Ashley (laura) Share Discussion Threads

[srpactive] 31/8/2016 07:45

Morning GC, I have posted there earlier.

[garycook] 31/8/2016 03:27

How about HGM ?

[srpactive] 30/8/2016 17:56

We have closed well over the downtrend line from
when we hit 35p, which is very positive.

dyor

regards

active

[srpactive] 25/8/2016 14:29

Yes especially as the UK is experiencing good retail sales
and a growing disposable income stream.

[philjeans] 25/8/2016 13:07

Bargain rating here for a quality business.

[woodhawk] 25/8/2016 11:24

Sentiment in a stock can change very quickly, particularly when the share price starts to rise.

[srpactive] 25/8/2016 11:22

I would prefer the former myself.

dyor

regards

active

[pictureframe] 25/8/2016 11:05

Need to see either 1) Sizeable institutional buying or 2) Director buying.

[srpactive] 25/8/2016 10:55

Yes quite agree, although I do feel aly has been hit far to hard from 35p
down to 21p, a bit silly.

dyor

regards

active

[nigelmoat] 25/8/2016 10:53

Any uplift in share price only seems to bring out sellers. Too many unknown hidden issues here for people to buy/add comfortably in what should otherwise be a good stock. All imo.

[srpactive] 25/8/2016 09:37

Chart looking very strong here, bid offer rising, offer
24.5p.

dyor

regards

active

[barnesian] 18/8/2016 13:23

pictureframe:
I agree some director buying would be an excellent indicator of confidence.

Last director's dealing was 19 April 2012 when the deputy chaiman sold 406,000 shares at 23.5p.

Before that, on 15 Jan 2010, the CEO bought 150,000 shares at 13.4p.

Doesn't mean anything - except that there have not been a lot of directors' dealings!

[srpactive] 18/8/2016 12:18

Live Live Live;

Pound breaks $1.31 as UK retail sales smash expectations post-Brexit

[pictureframe] 18/8/2016 10:56

Some director buying would set a good marker

[speedsgh] 18/8/2016 10:48

Assume there will be a clarification of XD/payment dates after the AGM... whenever that is.

[barnesian] 18/8/2016 10:19

RickyVader: Following Brexit, Sterling fell 10% from 2.0 to 1.8 against the Singapore Dollar. So you would expect a £3m exchange gain on the Singapore Office at Balance sheet date of 30 June. But the accounts show "Exchange movement on property, plant and equipment £0.1m" Perhaps it is offset against the loan if that is also in Singapore dollars?

philjeans: No, I'm not short! But I have just sold my holding for the reasons I have given. (New office, dividend policy, o/s lack of success, general fudge).

I agree the company is well established - certainly in the UK,- is profitable and paying a good dividend. It also has potential growth prospects. I might even be tempted to reinvest in this share if and when the commercial and dividend strategies becomes clearer (including the Singapore office) and are convincing.

My motive in commenting on here is not to talk the share down. I have already said above that I hope it succeeds. My motive is simply to share my thinking with all of you in order to test it. Your responses are useful and inform my thinking.

[rickyvader] 18/8/2016 09:58

I am intrested in knowing more about the singapore building too and who is in it.As a side note would the drop in the pound after brexit increased the buildings value in £s?

[gostevie63] 18/8/2016 09:52

"I will either take the .5p divi or the profit as these rise pre ex date."

Same here. Shame we don't know when the xd date will be. Hopefully they may deem to inform us at some stage. This still - perhaps irrationally - sits uneasily with me.

[billy5] 18/8/2016 09:48

This is a great share I have held/traded these for many years. Divi is excellent.
Added another 20k yesterday, I will either take the .5p divi or the profit as these rise pre ex date.

Can't fail.

[nigelmoat] 18/8/2016 09:28

The Singapore office investment of £31.1 million plus loan costs made last year is sitting uncomfortably with me. It was described as an 8 storey 98254 sq ft building in a good location. Is this all used by Laura Ashley as would accommodate lots of staff!! Is it partially let deriving any income? Not a mere mention of it in the Final Results. Any thoughts?

[rcturner2] 18/8/2016 09:23

As I said when I sold, this has value trap written all over it.

[philjeans] 18/8/2016 09:13

Millions of Chinese travel the world these days and are increasingly affluent and brand aware - been to Bicester Village recently?

You underestimate the power of the net and these business people's reach.

They're trying and may well succeed. Meanwhile the company is well established across the globe, is profitable and paying a divi.

Don't talk it down too much!

Not Short are you?

[barnesian] 18/8/2016 09:06

Flagon: Thanks for the link to yesterday's Guardian article. Very interesting.



I've had a look at tmall. It is a marketplace like Amazon. Laura Ashley is on there with millions of other products. You can find it by using Laura Ashley as key words.



If you haven't already heard of Laura Ashley and want to buy their products, you won't find it. The same with the new websites planned in Hungary and the Czech Republic.

What % of the Chinese population have heard of Laura Ashley and find it so desirable that they will search on-line for it? People will in the UK because of the Laura Ashley heritage, but China?

The solution is marketing a premium UK brand to the Chinese rich - but that would be hideously expensive. The best solution would be a visit to China from the Duchess of Cambridge in a Laura Ashley frock if that can be arranged. Or product placement in a popular but upmarket Chinese TV series or film - or something similar.

I don't think ALY have the financial muscle to break into the Chinese market. (Think Tesco entry into the USA) They certainly can't afford the necessary marketing AND maintain the dividend!

Perhaps if they were to rent out their premium Singapore office at say a 10% net yield, they could add £3m to their profit. That would more than cover the financing cost of the debt. But it wouldn't transform the company.

[srpactive] 18/8/2016 08:53

Morning all.

Agree the results are a little difficult to compare, due to
53 week and 74 week. The talk of China link and two other
countries coming on line is good, Australia good too. Dividend if only for 22
weeks is holding, but will only know the exact payout over
the next twelve month period. If the do reduce dividend to
annual 1p, I will still be very happy. The online growth is
encouraging, I will follow and continue to buy.

This will reassure the city also:

=====================================================

Current Trading and Outlook

Trading for the six weeks to 13 August 2016 is performing in line with management expectations.

========================================================


Apart from the above, the chart does look very good with a break
above the 50dma.

With the volume high for aly yesterday on a rising share price is good,
if the city did not like they would have savaged them.

dyor

regards

active

[philjeans] 18/8/2016 08:41

Time to get back in again.