Alfred Mcalpine Share Discussion Threads

[mike180] 09/12/2004 10:05

Space Man

What do you know?

[thewalrus] 08/12/2004 23:56

It's a nasty trick that you are trying to pull. I'm hoping no-one is daft enough to believe you.

[spaceparallax] 08/12/2004 21:41

Tricky. Will santa Claus be visiting shareholders this Xmas? Watch the lips; if they move, it could be revealing. There's never a good time to break bad news, except sooner rather than later.

[thewalrus] 08/12/2004 17:59

If you had the opportunity to talk to Ian Grice what questions would you put to him?

[spaceparallax] 08/12/2004 11:38

Remember Laing, they were the darlings of the industry? Where are they now? All it takes is a few significant knock-backs in this difficult sector where risks are high. I am reliably informed that the recent statements by MCA on the scale of losses, whilst being technically true may not be telling the full story. Watch the news for supporting announcements just prior to Xmas. This share was tempting recently especially with the IC support of mid November; however, if what I am advised is correct a significant fall is due. Let's hope this is not on the scale of BSS!

[mike180] 03/12/2004 13:30

Well they haven't yet and its all very well having good profit margins until you get these problem contracts that wipe out all the profit.

[thewalrus] 03/12/2004 13:19

Alfred McAlpine has historically the highest and most consistent profit margins in its sector. A couple of contracts have set this back, and it will be a lesson learned. No more chasing turnover.

They have said they are still on course to achieve their revised forecast, and I'm sure they will do it.

As for a change at the top, well Grice is that change, as he replaced Oliver Whitehead earlier this year. Grice is a good businessman, young and energetic and fiercley ambitious. He will deliver for us shareholders, of that I am sure.

[mike180] 03/12/2004 13:00

Its all very well landing loads of new work but the management don't seem capable of coverting work into profit as seen by this latest write off. £27M is more than all last years profit. Time for a change at the top.

[thewalrus] 03/12/2004 12:32

I think Grice is the right man. Peter Carolan has now gone, and that is positive, as he's the one who has failed to deliver on the infrastructure services side.

£3.80 by April

[alfred] 03/12/2004 10:05

Not with Grice at the helm it won't Steve.

[miamisteve] 02/12/2004 11:24

Don't give up on this stock now. The contracts are being won consistently. I see this as a £5+ play over 18 months.

[ed 123] 02/12/2004 09:16

mike180

Seems you were right all along. Well done. Not so well done, me. I carried on holding and continue to hold. I would have been better off ditching and putting the money elsewhere. Still, some you win, ........ McAlpine you lose.

McAlpine should have a good future - won't someone bid for them? .......please!

[winsorsmythe] 20/10/2004 10:19

Internal information from Business Development people continues to be very optimistic about new revenue and forecast business is likely to be exceeded. A lot of good orders in pipeline, so why is share price so hesitant. It doesn't stack up, surely

[mike180] 24/9/2004 10:41

and keeping the price up

[shawzie] 22/9/2004 17:22

Surely McAlpine are still buying back their own shares, so restricting availabilty.

[ed 123] 21/9/2004 14:56

Standard Life were (one of?)the seller(s). They've offloaded 1 million shares and have 2.2 million left.

The new floor seems to be 240 pence.

I'm still holding and looking forward to share price recovery when the seller(s) have finished (What an optimist!). There is support for McAlpine at this level but the constant drip of sales may have sapped the confidence of some potential buyers.

Is today the turning point?

[hylas] 10/9/2004 14:23

Ed 123
Was monitoring the action this morning on this one.
Seemed to be no shortage of sellers once the price went up a little.
Your 260p level may be the limit for the moment.

[ed 123] 10/9/2004 13:15

hylas,

Thanks. Contractors look popular today, except McAlpine. I think it will step up smartly when the sellers have finished.

[hylas] 10/9/2004 00:24

Ed 123
If you check out your trades list today you will find more buys than sells.
Suspect the sellers there are, are just the T+ traders clearing out.

[ed 123] 09/9/2004 22:34

hylas,

I'm still holding and watching. There is a seller out there but the shares are being mopped up at about the 260 pence mark, so there is support. Will seller or buyer prevail?

Mowlem's interims were well received today. Fears of further losses were unfounded. I took a gamble on these and bought in the dip. Now being rewarded. McAlpine should rise too IMO. But, why is someone selling at this level?

[hylas] 09/9/2004 20:29

Ed 123
I bought some today and was told that only one of six brokers was willing to sell.
The agent said they were looking to acquire rather than sell.
Maybe this signals that these were oversold recently and the advance in price that you are waiting for maybe on its way.

[ed 123] 27/8/2004 17:21

Thanks for those thoughts. Fortunately, McAlpine has good finances (cash and assets relative to share price - though some is goodwill) and the dividend is good. It's easy to be sucked into selling in the doldrums of share price dips, only to see the price rise again later. I'm holding on for now.

Trying to be positive, if something can lift the price through 260 pence, then 280 looks the next stop. Have a good weekend.

[thewalrus] 27/8/2004 16:04

MCA will be circling over Jarvis, hoping for an opportunity to buy parts of their business at low prices, taking advantage of JRVS position. This could prompt some positive movement. MCA wont be the only ones doing that though. Apart from that not much really. Except perhaps a change of personnel at the top on the Infrastructure side. Just rumours though... I'm very tempted to get out of MCA now. Saying that I was tempted at the beginning of July when they were 320p. If my foresight was as good as my hindsight I'd be better off a damn sight.

[ed 123] 27/8/2004 14:42

The rally petered out and sellers continue to offload. Back down to 250 now and little support here. Would Capita like to bid? Very wishful thinking but what other straws are there to grasp at? What happened to the share buybacks? Any good news out there?