Centaur Media Share Discussion Threads

[12345th] 20/9/2005 11:42

oh for gawds sake! Somebody, apart from me, please effing speak about this effing, completely ignored stock!!! Results pretty flipping good, no?? Good buying opp, no?

[mach10] 10/9/2005 21:19

Judging by the chart I can categorically say the answer is myth unless I am standing on my head.

[12345th] 07/9/2005 13:19

Ssscchhh! Schwepps.

[12345th] 05/9/2005 17:31

Ssshhh! Don't tell anyone but Fidelity has just upped its stake from 10 to 12%.

[drinkgood] 29/7/2005 15:22

I've topped up...happy to wait

[12345th] 29/7/2005 15:19

Sssshhhh! Don't tell anyone but Fidelity has just taken a 10% stake in our much-neglected company. See my post above.

[12345th] 25/7/2005 15:33

Good buying opp. Centaur starting to make good money from its website advertising. Dip in trad display advertising is no big deal, will bounce back in early 06. Company has excellent track record, no debt, plenty cash in bank, and is constantly innovating with new revenue streams. Now is definitely a good buying opp.

[doubleorquits] 15/3/2005 22:31

KBC rate them a hold in the absence of acceleration in advertising recovery:

The first half trading performance was in-line with expectations. Allowing for the groups traditional H2 bias and assuming a continuation in the current recovery in advertising spend, we have not changed our FY forecasts.
In the first half, advertising revenues were 11% ahead of the same period last year, driven by Recruitment advertising (up 21%). Display advertising was 7.5% ahead. Advertising growth was predominantly volume driven, with little rate inflation witnessed in the period. Two new trade shows bolstered strong underlying growth in Events revenue, up 20%.
Within each industry vertical, Legal and Finance grew strongly in the period whilst the groups largest division, Marketing Creative & New Media grew at only 6%. Collectively, these two divisions account for 70% of revenues and combined EBITDA margin improved from 3.5% to 11.5%.
Centaur launched Finance Week, aimed at senior corporate accountants, in November. Modest advertising sales have been achieved to date but the company reports strong readership interest and expects advertising demand to follow. Finance Week incurred an operating loss of £700k in the first half and is expected to incur a loss of £1.2m for the full year, as advertising sales momentum and additional revenue streams develop. The group continues to develop in the Perfect information product suite. Slower new business take-up and continued development costs resulted in a £500k first-half operating loss for Perfect Analysis. We expect a loss of £750k for the FY; The Company expects to achieve break-even in calendar year 2006. The group had net cash of £6m at 31st of December and has announced a maiden interim dividend of 0.5p.
The current recovery in advertising is driving strong growth in profitability. Whilst management believe that the group remains on track to achieve the 20% EBITDA margin target by FY06, the continued investment in Perfect Analysis
and Finance Week pose a risk to these targets. The company has little visibility of revenues and much of the EBITDA improvement is priced in, despite the risks. Evidence of acceleration in advertising recovery is required to push the shares higher from the current level. In the absence of such evidence, we consider the current level fair value. HOLD

[diogenesj] 14/3/2005 14:08

What I don't much like is this little remark on Page 1:

(*)Centaur's key measure of profit is earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation and excluding exceptional administrative costs
(EBITDA).

That may be their key measure, but it's not mine. On that basis they could go on claiming growth in sales and profits for years, while continuing to clock up huge losses.

I'm not saying they will. It's just that if their target is a meaningless figure, their progress reports are likely to be equally meaningless.

[doubleorquits] 14/3/2005 10:03

Sound results for these today if you look beneath the figures. The future is looking quite bright. And a dividend as well (not a lot but a start). Still unnoticed by the market.

[doubleorquits] 24/2/2005 09:25

Given a very quick mention in Shares Mag today saying that media stocks should benefit from more positive outlook and this could be in evidence in those reporting soon (i.e. Centaur).

Also Wilmington reported today and it was a generally positive outlook from them

[chester] 24/2/2005 07:55

RNS Number:9731I
Centaur Holdings PLC
24 February 2005

Centaur Holdings plc
24th February 2005

Centaur Holdings plc (Centaur) acquires logistics magazine and two exhibitions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Centaur, the specialist business publishing and information company, is pleased
to announce that it has acquired Logistics Manager, a monthly magazine for
logistics professionals, and the two Logistics Link exhibitions that go with it,
for #500,000 in cash.

The magazine and exhibitions have been bought from Seven Kings Publications Ltd.
The magazine was launched in 1994 and is published ten times a year. The first
of the Logistics Link exhibitions was launched at Sandown Park in 2002 and the
second was launched at Doncaster in autumn 2004. In calendar year 2004 the ten
issues of the magazine and the two shows had a total combined turnover of #0.9m.

This is Centaur's first acquisition in a new community since the company was
floated on AIM in March 2004. In December 2004 Centaur was admitted to the
Official List on the London Stock Exchange.

Graham Sherren, chairman and chief executive of Centaur, said: "We are very
excited at the prospect of being involved in the logistics and transport
community and see huge potential for both the magazine and the exhibitions.
Serving new communities is a key part of Centaur's growth strategy and Logistics
Manager and Logistics Link fit the bill perfectly".

Centaur's strategy is to build on its strength in the markets in which it
already operates and look for other communities where it can apply its knowledge
and expertise. The company believes that the logistics and transport community
is ready for greater recognition. Managing the supply chain efficiently can have
a significant impact on the profitability of manufacturing, distribution and
retail businesses.

The growth of internet shopping is also changing the face of UK retailing,
requiring significant improvements in the efficiency of logistics processes.

Neil Asten, Chairman of Seven Kings and publisher of Logistics Manager, said:
"In the 11 years since we launched Logistics Manager we have developed it into a
high-quality journal and introduced many new features and events. Centaur will
use its experience and knowledge to take both the magazine and shows forward and
help them play an even more important role in logistics and transport."

Centaur is one of the UK's leading business-to-business publishers. Centaur's
publications include Marketing Week, Design Week, Creative Review, The Lawyer,
Finance Week, Money Marketing and The Engineer. It also has a major Exhibitions
division that runs around 20 exhibitions a year including the Business Travel
shows, several shows in the marketing and financial services sectors and the
Homebuilding & Renovating shows.

The Logistics Manager and Logistics Link operations will be moving to Centaur's
offices in central London in early March.

[chester] 21/2/2005 14:36

What do you think those 'chunky' trades were today ?

[diogenesj] 17/2/2005 22:08

Yes, forgot to mention the huge volume. Strange it had so little effect on the price.

PNX was up because of a tip in Shares Rag, I am told.

[doubleorquits] 17/2/2005 18:26

D, Have you seen the volume today, though? 9m shares traded which is about 6% of the company by my reckoning. Your Phoenix rose nicely, though didn't it?

[diogenesj] 17/2/2005 17:29

Yes, thanks for confirming that, DoQ - I did think I saw it move. At least it's in the right direction, unlike some of mine today.

[doubleorquits] 17/2/2005 12:34

Hey, a tick-up. Don't know why because not much activity showing in the trades but who cares. Another 25 of these to come in the next month will do me.

[doubleorquits] 10/2/2005 22:47

Well, I don't thick it will be this jammy soo and so.
Edit: Oops sorry abou the Typo - too much boooze ;0)

Centaur results out 14th March - might see the funds waiting until the death on these - I've seen that before.

[alfwilson] 10/2/2005 17:41

DJ

I thought you were just giving everone else a chance to shine ... my moment in the sun was short lived. I am sure some 'jammy' so and so will will again.

[diogenesj] 10/2/2005 16:30

Doing well in the Stockchallenge, I see, Alf. (I forgot to enter this month - too excited at doing well last month, I suppose.)

[alfwilson] 10/2/2005 16:29

DoQ

I will take that as a promise!

[doubleorquits] 10/2/2005 16:06

I reckon KLWT may have some stock to clear as they are asking at 3p less than the others (well four of them). Once the tracker funds need to pile in these will move quickly I reckon.

Patience, I reckon, will be rewarded soon.

[diogenesj] 04/2/2005 23:57

Thanks, DoQ.

[doubleorquits] 04/2/2005 21:41

Just found a nice write-up in Shares Mag. Although they don't give it a buy rec. the analyst Patrick Yau is quite upbeat on its prospects it appears.

One analyst, Bridgewell's Patrick Yau, appears much more upbeat than the rest. He says no further evidence of an advertising pick-up is required to make Centaur look attractive and adds that the stock should be trading on a PE for this year in the 'early 20s' which gives potential for upside.

'Historically Metal Bulletin has traded at a PE of 40 at the top of the cycle,' says Yau. 'We are nowhere near the top of the cycle at the present time.' Yau says the company's rating should be in line with its earnings growth rate. Centaur's EPS is forecast to grow 46% this year but this is distorted by cost cutting, says Yau, and the underlying rate is nearer to 20%. Not everyone is as optimistic and his earnings forecast of 4.9p per share for Centaur this year is at the top end of expectations. Brokers KBC Peel Hunt and Charles Stanley are predicting 4.7p and 4.3p respectively.