WS Atkins Share Discussion Threads

[finess] 09/3/2006 18:29

Urchin!,
I had a fantastic run with AHT but decided to cut and run before Christmas.
I trade BP. LLOY.CTT. I am just dipping my toe in with Trafic Master and Dimension Data, the charts look good.
Do you have a stop loss plan in place for AHT?

[urchin1] 09/3/2006 15:44

Hi Finess,

I am still in LLOY, my main holding is in AHT & ELA

[finess] 09/3/2006 10:14

Hi Urchin1,
Yes he told me, keep him at it.
The drop yesterday was profit taking after a good run I,m in at around £6.90,did you sell LLOY before the divi.
I,m about 1/3 invested and have been waiting for a retrace all last year and this. Maybe it will not happen but some chartists say it will.

[urchin1] 08/3/2006 21:30

Hi Finess, I work with your son, smashing lad - very bright

[finess] 08/3/2006 21:27

When are the results due, they seem to have a lot of work coming through with RR.

[slydini] 07/3/2006 16:12

UBS (Virt-X: UBSN.VX - news) has initiated coverage of WS Atkins appending a buy recommendation and a 1000p target price

Source:

[siskinbird] 03/3/2006 09:01

Well done Sal - always good to hear a success story!

[salpara111] 02/3/2006 23:05

Well, I finally sold my last tranche of ATK today. I got in at 102 and sold half when it crossed the 600 line and promised myself that I would sell the rest when I saw 800 and my limit order was hit today.
This has been my saving grace stock over the last few years making up for some pretty expensive tech stock mistakes earlier in the decade.
I still see them as a solid stock to hold but the gains are now going to be harder won.
I will probably set another buy limit order around 740 in a month or so and if I get back in at that level then great and if not its no big loss.

[megan russel] 01/3/2006 12:04

Could someone list the major shareholders and their holdings please

TIA

Megan

[therailwaytrackers] 26/2/2006 09:49

I'm not saying this is the highest ATK will reach in the long term I'm just saying it doesnt look an attractive buy at these levels. If you compare it to something like LLOY which is delivering a DY 6.5% and small growth, bid speculation etc its look a stronger buy.

I'm just looking through the Market with a lot of the FTSE100, FTSE250 stock delivering DY below 2%, then compare this to the current BOE rate its doesnt look attractive, I believe there will be a small correction shortly.

I normally trade two shares LLOY and RR. and sometimes scout for other pontential Longs or Shorts, However I mainley Trade the Forex and other Commodities as they don't Gap like Equities.

ATK had a price target of £12 a few years ago and there is no reason why they won't reach this in the future.

[powerbook] 25/2/2006 11:23

Thanks. But the company is now far more choosy about the risk it takes on. The PPP metronet problems, missing profit expectations, fines etc are a case in point. I remember watching some results streamed over the web where Keith Clarke said exactly that. The group's margins keep improving (which the city likes) and the last results were again ahead of market expectations. Add China, 2012 etc and I believe there is more upside to come. I doubt that 800p will come to represent the high for the next 'x' number of years.

[therailwaytrackers] 25/2/2006 07:45

Yes they do have fixed price contracts, I know they also have the PFI contracts which is an agreed % profit. Budgets are not unlimited, redesigns are only paid for if its a customer change.

Regards
D

[powerbook] 24/2/2006 18:12

Atkins are not in fixed price construction. If a re-design is needed, as consultants they will receive more fees. I agree that on current earnings the price looks toppy. But I am more interested in what 2012 will bring.

[therailwaytrackers] 24/2/2006 18:05

Contracts like this are not allways profitable just take a look at Wembley, in addition construction is not the only area of Atkins portfolio.

Look at the current DY 1.54% this is a good indication that the price is near the top.

[powerbook] 24/2/2006 15:30

Just wait for the contracts to start rolling in

[therailwaytrackers] 24/2/2006 12:23

At these levels looks high with a DY 1.54% I wouldnt be a buyer of this stock, in addition the Labour Rates have sored over the last few years. For examples a few years ago as a safety contractor rates were between £28/£30 hour for these rates have climbed to as much as £45.

Please note that my comments do not affect the share price, it is based on my view and exprience in working in their industry.

[siskinbird] 14/2/2006 11:26

From around 70p! Well done you - a 10-bagger is everyone's dream I think. I'm in fairly recently at around 700p, but it's looking good so far.

[swanddot] 09/2/2006 23:37

I am glad that my 2 sentences have provoked some discussion especially from Judge Jury on the future and fundamentals of this company. I have some atk from around 70 p

[siskinbird] 09/2/2006 22:32

swanddot - 9 Feb'06 - 09:11 - 843 of 847


I am surprised that nobody has noted this one. Made a new 3 year high yesterday.

I think plenty of us have noticed, swanddot - it's just that we don't say much!

[kalo] 09/2/2006 17:13

wow..big day...any news?

[judge jury] 09/2/2006 13:03

Managed to get my hands on the Deutsche Bank note that was issued on 13 Jan, entitled "Taking a fresh approach". Its a 40 page note and quite honestly I find it a bit confusing (but I think ATK is quite a confusing business). Anyway, for what its worth, this is here is the summary page

New approach to modeling & valuation; Buy recommended with TP 830p
IFRS has brought out even more data on the complex array of disciplines that constitute Atkins, and this has given us the opportunity to model the group using staff numbers (the real engine of revenue) for the first time. Furthermore, we have used a novel return on capital approach to valuation, capitalising the salary bill and deriving a target price of 830p per share, initiating coverage with a Buy recommendation.

Demand is not an issue...
Even a cursory glance at Atkins' areas of expertise reveals that demand should not be an issue. Project management, technical input, cost control and the array of other skills are in growing demand as both the public and private sectors strive to achieve ever better value for money and lower levels of risk on capital projects.

... but focus is
The group's fate lies in management's hands. Therefore, it must attract the best personnel and pursue an uncompromising high value-added, focused service to the world's top clients. We believe that management is currently delivering precisely this and will continue to do so in the future.

Valuation and risks
Our fair value (and target price) for the group is 830p, comprising 717p for the core business and 112p for joint ventures (most notably Metronet). The main risk to the core business is simply not being able to find personnel in the required numbers (and with the required skills set) to meet customer needs. An additional risk is that of a changing political agenda in what is a very long-term and complex project.

[powerbooks] 09/2/2006 09:21

I am long!

[pomp circumstance] 09/2/2006 09:19

sold mine(721) at 755. will now wait to see if the breakout happens and get in again!