Dignity Share Discussion Threads

[hussyo] 27/7/2018 17:14

The volume isn't there for a breakout just yet

[greenknight1] 27/7/2018 15:47

Looks like this could be breaking out!

[hussyo] 21/7/2018 07:46

So, what can we expect from 1st Aug...

[hussyo] 09/7/2018 18:24

After the latest RNS, the net figure since 19-Jan from institutional activity stands at +9,314,634 shares.

[hatfullofsky] 09/7/2018 13:44

We may hover around 1000p until the HY results start of August. For me they will be above exceptions the crucial part will be the Study results. I can't see that being too negative maybe tweaks and adjustments

[hussyo] 09/7/2018 11:21

This abysmal drift is mind-crushingly frustrating, but I don't think we can expect anything more from July. Sentiment for the moment has changed.

[hussyo] 03/7/2018 18:47

Goldbug - please! (The divi finally cleared, easing the disappointment of the last month)

[the original goldbug] 03/7/2018 17:38

More shameless than the funeral operators!!??

Sorry couldn’t resist:-)

[hussyo] 03/7/2018 08:12

I wonder how many people got stopped out first thing today, especially those who might be using IG Index, who really are quite shameless in the way they stop-hunt.

[jamie48] 02/7/2018 15:15

Hello jacks13, when Dignity buys up independents there is a clause stating that the previous owner can't start up again within a certain time frame and a certain radius. Some do open up when the time lapses. In the meantime, Dignity trades off the established name - people still believe that they are using the traditional family firm that has been there for decades when they walk in Dignity's doors, as the name above the door hasn't changed and there is no advertising under the name of Dignity. You would never know that Dignity now owns the company. Dignity increases the prices so that they are the most expensive around and, as mentioned before, the bereaved are in no mindset to query this when they are arranging a funeral. The personal service is lost whereby the bereaved are no longer looked after by the same person throughout and they just get a call centre come 5pm and all weekend. In answer to your final question the competition has been obliterated so Dignity's prices can just go up and up.

[jacks13] 30/6/2018 18:43

Jamie, we have heard from others on here that the strategy pursued by Dignity was a flawed one. Buying local independents was money down the drain because the sellers opened up a new outlet in the same village using their new found wealth. The business is unregulated, no training, no previous knowledge necessary. No monopoly! So which is it? Let's have the benefit of your insider's knowledge. And how exactly do you zap the competition by putting your prices up?

[jamie48] 29/6/2018 21:35

insideryou - we can only hope that the CMA investigation will result in regulation of the industry; curtailing the monopolies that the Dignity crematoria hold and stopping any more purchases of independent funeral homes just to put up the prices and zap the competition.

[hussyo] 29/6/2018 17:57

insideryou - So now it's the profiting that needs to be regulated?... You're either being sarcastic, totally ignorant, or a socialist?

[insideryou] 29/6/2018 11:31

Totally agree. Profiting on the back of profound grief is abhorrent behaviour and needs to be strongly regulated.

[jacks13] 28/6/2018 18:50

jamie, James Dunn posted two PDFs last September. The first, a five page resume titled 'We’re Shorting Dignity PLC Stock | The Last Word' said;

"Why such shyness with prices? It’s because they are significantly more expensive than the rest of the market – Dignity by 83% compared to prices on our site."

The second a 44 page piece titled 'Dignity report | The Last Word' said;

"On a comparable package of services, a Dignity funeral costs on average 83% more than a funeral taken from a funeral director listed on our site."

Notice the inconsistencies and moreover the average quoted, based on a sample of one.

OK, maybe that is a bit pedantic on my part but when James Dunn and yourself, obviously an industry insider, come on to this site screaming your agenda I feel entitled to take a sceptical view.

[hopeful holder] 28/6/2018 17:09

Having looked on the site you kindly posted, It appears to see results I may have to register, which I do not wish to do.The site was confusing as the headline shows I had nothing close to me when I am within a half mile of two,one local and one regional.I may also be reading the site wrongly but it looks as though the site is paid for by funeral directors for advertising so may not represent all options open to me."Applies to Funeral Choice Partners only. " Your assertion that bodies are carried around looking for a space contradicts your earlier statement that they were stored centrally.Apologies if I am getting this wrong but the story you are sharing seems to change a little each post but enough for me to doubt your intentions are being played with a straight back. Forgive me if this is incorrect.Thank you for taking the time to reply, appreciate that.

[jamie48] 28/6/2018 15:11

Hopeful Holder - most people would be worried about their deceased relatives being carted around town in search of an available space in a fridge. In fact, most would be horrified if they knew. The concept of their deceased relatives being 'looked after' by the funeral director is uppermost in most people's minds when they are bereaved. This is where the name 'Dignity' is at its most ironic.

The facts that I have posted on here can be substantiated by questioning a few funeral homes. If you can find any evidence at all to show that you are getting anything better from a Dignity owned home, I'd love to hear it. Funeralbooker found that the difference between the most and least expensive funeral homes is a whopping 82% in some areas. It might be worth putting your postcode in 'yourfuneralchoice.com' to see just how much more Dignity owned homes charge.

Incidentally, Dignity did NOT call for the CMA investigation into overpricing and lack of transparency - why would they?! They were one of many parties who did call for the Treasury's investigation into funeral plans.

[hopeful holder] 28/6/2018 10:14

Your final point, the more you pay the less you get, is not supported. Happy of course to be proved wrong with more than a couple pieces of evidence regarding this company.I would also urge caution as posting unsubstantiated "facts" may well find you in a heap of bother.I'm happy to hear negatives as it helps my investment decisions.

[hopeful holder] 28/6/2018 10:10

@ Jamie and funeral hubs. Does it matter where the body is stored prior to committal?We did not think so and would not have been too concerned as long as it was respectful.Your points, whilst eloquently put, did not affect our choice in who we chose.I'm sure poor practice exists as in all Industries hence Dignity supporting the Industry wide investigation.

[hatfullofsky] 27/6/2018 18:16

Sure no problem with balanced viewpoints, but funeralbooker / Beyond were quite open in stating they opened a large short on DTY. So "balanced has" to be challenged. The market will decide Jamie is just noise.

[hussyo] 27/6/2018 17:42

If anecdotal evidence is your thing (it's not mine), then I must add that a couple of months ago I had direct discussions with members of Dignity - on a non-funeral related issue. It was a very pleasant experience, which very much gave me an idea of the culture and values of the business.

If harder numbers are what do it for you, in the last 13 trading sessions 11 have featured net positive buys. Volumes have been quite low so the tone of the order book affects price more than supply/demand. * Despite the investigations, no broker currently has a sell rating on the stock. * Trading since the end of Q1 has remained 'strong', according to the last issued financial statement. * Plugin several depreciation values into the EPS and what you're left with is still implies significant upside potential to the stock price.

[jamie48] 27/6/2018 17:21

Stardog2 - I'm not James Dunn of Funeralbooker.

With the independents, there are far fewer rogues than within the big chains. Did any of you see the behind the scenes filming of Co-op funeral homes back in 2012? It was appalling!

The big chains (Dignity and the Co-op) use funeral 'hubs' to store the deceased. While you think that your loved one is being kept at a certain funeral home, they are usually not - they are stored in central depots and if you ask to view them, they are quickly despatched to the funeral home that you think they're resting peacefully at. This does not happen with the independents (unless they're large with many branches and have become uncaring). Where your loved one is taken to is where they'll stay until the funeral day.

A final point - the funeral industry is different from most other commercial set-ups. The more you pay, the less you get in terms of care and service. Yes I do have an agenda (as someone suggested I did) I want to raise awareness of all of this to stop the vulnerable bereaved being ripped off.

[hopeful holder] 27/6/2018 17:09

Jamie's comments run true for smaller and bigger companies we contacted regarding dates etc and when you use logic, it is the case for whatever size of company.