss, with sales over the Christmas period making the vital contribution to the year's figures. This time round it cut the half-time loss from £428,000 to £75,000. The stockbroker Teather & Greenwood is seeking 12-month profits of £1.6m. Last year's figure was £1.4m.

I suspect, unless the group plans a costly advertising blitz, that T&G is being a shade cautious. Merrydown is clearly on a roll. Shlöer is continuing to outperform in an admittedly niche market, and there seems every chance the brand's momentum will increase in the second six months. Also, there is just a chance of a cider sales bubble. The cider market, as problems at the nation's biggest cider maker, HP Bulmer, demonstrate, is in the doldrums and Merrydown's operations, although profitable, have done little more than tick over for a long while. In addition the drive to develop Shlöer has drained group resources.

But perhaps, just perhaps, the tide is turning. Cider's modest sales advance could of course be a direct, and short-lived, result of our sun-drenched summer, when the nation's thirst for long drinks was almost insatiable. But the increase could indicate that the worst of the slump is over - and demand could be strengthening. If Merrydown should fizz on two drink fronts then shareholders could enjoy a double celebration.

The shares are 81.5p compared with my 35.5p buying price for the no pain, no gain portfolio. I am not yet anxious to take profits. Indeed I believe, with the group's excellent management still keen to develop the Shlöer brand, that the shares may have further to go. There is also the possibility of a takeover marauder appearing that may think Merrydown lacks the muscle to exploit Shlöer. In many ways, I would be sorry to see a predator swallow the group, but as the brand continues to make headway I can think of several candidates who may like to join the party.

[gateside] 04/12/2003 09:55

Massive trades gone through, broker to broker I assume.

Something could be brewing and definatly worth keeping an eye on.

[coffeedragon] 29/11/2003 17:41

Hi!

Been watching this one for a while. Big sign will be if it breaks through 83p, but in attempting (and failing) to do so its slipped out of its rising trend lines which suggests a stall in the price. Having said that, if it does get through 83p it could head for £1 very quickly, it's not very liquid.

I'm contemplating buying at 85p if it gets there before Xmas, DYOR, and all that...