1ST Dental Laboratories Share Discussion Threads

[jessica5] 10/3/2006 14:25

lol...good luck peps...;-))

[bengal1] 10/3/2006 14:24

ffs Jessica - can't you remember - it was you.

[jessica5] 10/3/2006 14:12

Now who was it that said we'd see some "Director buys" trying to prop up the SP?....;-))

[harryhill] 10/3/2006 14:11

My thoughts exactly pug.....pardon the pun but looks a bit cosmetic to me.

[bengal1] 10/3/2006 14:00

just wait for the next news!!

[pugugly] 10/3/2006 13:59

£11K (approx max investment each) Not very enthuiastic (imo & dyor) I remember Ringprop directors buying shares not so long ago - That did not do much to help the share price in the long term !!!!!!!!

[bengal1] 10/3/2006 13:53

Director buys!!

[bengal1] 10/3/2006 09:49

suspect news on new acquisition - followed by Director buys.

[graniteboy] 10/3/2006 09:36

............have teeth.....must bite. .......buy low, sell high seems to work most of the time.

[bengal1] 10/3/2006 09:35

next stop 40p

[gelp] 10/3/2006 09:23

bout Bl... time!

[dt10d] 10/3/2006 09:19

tipped today

[bbbb] 10/3/2006 08:11

gelp: 'The pressure is surely on the one man bands, whose fixed overheads are larger as a % than a consolidated centrally administered operation and who surely will be faced with predator marketing from all sides.'

this remains a relationship business, where personal contact and discussion and delivery of specific requirements relating to some of the product can overide other factors. some of the technicians who do the fabrication will always have a preference for this feedback and sense of self-worth from being part of a
small team rather than a large managed outfit.

[gelp] 09/3/2006 16:28

Point taken:
BUT. the chinese or Indian argument can be applied to any product, and by the way why does anyone buy books anywhere else but Amazon. There is nothing unique to those of us in business today about the competition from China. And most of us compete with it very well thank you.
The 12 million of a sales and growing makes FDT number one in a market of ???? size.
The pressure is surely on the one man bands, whose fixed overheads are larger as a % than a consolidated centrally administered operation and who surely will be faced with predator marketing from all sides.
If Chinese production is a serious factor I still maintain that FDT can make more use of that than smaller operators. For example they can buy millions more teeth than a small operator! Or FDT could run its own lab in china - not difficult theses days.
Overall the sector IS ripe for consolidation & FDT are in the forefront.

[bbbb] 09/3/2006 12:23

'There are scale economies in all sorts of areas and if China is the place to make stuff I am sure will be the first on the plane to set a lab up.'

erm, no, gelp, chinese labs are already direct mailing to the uk for business,
with competitive price/delivery times.

[gelp] 09/3/2006 12:14

I really do love the figs as I beieve it is a good buying opportunity. I am sorry if I did not quite get the drift from Jessica- takes a while to sink in sometimes!
There seems to be a lot of pessimism concerning the business model but on the basis of throw enough mud on the walls and some sticks, the idea of buying up loads of small operators is a good one and with evidence of success.
Sure, some small dealers bounce back again, but that is the way of the world even with Tescos!
The business is the industry leader, is rationalising the industry and its operations, and is positively run to increase sales and profits.
There are scale economies in all sorts of areas and if China is the place to make stuff I am sure will be the first on the plane to set a lab up.
THose who think the share is over priced kindly indicate the level at which they think it would be good value.
The statement is fine as far as I am concerened and if they deliver then great - if not then the model remains and it just needs tightening up - a child can do that!

[jonwig] 09/3/2006 12:03

bengal1,

re the balance sheet: rather too much in the way of intangibles for my liking - wouldn't mind if they were sweating their assets and making a profit.
Maybe they will, and in that case the investment will have proved to be a sound one.
But frankly, I've no great confidence in that outcome.

At least the BS should look healthier next year if their projections are realised: better cashflow and management of it, drawing down debt.

[jessica5] 09/3/2006 11:29

Jon maybe someone from the "we love FDT" gang could ring the management and ask afew questions relating to deal below......i have the picture in my head of the chap who bought a new car from the show room without a test drive only to discover after delivery it has no bloody engine...;-))

"Riley Dental Laboratory acquired in November 2005"

[bengal1] 09/3/2006 11:27

jessica - still trying to work out "ffs" - I think it could be rude but my English is not so good - having sought advice we believe it is what is termed a coloqualism for pair bonding mating. Please help me if I have got this wrong. FDT in my own opinion done extremely well - read the balance sheet more carefully and don't get stuck on a "headline".

[jonwig] 09/3/2006 11:18

Jessica,

- don't pull your punches, you're much too kind!

Any thoughts I had of buying these have been banished by some knowledgeable posts recently as to just how much (or rather, little) benefit can accrue from building up a nationwide dental labs business.
Cost-cutting seems to be the main advantage, but that demands efficient management ... erm.

Our local village optician sold his two-shop business to Rayners and is staying on as manager till he retires (nice little earner).
I quizzed him a bit and learned that about the only difference is that a chap comes around each week to count the stock of envelopes and paper clips.
Similar idea.

[jessica5] 09/3/2006 10:55

220k x trade now i wonder ...lol....

ps...bengal "good results"...oh please ffs....THIER BLOODY RUBBISH AND YOU KNOW IT...I did plan to buy shares here but seeing just how good the management is here i decided thier far to inept to look after my hard earned cash....SORRY...;-))

[bengal1] 09/3/2006 07:47

good results - company size (turnover) doubled in years - creditor monies reduced - debtors high - excellent

[gelp] 08/3/2006 22:10

At least 3 of us love the results!