Clinton Cards Share Discussion Threads

[dusseldorf] 06/5/2011 09:49

The one year chart says it all really:


I suggest you wait until the trend has reversed for at least 2 months as the decline has been very steady - someone is offloading alot of stock. It doesn't take much of a drop in revenues to turn CC. from profitable to unprofitable and unsaleable. If fortunes are turning, the price will trend back up again and you can ride it 'uphill'

[hoper2] 06/5/2011 09:29

M.T.Glass - Christmas 09 was fairly good for CC, the share price around that time was about 40 - 50p and was ok until they gave a downbeat statement in the early summer 2010. Since then it's been gradually downhill. The weather did affect Christmas trading in 2010 as it did all the "specialised" christmas shops. It may not have affected them badly - I think it did, but I appear to be in the minority - but it had to have had some impact on trading. All I'm saying is they have very little debt, are making profits even in the bad times and Christmas should be stronger than last year, when parts of the country were snowed in. If the share price drops to 10-12p I think it's definitely worth a punt, but it's only my opinion.

[m.t.glass] 06/5/2011 07:33

"..It's a profitable company with little debt that was hit hard at christmas mainly due to bad weather.."

??

It's been falling since the previous Xmas in 2009 - not just since Xmas 2010, so that latest-Xmas-bad-weather excuse sounds a bit weak. A 70% decline over that period is surely not all down to one season's weather.

[hoper2] 05/5/2011 20:54

she-ra - Now you are just being silly. Clinton Cards is no Woolworths, HMV, JJB, or any of the rest of them. It's a profitable company with little debt that was hit hard at christmas mainly due to bad weather. A fairly decent christmas this year and 2012 profits could easily be 5 or 6p a share. All I'm saying is that if the share price drops into the 10 or 12p range it could be a very attractive recovery play. As for shopping habits, if I bought the wife's birthday card from Wilkinsons or one of the very cheap card shops, me and the dog would be sharing a house and I think there are millions in my position!

[she-ra] 05/5/2011 17:32

hoper2 - Were you a retail advisor at Woolworths?

Youve just broken the first rule with investments in retail - dont invest based on your own personal shopping habits.

[hoper2] 05/5/2011 12:22

With sales over christmas badly affected by the weather the share price was bound to fall. CC. rely heavily over that period and this year like for like should improve. It's getting to the stage when it's becoming an attractive buy, but it may take until the christmas trading statement to get any decent returns. If it hits 12p I think I'll have a decent punt. Low debt and well run I'll be surprised if there's no up side from there.

[olliemag2] 13/4/2011 10:37

I believe they are falling because the one broker on Digital Look has cut eps f/c to 2.4p for this year and 1.2p for next year and moved to a strong sell. For what its worth i think next years f/c is too pessimistic., in fact i believe the company will squeeze earnings above 2.5p next year.

[nofool] 08/4/2011 09:53

Just how low are these going; and why??

[m.t.glass] 24/3/2011 08:20

Been posting it as a short on the (DOWN) thread awhile. Happy to be holding a downbet.

[scotsman2] 24/3/2011 08:15

yes MTG - I am learning...

[m.t.glass] 24/3/2011 08:14

Saved yourself an even bigger loss then Scottie. Results prompting a further markdown this morning.

[scotsman2] 04/3/2011 13:06

I'm out. had enough of these

[scotsman2] 02/3/2011 10:37

closing loss making stores is a start

[scotsman2] 14/2/2011 10:53

well looking to sell my entire holding at 1st bounce. ventured into town looking for some balloons for sons birthday. Card Factory was cheapest and was literally jumping ! - queued round the shop for valentines day.

in contrast, Clintons just round the corner was empty. no wonder at the prices they are charging !!! shocking

[tara7] 06/1/2011 14:38

The shops are a dump, never clean, look more like the market at 5pm on a Sat.!!

[mark1000] 06/1/2011 14:36

Next profit warning will blame the VAT increase - never Managements fault.

[scotsman2] 06/1/2011 09:57

I must say they are now selling a better range of cards in the shops, some new cheaper £1.50 cards

[dusseldorf] 06/1/2011 09:13

Jo Say - The marginally lower reduction in sales during the companies traditionally peak trading season is not really a sign of of an improving trend. The shareprice resurgance has been bouyed by one or two institutions hedging on a full recovery, that appears to be stalling a tad (profit warning). I would not expect any action here until the interims are out and give a clearer picture and perhaps another profit warning.

[joe say] 06/1/2011 09:00

the last 5 week yr on yr sales trend - down 2.1%

the 26 week period ending the same - down 2.8%

suggests both an improvving trend, and less of a weather impact than they are making out - (and fwiw a lot of companies seem to be placing a lot of blame on the snow !)

[dusseldorf] 06/1/2011 08:57

An increase in the decrease in sales, not sure why they keep the EIRE stores open. Price surprising strong considering quite a strong profit warning. Pre-tax profits 'significantly lower' tends to mean a loss is coming.

[m.t.glass] 06/1/2011 07:33

Clinton Cards, Profit Warning this morning:

"..the year to date sales shortfall leads the Board to expect pre-tax profits in respect of the year to 31st July 2011 to be significantly lower than current market expectations..."

[mreasygoing] 26/12/2010 22:45

They were queueing out the door at Card Factory this month. Clinton Cards had hardly a soul in it. I can see why the chart is like it is. Clinton will be the next Woolies along with JJB.

[scotsman2] 26/12/2010 19:27

nobody really interested here I see