AGA Rangemaster Share Discussion Threads

[max12475] 30/11/2009 18:24

I second that, surely its only a matter of time

[cockneyrebel] 30/11/2009 13:54

On my own here?

The AGA shop at Thame is doing a roaring trade if you go buy the people in there at the weekend - place was packed - only a small shop but heaving, didn't even bother going in their to mosey around as it was obvious the staff were busy.

After the recent housebuilding recovery stuff like AGA, TPT, GFRM and TPK must be set to start coming in ahead of what are pretty downbeat forecasts for the whole lot of them imo.

Only holding AGA and TPT myself.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 23/11/2009 09:27

Making new recent highs today by the look of it.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 16/11/2009 20:47

No, doesn't mean anything of the sort - back to investing school for you she-ra.

If I buy something speculating it's a bid coming it's exactly that, speculation.

If I buy someting because it's funamentally under priced it's an investment.

There's a distiction.

Silly you indeed :-)

CR

[cockneyrebel] 16/11/2009 11:22

Looks like I was right - Aviva sold 7% of the co.

Looks like Blackrock has bount them.

Not surprising to see Aviva selling on the lows - the norm for them imo.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 15/11/2009 16:53

Hmm, no, I don't think so. I recently bought a small amount of NXR because of the high volume and inview of the fact Lifestyle already had nearly 30%. A trade and nothing more on the hope of a bid that has't come off.

Of course if you can show me where I said it was a 'fab investement' then I'll stand corrected.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 13/11/2009 13:14

just had another 5k - will be a fab investment over 6 months imo.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 13/11/2009 12:19

I think that's the two way trades - ie half those trades were buys and half sells.


Reckon it's Aviva that's sold out on the lows, as they do.

Nice move up today. Agree with Midas - highly geared to any recovery - as we start moving house more next year those Sloney types that want a country cottage will be gobbling up AGA's imo. Whatch the earnings forecasts increase as they start sounding more and more upbeat.

CR

[janekane] 13/11/2009 10:08

11% of the company sold yesterday so who bought them
its lokking good for a return to 150p

[cockneyrebel] 12/11/2009 16:53

Nice IMS today I thought - can only see statements getting better here out after that.

Appointment of a joint broker so I reckon they have a message to tell.

Bought in today.

CR

[wad collector] 14/9/2009 13:05

Midas yesterday;

In recent years, however, Aga Rangemaster Group has worked hard to promote its cookers more widely, suggesting they sit just as well in a city home as a country one. Chief executive William McGrath says, for instance, that the Aga is like the little black dress - always classy, always attractive.


This strategy was working well and the company had set its sights on achieving annual sales of £300m and profits of £30m --before the credit crisis erupted. The ensuing economic downturn has hit Aga hard.


The company operates primarily in the UK, but also overseas, particularly in North America, France and Ireland. It makes a series of range cookers, including brands such as Rayburn, La Cornue and Rangemaster.

It also makes fridges, sinks, kitchen furniture and even cookware, and owns the upmarket tile company Fired Earth and kitchenware retailer Divertimenti.


The heart of the business is the oven division, but all the products sold by the company share certain characteristics - they are designed with enthusiastic cooks in mind, they are high quality and they are expensive.

A Rangemaster oven costs anything from £1,200, an Aga costs at least £6,000 and the La Cornue cookers, from France, cost even more. As consumers became increasingly nervous about the recession, Aga Rangemaster suffered.


Pre-tax profits for 2008 almost halved from £27m to £14.4m and in the first six months of this year, the company reported a loss of £2.4m against a £12.3m profit in the first half of 2008. The shares, which were more than 300p at the start of last year, are trading at 137p.


Looking forward, however, the prospects are much brighter. McGrath has coped well with the downturn. Sales have fallen but he has cut costs and conserved cash while maintaining certain investment projects, such as merging two US factories, that will deliver savings in the future.


The company has also spent about £50m on research and development over the past few years, delivering innovations such as a programmable Aga. This uses much less fuel than conventional models, which are left on permanently as it takes several hours for them to heat up to their full working temperature.


There is evidence, too, that the company's typical customers - wealthy professional or country families --have fared less badly in the economic downturn than some poorer socioeconomic groups. As conditions start to improve, therefore, sales should respond. Analysts forecast turnover of about £240m for 2009 and a small pretax loss. They believe sales will rise a little next year and the group should deliver profits of a few million pounds. McGrath continues to believe his pre-recession targets are achievable over the next few years.

•Midas verdict: Aga Rangemaster has two key selling periods - spring, when people are moving home, and the run-up to Christmas, when people spend more time in the kitchen. The next few weeks should be telling for the company. The business has had a rough year, but as the housing market recovers, sales and profits should rise. Buy now and watch the impact of recovery on the shares

[bearstalker] 11/8/2009 08:04

Housing market partial recovery - country properties still in demand.

[miikke] 10/8/2009 22:28

These share have had a fantastic run in the first part of August 2009. Anyone got any idea why they have done so well?

[tokolosh] 19/3/2009 08:50

Cheers - there was a mention on FTs alphaville blog of a rumour of a bid from a US company. The volume didnt look high enough for anything to have leaked to me.

[smicker] 18/3/2009 18:25

tokolosh,
I noticed that there is fairly high short interest in this share at end Jan. I'd imagine any sign of a price rise would force closures in a hurry such as observed today

[tokolosh] 18/3/2009 13:00

Something up here?

[walker10] 29/1/2009 08:08

More people are switching to wood burning stoves which both cut costs and are carbon neutral.

One manufacturer, Charnwood on the Isle of Wight, has seen sales quadruple this year.

It's had to double its night shift to increase capacity and is now taking orders for next April.

"We've been inundated, we've never known anything like it" said spokesman Ced Wells.

The third generation family firm has found that some customers have completely replaced their gas and oil central heating systems in favour of wood.

"At the moment, that's the only problem" said Mr Wells, adding: "We export a lot of stoves to France where, in rural areas, every house has a log store. Here there's a bit of a problem at the moment in the distribution of wood.

"The Forestry Commission says there is plenty of wood available – it's just that distribution is patchy, but it's starting to improve".

The firm's stoves start at around £600 and rise to around £2,500.

Industry icons, the classic Aga and Rayburn, confirm demand is skyrocketing with sales tripling in the last five years.

[gizzimodo] 15/1/2009 14:11

The statement seems positive, plenty of cash and a diverse product range.They are not going bust in the short term and plenty of strong brands ready for the recovery.

[cascudi] 01/12/2008 11:03

it seems quite lots of buy @ 65p
good sign?

[cascudi] 01/12/2008 10:40

vat cut should boost the these items?

[gizzimodo] 18/11/2008 16:55

The weak £ makes exports attractive perhaps this could make up for a weaker market in UK. Seems many people are also going down the eco route and purchasing wood burners, solid fuel cookers etc. Seems attractive at current prices.

[wad collector] 30/10/2008 13:00

For the Mail on Sunday's share tips read the Midas column and archive.

FT Weekend Share Watch


Aga Rangemaster is feeling the heat. The cast-iron cooker maker, whose products feature in Britain's upmarket country kitchens and are adored by celebrity chefs, has issued a stark profits warning.

In a trading update on Tuesday, the company reported its order intake for September was 15% below last year's level and 5% below the previous summer period.

The company's market cap has now lost close to £450m since peaking last July, and the announcement on Tuesday pushed the shares to their lowest in more than 20 years.

Higher energy bills and a desire for stoves with programmable functions have led some customers to purchase wood-burning cookers and more modern versions of its range.

But the future is not bright. Sales are closely tied to housing transactions and these are virtually frozen. With recession fears gaining traction, and consumer spending in decline, £7,000 stoves will not appear on many shopping lists.



Are we backing Neanderthal man? Or is it all in the price anyway? I've an oil Rayburn , but thinking of swapping for a woodburner.

[tricky1992000] 21/10/2008 13:38

They could really do with expanding to brazil were even the rich construct their own homes, self building is a huge thing here. Most people buy a plot of land, hire an architect, and then hire builders.

most of the corporate builders concentrate on apartment buildings and condimindiums.

if you don´t believe me, go to google earth and try and spot how many uniform houses there are, (don´t look at a poor neighbourhood)