Amstrad Share Discussion Threads

[mesquida] 19/2/2006 10:13

Nice piece - should give the price a leg up tomorrow. But the Sunday Telegraph bods should really check their copy before going to print! What we will be seeing on Wednesday is not the full time figures, but the interims!

[bitterlemontart] 19/2/2006 08:55

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH



Market miscellany

Edited by Edward Simpkins

(Filed: 19/02/2006)



Amstrad

Sir Alan Sugar, the chairman and chief executive of Amstrad, does not like surprises, according to his TV adverts for National Savings. But he must have enjoyed presenting a nice surprise for Amstrad shareholders last month when he said the company would beat analysts' profit forecasts for the year.

The electronic consumer goods group will report full-year results on Wednesday and analysts expect pre-tax profits to top £20m. Amstrad is doing particularly well supplying Sky+ digital video recorders to British Sky Broadcasting. It is also enjoying rapid growth in its business supplying Sky Italia.

Pace Micro, an arch-rival to Amstrad in the set-top box market, is struggling and analysts believe that Amstrad is the main beneficiary.

Sugar's company is trading on a p/e ratio of 11.68, compared with a market average of 14.29. Shares in the company have risen strongly from 150p at the end of December to 203p at close on Friday. But we think they still have some way to go.

Buy.

[bitterlemontart] 19/2/2006 08:50

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH



Market miscellany

Edited by Edward Simpkins

(Filed: 19/02/2006)



Amstrad

Sir Alan Sugar, the chairman and chief executive of Amstrad, does not like surprises, according to his TV adverts for National Savings. But he must have enjoyed presenting a nice surprise for Amstrad shareholders last month when he said the company would beat analysts' profit forecasts for the year.

The electronic consumer goods group will report full-year results on Wednesday and analysts expect pre-tax profits to top £20m. Amstrad is doing particularly well supplying Sky+ digital video recorders to British Sky Broadcasting. It is also enjoying rapid growth in its business supplying Sky Italia.

Pace Micro, an arch-rival to Amstrad in the set-top box market, is struggling and analysts believe that Amstrad is the main beneficiary.

Sugar's company is trading on a p/e ratio of 11.68, compared with a market average of 14.29. Shares in the company have risen strongly from 150p at the end of December to 203p at close on Friday. But we think they still have some way to go.

Buy.

[bitterlemontart] 18/2/2006 19:25

www.ft.com



FINANCIAL TIMES



The importance of a television link

By Danny Vincent

Published: February 18 2006 02:00 | Last updated: February 18 2006 02:00

Sir Alan Sugar, chairman and founder of Amstrad, the consumer electronics group, will return to our screens on BBC 2's The Apprentice this week. The series goes on air as Amstrad shares are in favour. While the relationship between the group's performance and the chairman's TV career may be coincidental, the importance for Amstrad of its link with BSkyB is far less tenuous. BSkyB's aggressive drive in marketing its Sky + "smart" personal video recorders, which Amstrad produces, has lifted Amstrad, which suffered a decline in its share price in September. Its 3 per cent dividend yield is in line with the sector but Amstrad's positive trading statement in January was in sharp contrast to Pace Micro Technology. Altium Securities believes Amstrad will continue to benefit from its commitment to BSkyB. Analysts at WH Ireland have increased pre-tax forecasts for Amstrad to £20.4m for 2006. With its shares trading just above 200p, on a forward p/e ratio of 11, Amstrad is at a premium to the sector. With spare cash on its balance sheet, analysts believe a special dividend could be paid in the next two years. Danny Vincent



The rest of this article is for FT.com subscribers only

[bitterlemontart] 18/2/2006 19:15

FINANCIAL TIMES



The importance of a television link

By Danny Vincent

Published: February 18 2006 02:00 | Last updated: February 18 2006 02:00

Sir Alan Sugar, chairman and founder of Amstrad, the consumer electronics group, will return to our screens on BBC 2's The Apprentice this week. The series goes on air as Amstrad shares are in favour. While the relationship between the group's performance and the chairman's TV career may be coincidental, the importance for Amstrad of its link with BSkyB is far less tenuous. BSkyB's aggressive drive in marketing its Sky + "smart" personal video recorders, which Amstrad produces, has lifted Amstrad, which suffered a decline in its share price in September. Its 3 per cent dividend yield is in line with the sector but Amstrad's positive trading statement in January was in sharp contrast to Pace Micro Technology. Altium Securities believes Amstrad will continue to benefit from its commitment to BSkyB. Analysts at WH Ireland have increased pre-tax forecasts for Amstrad to £20.4m for 2006. With its shares trading just above 200p, on a forward p/e ratio of 11, Amstrad is at a premium to the sector. With spare cash on its balance sheet, analysts believe a special dividend could be paid in the next two years. Danny Vincent



The rest of this article is for FT.com subscribers only

[bitterlemontart] 18/2/2006 11:15

AMT = FT

www.ft.com

[bitterlemontart] 18/2/2006 11:15

AMT = FT

www.ft.com

[bitterlemontart] 18/2/2006 11:05

AMT = FT

www.ft.com

[yotter] 16/2/2006 16:44

Half-year results are out 22.2.06.

(It's on the Amstrad website under "Investor relations")

[netcurtains] 16/2/2006 16:25

mesquida,
I have no idea. I just guessed from previous results.
So next Wednesday. Great
Cheers John

[mesquida] 16/2/2006 16:10

Sorry guys, but I think you are wrong to expect figures tomorrow. I believe the date to be next Wednesday, 22nd February. Just where are you guys getting your information from?

[monty burns] 16/2/2006 13:58

Is that for sure?

I wouldn't expect too much - if you read the trading statement, it did refer to sales in the second half of the year - ie now - resulting in full year results 'significantly ahead of expectations.'

First half results may be nothing special - but the cash and the outook will be interesting.

[netcurtains] 16/2/2006 13:38

The results are tomorrow I guess.

[diamante] 14/2/2006 17:11

I think he is going give all the huge profits away to the poor.

Yeah, I agree, the divis will be increased yet again.

[typo56] 14/2/2006 16:45

lol, is that you Retailer?

[netcurtains] 14/2/2006 16:24

I think he is going give all the huge profits away to the poor.
And as a result the price will go up because people will like him for his niceness

[typo56] 14/2/2006 14:42

Anyone think Sugar may be doing the sums on Alba (ABA)?

[netcurtains] 13/2/2006 12:07

worst senario,
People build up the results too much and then AMS goes flat afterwards.
As a medium termer I would rather people think the results are going to be bad.

[monty burns] 13/2/2006 11:49

I recall it was the start of the last series that started the decline...But truthfully, I don't think the 2 are related.

I saw one poster a few months back say you could get the cream on ebay for about £35, cf selling price of £129. But I looked a few times (purely for investment research purposes, you understand) and couldn't see anything. So it will be interesting to get an update, but I'm really not expecting much - the concept sounded like a bit of a turkey.

The write-downs were on both versios of the emailer - a simple accounting requirement, lower of cost and net realisable value. They wouldn't have had much choice with their auditors, the judgemental bit being how they calculated NRV. To be honest, I think it's done and dusted, although there could be more, but equally there could be a gain, should they have done better than expected when the made the initial write-downs. Again, I doubt it's a big issue either way.

It's all about the set top business, and the impending HD TV activities, both in the UK and Europe. Things are obviously going well, the question is how well. And what is he doing with my (ok, our) cash?

Anyway, I prefer the nice charts on the other thread....

[diamante] 13/2/2006 09:56

The Apprentice starts again this week, new series. If any publicity is good publicity, then this is, errr, good publicity.

How is the old apprentrice doing with his face creams and stuff? If they are not selling, I suggest turning up the voltage and sticking the probe up his nose to jolly him along a bit.

Write Downs. You have to be a good a business man as AS to quickly write down the value of stock. It allows the salespeople to shift the stock (and get their bonuses) before their value falls further. Clears the decks for the new stuff. The much worse scanario is being left with depreciating stock which is impossible to shift. 'Why did he order so many in the first place' I hear those gifted with 20/20 hindsight say. What is he writing down anyway?

[bitterlemontart] 13/2/2006 09:20

Yet another BLUE AMT day ?!?!?

[monty burns] 13/2/2006 09:16

Don't know why there should be any further write-downs, they made them last time out - and it's only the emailers that were affacted, The HK CD player business was doing ok and the skincare thing they won't have gone a bundle on and it's too soon anyway.

The trading statement referred to results being significantly ahead of expectations. That's it, no reason for any write-downs.

Re bottom line, I wouldn't worry too much, it'll all be about the outlook. I'll be interested in the cash position and any plans for it.