Foresight Share Discussion Threads

[kruger2004] 18/3/2009 08:48

isn't a fate like FIO's what we all invets in stocks like FSG for? A near 100% preimum to the share price would do nicely!
Yesterday's fall was caused by 5000 shares being sold; about £1250 worth. It's pathetic

[nicedude1976] 17/3/2009 23:32

Will it face the fate of FIO ? Btw, cant believe something like AIM with market makers exists (mind you nowadays it doesnt surprise me). Mind you all the best companies bar one for me over the last 2 years have been on there...

[applesanpears] 16/3/2009 17:41

This is going down faster than the titanic!

[cockneyrebel] 13/3/2009 18:46

The spreads these mm's have created are what's putting punters off imo.

YSP yesterday had a 30% spread - not a lot of incentive to buy that for £10K and find immediately you're down 30% and probably more if you want to sell £10K worth.

MM's need to get real

CR

[domwilliams] 13/3/2009 14:52

Quelle surprise! A £5k sale knocks 4% off the market cap. Looking exceptionally tempting now (bar the spread).

[davidosh] 23/2/2009 09:01

Kruger2004....Those were the FDs words when I spoke to him after buying the stock. The Chairman actually put a timeframe in his two annual outlook statements.

This was last year....


Last year, we stated our intention to pay an initial dividend this year. We have started the process of applying to the court for the cancellation of share premium account which will in turn make it possible to pay a dividend. It remains our intention to pay a dividend once this process is completed.

Alastair M Taylor

Chairman



If it is no longer their intention or off the agenda for some reason why not tell the owners of the company ?? I hate being messed about and false words.

[kruger2004] 23/2/2009 08:25

davidosh

i think they have always made it clear that they would have to apply to the court to cancel their share premium account to pay a dividend, as they have negative reserves after years of losses until 2005. The amount of any initial dividend would inevitably be tiny, so unless you have a sizeable stake i wouldn't rely on a divi from FSG for your income.

Didn't think the FD had ever commented on the dividend directly and the chairman said it was their intention to pay a dividend, but didn't commit to doing so.

i think they've just decided that in the current markets it isn't worth the cost of the court appplication.

[davidosh] 23/2/2009 02:39

Hi WCB,

It is far from clear whether Azini are flexing their muscles and producing a strategy change within the board but it would be nice if the chairman could spell it out to the rest of us. I will try to speak to the company this week to ascertain what happened ?

The interest gained leaves the cash still a slight mystery to me.

Finance income was 219k in 2008 full year as opposed to just 47k in 2007. That suggests the £2m left the company late in the 2008 accounting year. At a rate of say 5.5% that is nearly £4m on deposit over the full period so it must have been reduced dramatically around Feb/Mar 2008. The interest received in H1 to September 2008 was 91k which is satisfactory and in line with the cash level shown.

[westcountryboy] 22/2/2009 21:51

Hi David

Fair points about the dividend plans though I wonder if the arrival of Azini on the scene has focused boardroom minds on different scenarios? I suspect there is quite a tussle going on about the best way to grow the company.

As to the decrease in cash betwen 2007 and 2008, it was actually the £3m in 2007 which was exceptional and the result of an advance payment which was unwound in the 2008 year - as was noted in the 2008 accounts. At the most recent half-year, cash was at higher levels than has been usual, apart from that blip. You can also see from the very small normal interest income that in fact cash through the year has hardly ever been consistently at high levels.

[davidosh] 22/2/2009 19:30

Why do directors simply not follow up on their own promises and stated objectives ??

In 2007 the FD advised that the company would be able to pay a dividend from its strong cash position. The chairman promised the same. A year later in the final results for 2008 the chairman stated....

Last year, we stated our intention to pay an initial dividend this year. We have started the process of applying to the court for the cancellation of share premium account which will in turn make it possible to pay a dividend. It remains our intention to pay a dividend once this process is completed.

Alastair M Taylor

Chairman

However the same chairman just a couple of months ago has now changed his tune and absolutely no mention of the dividend....


'With our strengthened financial position and the backing of major shareholders, we are well placed to pursue our acquisition strategy in the second half of the year.'

It almost verges on downright lies if they have no intention of doing so nor wish to give a reason why not.
So who am I supposed to believe going forward especially as I depend on some form of cash as income from my investments ?? As for that cash where did it all disappear to last year. The company had net cash of £3.01m in 2007 but that had dwindled to £1.01m in 2008.

Cash dwindling and no dividend as promised gives me reasons for concern. Any thoughts guys ??

[cockneyrebel] 22/2/2009 13:34

yes, I often manage to trade well withing spread. Unfortunately if you can trade well with then it often means there's a lot of stock around in that stock.

The last sock I bought with a huge spread I couldn't get any real discount was CPSP. Huge spread which I paid and then they warned the next day! A disaster anyway without that spread adding to it. That put me off buying anything with a wide spread unless it was potentially moving up an the spread was going to get wiped out in pat quite swift.

I think on most days investors are likely to see their portfolio down. If you've bought a couple of wide spreads that day too the bottom line has been hit even more - it might even wipe out a profitable day. You have to be a hardened lon term buyer with a lot of conviction an confidence that things are getting better to buy these wide spreads imo. Until mm's start to make a market a lot of these wide spread stocks are stymied quite a bit imo.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 21/2/2009 21:46

Cheers Welsheagle.

It'ds the spread that's the prbloem here and with lots of small caps noe, are the mm's nuts? Do they really want to mak a market? Many people might want to buy sjares like this and GVC say but the spread means you're 10%-15% down as soon as you buy. Unrealistic imo.

CR

[welsheagle] 21/2/2009 18:58

Daniel Stewart reiterated their 'Buy' recommendation, with a target price of 57p.

[nicedude1976] 12/2/2009 09:35

Low price, both technically and fundamentally ?

[applesanpears] 11/2/2009 12:25

Same here!

[stegrego] 11/2/2009 12:13

I really hate this bloody share - what posessed me to buy in again im beginning to wonder.

[welsheagle] 19/1/2009 20:42

St Helens Capital recommended as a 'Buy' today after the contract win.

[cockneyrebel] 19/1/2009 11:38

Yes CF - more good news :-)

Shame the spread is so ghastly here - might attract buers if they were not going to get hammered there.

Why did they keep the bank's name quiet? Not RBS is it? That would be ironic that a small software co wanted to keep the name of the bank quiet - usually around the other way!

Good news tho

CR

[zipstuck] 19/1/2009 11:03

Certainly protects future earnings and gives support for a takeover

[philjeans] 19/1/2009 08:29

Yes - excellent news, especially during recession.

A way to go yet for Focus shares.

[ged5] 19/1/2009 08:26

These contracts seem to be coming on a regular basis.

Contract Win


Focus Solutions, an established supplier of enterprise solutions to the
financial services industry, is pleased to announce that it has won a new
contract with a major UK bank for a minimum value of GBP1.7 million over three
years for focus:360 , the Group's wealth management software. The majority of
revenue under this contract will be earned in FY2010.

Link in header

[davidosh] 30/12/2008 18:52

Well whatever caused the flurry of trades today the medium term is looking much better with the recent guidance in the RNSs. It looks like the share price will be finishing the year at about the same level as we started it. That is no mean feat in this market and bodes well for 2009 as the rating is still very low indeed.

[welsheagle] 30/12/2008 18:35

Do you think that 'compliance gravy train' is reason for this weeks gains, drw1.

[drw1] 30/12/2008 16:23

Chatting to an IT contractor last night at a party.One hell of a complaince gravy train underway in the banks following the years events.
Looking like 2009 will be good for Focus.