Connect Share Discussion Threads

[edmundshaw] 18/10/2014 14:37

Yup. This stock seems a bit forgotten at the moment. But value is terrific, and has been for some years - though the valuation gap is narrowing.

[skinny] 15/10/2014 12:20

Reading that last sentence, I wonder if he has ever met Richard Branson.

[speedsgh] 15/10/2014 12:18

Daniel Coatsworth at Shares Magazine appears to have it in for CNCT...

Daniel Coatsworth ‏@SharesMagDan 4h4 hours ago
The former Smiths News biz seems obsessed with kids games. Now called Connect (Four?!), it has a deal with Amazon called Pass (the) Parcel

Daniel Coatsworth ‏@SharesMagDan 4h4 hours ago
Connect's deal with Amazon isn't unique in market. There's another operator trialing a similar proposition.

Daniel Coatsworth ‏@SharesMagDan 4h4 hours ago
Connect launches Jack's Beans: coffee vending machines for small shops. Brave man to challenge Whitbread. Should stick to what it knows best

[jaws6] 15/10/2014 11:03

c2i
I hold CNCT for divi .

[contrarian2investor] 15/10/2014 09:30

I have purchase some CONNECT (CNCT) this morning for my stocks instead cash portfolio. The yield is juicy, prelims and AMAZON deal looks interesting. c2i

[owenga] 15/10/2014 08:24

These were heavily oversold. At 140p they were on pe of about 7 and 7% yield. Good share price pick up today, should start moving back to 200p over next few weeks.

[18bt] 15/10/2014 07:50

Decent results- no surprises after the profits warning, but some interesting diversifications in the core business.

[skinny] 15/10/2014 07:03

New click and collect delivery service with Amazon

Connect Group PLC ("the Group") a leading specialist distributor operating in three divisions; News & Media, Books and Education & Care, is today delighted to announce the launch of Pass My Parcel, a new and wholly owned 'click and collect' delivery service. Pass My Parcel is a solution developed by the News and Media division ("the Division") which over time has the potential to be part of the long term diversification strategy for the Division. Pass My Parcel has secured Amazon, the UKs leading on-line retailer to launch the service.

Pass My Parcel is a highly innovative new parcel collection service utilising the current Smiths News' specialist time sensitive distribution capability, physical network, and its daily relationship with thousands of local retailers across the UK, enabling the development and rollout to be achieved in a more cost effective way than other companies. Pass My Parcel will offer a unique twice daily distribution to participating independent retail outlets, 7 days a week, 364 days a year.

When selecting Pass My Parcel as a delivery option, customers ordering on-line by 7.45pm will be able to collect their parcel from 6.30am the next morning, or, if ordered by 11.45am will be able to collect from 4pm the same day. This service of two time sensitive deliveries per day, (once on a Sunday), offers customers a convenient and secure way to pick up their parcels, with a level of service and flexibility unlike any other offer in the market today.

Customers selecting Pass My Parcel delivery to their local independent retailer will be electronically sent a specially generated pin code in order to securely collect their parcel. This new service will allow customers more control over when and where they choose to pick up their items.

Pass My Parcel will utilise Smiths News' information systems, invoicing and communication facilities and provide access to over 500 independent retail outlets being serviced by 12 Smiths News' depots.

[skinny] 15/10/2014 07:03

2014 HIGHLIGHTS:

· Solid financial performance
o Group Underlying Revenue and Underlying PBT marginally ahead of last year
o Free cash flow of £37.2m, up 14.1%
o Net Debt reduced to £93.0m, 1.4x net debt / adjusted EBITDA

· Increased shareholder returns
o Underlying EPS 21.7p, up 2.8%
o Final dividend of 6.6p, making a full year dividend of 9.7p, up 4.3%

· Stronger than forecast Newspaper and Magazine sales
o Impressive World Cup sales
o Positive impact of Supermarket promotions

· Books division performance now stabilised with management actions continuing to take effect

· Education & Care division growing core categories and delivered good peak trading

· Launch of two new organic opportunities supporting ongoing diversification
o Pass My Parcel, a click and collect delivery service with Amazon, live in over 500 independent retailers
o Jack's Beans, a premium vended coffee service, live in 120 independent retailers

[fenners66] 14/10/2014 19:48

Noticed today the share price is back down below 150.
So reminded myself where this is at only to find that they are due to report tomorrow so good timing, I will look out for the announcement in the morning.
Seems so far I was vindicated in selling and looking at the chart is that a head and shoulders?

If this continues to drift and the yield rises again I may be tempted, but really to buy in I would like to see some more positives.

[skinny] 02/9/2014 10:21

Yes.

Trade no 16 159.75 1221 UT 156.5 159.5 16:35:20

[jaws6] 02/9/2014 08:34

last night auction trade at 159.75 ?

[skinny] 28/8/2014 07:57

Pre Close Statement

Connect Group PLC ("the Group")a leading specialist distributor
operating in three divisions; News & Media, Books and Education
& Care, is today issuing its pre close statement for the twelve
months ending 31 August 2014.

Since the previous update on 8 July 2014, the Group and each of its
divisions have performed in line with management expectations and,
as a result, Group underlying profit before tax is expected to be
in line with recent guidance. Group basic underlying EPS is
expected to be slightly ahead of recent guidance as a result of
prior year tax credits being higher than previous management
expectations. With respect to each division:

· Connect News & Media: Newspaper and magazine
performance has continued at recent robust run rates. Media has
performed in line with expectations.

· Connect Books: management actions are taking effect, and
recent performance has stabilised in line with management
expectations.

· Connect Education & Care: performance has been in line
with management expectations through the peak trading period.

There has been no change in the underlying financial condition of
the Group since the half year ended 28 February 2014 and the Group
continues to operate well within its new bank facilities.

The Group will announce its prelim results for the twelve months
ending 31 August 2014 on 15 October 2014. An analyst briefing will
be held at 9.30am on 15 October 2014 at the offices of Buchanan,
107 Cheapside, EC2V 6DN.

[grahamg8] 19/7/2014 08:34

The track record is pretty strong with rising profits, eps, and dps over the last four years. Slightly concealed by static revenue. This is because the paper distribution is high volume low margin. The upside is that these are on long term contracts so that yield of >6% is backed up by high visibility going forward and great dividend cover. One of my favourite income stocks and I've topped up now that we seem to have reached the ~150p support level.

[fenners66] 15/7/2014 16:28

Well i sold out at over £2 having held since 75p. A bit early as they rose and last time on here said I would look again if they got back to 150.
However the language in the recent trading statement is more of the same from when I sold - that is that they are not trumpeting growth in the new divisions.
We know they have a solid if declining core business that will support the dividend, however I bought originally on a much higher prospective yield.
I am therefore still in the same position and looking for that yield to improve (share price decline, more likely than uplift in coupon), before coming back in.
This did stabilise last time at 150 and may well again.
But I would prefer to back yield elsewhere at the moment.
Will keep it on my watch list.

[edmundshaw] 15/7/2014 13:39

Dunno what caused that - the link text has disappeared, and doesn't seem to be addable anymore. Another ADVFN anti-linking change I suppose... :-(

Edit - in the header it doesnt seem to like links without a .htm on the end. Don't know how to solve that (yet). Sorry guys.

[jaws6] 15/7/2014 12:49

speedsgh
Thank you for link.