Character Share Discussion Threads

[orange1] 12/12/2016 17:51

Institutions are buying at 525p and two directors are supplying them with the shares. This was announced after hours today:

Character Group announces it has recently undertaken a series of institutional investor meetings which were well received. In response to demand from institutional and other investors, Kiran Shah, Joint Managing Director, and Jerry Healy (Group Marketing Director) have agreed to make stock available to meet this demand

Jerry Healy and Kiran Shah being Directors of the Company and Persons Discharging Managerial Responsibilities (PDMRs), have notified the Company of share transactions effected in the market by them respectively as follows:

-- On 9 December 2016 Mr Jeremiah Healy Group Marketing Director, exercised 72,000 unapproved share options, at an exercise price of 35.5p per share. Accordingly the Company then allotted to Mr Healy 72,000 Ordinary Shares of 5p each representing 0.34% of the Company's issued voting share capital. Mr Healy has today sold 36,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company at a price of 525p per share. Following this sale, Mr Healy's shareholding in the Company is 36,000 ordinary shares, which represents approximately 0.17% of the Company's issued voting share capital.

-- Kiran Shah, Joint Managing Director, today sold 147,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company at a price of 525p per share. Following this sale, Mr Shah's shareholding interest in the Company is 2,140,001 Ordinary Shares, which represents approximately 10.09% of the Company's issued voting share capital.

[stoxx67] 08/12/2016 15:32

has to be a great investment for 2017.

vast majority had this pencilled in for a profit warning, with regards the situation with the £.

it would seem that the astute and seasoned management of Character were/are ahead of the curve.

i remain long both in portfolio and SIPP.

[mcartdon] 08/12/2016 14:57

Next expected info is jan noting sales success levels over christmas, first week jan generally. They then tend to report about toy fair end jan, and buyback around then when the money has come in from stock levels falling.
Any big buys now are institutional or pension fund positioning.
there is plenty of room for it to rise further yet but nothing is a straight line.

[deanowls] 08/12/2016 14:38

I doubt it, they put one out last week and are not known for announcing every few weeks which actually reassures me.

[h1a3] 08/12/2016 00:22

All noted but again lots of sales today, price stabilised, so I am expected we will get a positive RNS from CCT in the very near future.

[mcartdon] 06/12/2016 18:27

you cant judge whats a sale in a fast rising market, there is just excess demand over sales not necessarily buybacks.
character have lots to invest in in usa and internationally to bring sales to those markets not just an increase in stock while expanding so fast foreign profits are probably not repatriated.

[h1a3] 06/12/2016 18:06

Quite a few sales today, but share price rose. Just wondering if CCT are buying back?
RNS tomorrow?

[mickharkins1] 06/12/2016 12:49

Been buying back in since the results as I can see the share price reach an all time high in the coming weeks/months.

Fundamentally solid, with excellent cash generation and the large war chest for buybacks should ensure a floor on the price imo.

[rcturner2] 03/12/2016 16:08

I agree with that. It seems bonkers to me that a company with 20% growth in revenue and profit is rated at 10 times earnings. Pays 3% dividend well covered by profits and has net cash is buying back shares. I think a PE ratio of 15 would be much more realistic implying a 50% increase in the share price.

[mcartdon] 03/12/2016 09:40

The sale of Teletubies in usa is due to start in early 2017 along with Stretch Armstorong, these two should ensure a large rise in foreign turnover and dollar earnings possibly marked , causing a step change in character. Continued growth in UK, and amelioration of the fall in the pound with a possible pound recovery as Brexit becomes less feared and the euro fades will bring further succour to the share.
i see an aim of 140m t/o next year with very positive reports over the next six months.
with 20m assets and 6m cash no debt the valuation of just over 100 m is nearly 40% below where it reasonably should be so my aim is 7 pounds a share by 2018 at base with possibly a step change up on good news.

[rcturner2] 02/12/2016 15:50

Good follow on rise today. I imagine the IC will cover this positively, since they have tipped this recently.

[rcturner2] 01/12/2016 13:58

"Consistent with the FY16 trading update/pre-close on September 14, today’s FY16 results are in line with our and consensus underlying PBT expectations of £12.5m (+22.5% YoY). The total FY16 dividend is up 36%, covered 3.4x, whilst net cash is £6.9m (+53%). FY16 represented another good year of execution, and FY17 has started well. The company's business mix is now more diverse across geographies (International accounted for 26% of total sales vs 21% in FY15) and we see CCT&r ...."

Anyone got the rest?

[thorpematt] 01/12/2016 12:32

FWIW (not much)

you can have a copy of my diary notes (incoherent ramblings mostly):-

CCT
looks very tidy and I believe the market may have been concerned about a miss.

In any event on all levels it exceeded EPS broker forecasts AND it gave positive outlook indications on new products (again I think the MMs were sceptical). In such instances ther is a seperation between my and their perceptions. In such examples these have been very profitable trades (where proven right!)

Furthermore a natural hedge to $ / £ is proven as has continued growth and rising DIVI.

So many positives when you actually look at it. Not expensive. Stock ranking would only really negate on momentum. (That won't last long! IMO)

[h1a3] 01/12/2016 12:30

Hi All,
Great results today.
I am surprised that the shares have been hovering around £4.50 for a such long period.
Hopefully they will move upwards and reach the high £5 price again.
I know many do not like IC but I have copied over their response to the latest results.
As always, everyone needs to make their judge their decisions.
IC Comment

Whether you love or hate her, Peppa Pig once again stole the show for toymaker Character Group (CCT). The character remained its lead brand in what was a decent year for the group, with sales up 22 per cent to £121m, helping to push underlying operating profit up by the same percentage to £12.7m. The ‘value for money’ priced toys contributed positively in the UK and abroad and international sales grew to £31.7m - an increase of 50.3 per cent. New products, including Stretch Armstrong toys, have started well. The company still has more than 2.7m shares it can buy back, and it said it will do where appropriate. Buy.

[thorpematt] 01/12/2016 11:15

Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps a snuggle My Dream Puppy IS for xmas.


In any event these results are very tidy. Consensus EPS has been beaten and the positive outlook and the recent weakness in the share price should lead to a very definite change of trend I suspect.

Really that share price weakness is NOT justified and I suspect therefore that a few analysts will be re-drawing their internal reports as we speak.

[stoxx67] 01/12/2016 09:53

ridiculously cheap at these levels.

[deanowls] 01/12/2016 09:21

It is if it is taken over by a non uk aquirer.

[rcturner2] 01/12/2016 08:33

Sterling falling is not necessarily 100% good for the company as they have input costs that have risen as a result of the fall.

[deanowls] 01/12/2016 08:18

Don't think we have seen the best of this yet with the TT being rolled out and this being the first Christmas of toys, if that stock has unwound we have a net cash company below a per of 10 with a twenty per cent growth and international growth of fifty per cent, with sterling where it is I could see this being taken out for over seven pounds. Glad some of my avs cash went here.

[rcturner2] 01/12/2016 07:30

Agreed, very happy with that. Good trading this year, superb balance sheet and positive statements going forward.

[tintin82] 01/12/2016 07:15

Superb. What a cracking set of results. Never disappoints.

[h1a3] 15/11/2016 03:34

Orange 1, thanks for article and link.
Initially rather concerned there was no mention of Teletubbies, however on reading the Mirror article, it states: "Other toys earmarked to be bestsellers over Christmas includes A Real Baking Chocolate Pen, Stretch Armstrong, Teletubbies Jumping Po and a code-able caterpillar"
Hopefully they will be correct and we will get a good Xmas trading result.

[thorpematt] 14/11/2016 23:08

Just remember though, a Snuggle My Dream Puppy is NOT just for xmas.