Foresight Share Discussion Threads

[strollingmolby] 10/6/2009 08:04

Shanklin,

They need to cancel the share premium account first, with shareholder approval, then pay some lovely divis!

[shanklin] 10/6/2009 07:56

Don't hold currently and agree they look cheap but why no dividend? What do they intend to use all this cash for? Surely some of it should be going into a dividend?

[westcountryboy] 10/6/2009 07:52

showmethemoney: glad someone still has a sense of humour!

Estimates were 4.4p against 5.26p achieved. Cashflow very impressive.

[showmethehoney] 10/6/2009 07:41

Agreed, however do you think its already factored into the sp?

[janeann] 10/6/2009 07:27

looks very good, esp £4m cash and debt free

[glasshalfull] 10/6/2009 07:24

Final Results



Financial highlights



* Sales revenue up 12% to £9.60 million (FY2008: £8.60 million)
* Profit before tax up 27% to £1.78 million (FY2008: £1.40 million)
* Operating profit before exceptional costs up 17% to £1.71 million (FY2008: £1.46 million)
* EBITDA before exceptional costs up 26% to £2.01 million (FY2008: £1.59 million)
* Operating profit up 34% to £1.60 million (FY2008: £1.19 million)
* Net operating margins 16.7% (FY2008: 13.8 %)
* Cash of £4.00 million (FY2008: £1.03 million); debt free
* Earnings per share:

* Fully diluted earnings per share 5.26 pence (FY2008: 5.99 pence)
* Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share up 28% to 5.43 pence (FY2008: 4.24 pence)*


------------------------------

Outlook

The new financial year has started well and trading remains in line with management expectations. We are building a solid pipeline of opportunities and following the recent RDR regulatory proposals, we are seeing increased demand for our solutions despite tough market conditions.

Although we continue to focus our sales efforts on the UK and Irish markets, we are also exploring opportunities in regions outside the UK, through strategic partnerships and further development of our focus:360° wealth management solution in particular.

As has been previously outlined, the group has a clear strategy for both organic and non-organic growth and the Board is looking to accelerate the development of its business by a combination of partnerships, joint ventures and acquisitions.

Last year, we stated our intention to take the steps necessary to allow the company to pay a dividend. In order to do this we must apply to the court for the cancellation of share premium account to create distributable revenues. Prior to applying for court approval the shareholders must approve the application in a general meeting.

----------------------------------------




Turnover up, net margins up, net cash at £4m and adjusted EPS up to 5.43p (PER of 5.3), strong order book, outlook statement confident.

Looks good to me....

Regards,
GHF

[glasshalfull] 09/6/2009 16:25

Well sustained PI buying given the relatively small trade amounts. Buyers now having to pay full offer price....spread absolutely dreadful at 12.9%.
Hope PI's remember that this is only a gamble as a short term trade, given the spread. It would be nice to see a significant mark up and confirmation that the business is on track of course.

Looking forward to release of results tomorrow and I still maintain that this is extremely cheap if the outlook confirms that they are maintaining strong trading levels.
Given that they have a mkt cap of £8.5m with £4m net cash on the B/S and forecast to produce £1.9m EBITDA - if growth continues in the same manner as last 3/4 years we could easily bag from here when markets recover....as long as outlook confirms this trend.

regards,
GHF

[glasshalfull] 04/6/2009 21:12

You may be interested in Techinvest's update in their May issue. They also bought the shares for their technology fund during the month.

Focus Solutions 30p
(FCS; AIM, Tech Software & Services)

In a trading update for the year ended March 31 Focus said that revenue and profit have continued to grow strongly, in line with market expectations, with increasing levels of recurring revenue. Management also report a strong pipeline of business for fiscal 2010 - the market is seeing increasing regulatory and compliance pressures which are in turn driving demand for Focus Solutions software.
Focus ended the year with £4.0m (13.6p per share) in cash versus £1.03m in FY2008.

Focus is excellently placed in a strong growth area. The CF Techinvest Technology
Fund bought shares during the month.

Regards,
GHF

[glasshalfull] 04/6/2009 21:05

Nice quiet thread.

Looks like there has been quite a few small nibbles of the share in recent weeks on a cursory glance through trades. I've taken a couple but have to say that it irks me when I'm taking a 10% hit off the bat.
But, I happen to think this will be left well behind in the short to medium term.

On further research I was also impressed at the appointment in January of a sales director which has got lost amongst the contract wins and trading update



"Peter brings with him over 20 years of experience in this sector, with senior sales roles at Odyssey, Advent and Peter Evans. He joins Focus Solutions from Temenos where he held the role of Sales Director for its Wealth Management division. He brings his considerable knowledge to lead Focus' efforts in this space.

On his appointment at Focus Solutions, Peter commented, 'I am delighted to be joining Focus and have been impressed by the success they have had to date with their focus:360° product, securing contracts with big players in the market. I believe it is an exciting time to be joining the organisation as they grow their wealth management proposition and I look forward to the opportunity of further developing Focus' presence in this market."

Now, I realise there haven't been any further significant wins since his appointment but he certainly has the right pedigree and recent trading update contained the following paragraph;

"'As a result of the increasing demand for our focus:360° product, in January 2009 we appointed Peter Dingomal as Sales Director - Wealth Management to promote sales of the focus:360° product internationally. This is a significant growth area in which the Board sees strong potential, not only in the UK but elsewhere in Europe and we remain confident in the Group's ability to deliver in the year ahead."

So, they remain bullish and have mentioned potential for the product in Europe which I considered a strong possibility following the reseller agreement with Phormion last August.
I wouldn't be surprised to see future contract announcements on a European bias.

Regards,
GHF

[glasshalfull] 02/6/2009 15:31

This share has appeared on my spreadsheet with results due a week tomorrow...10th June. I remember this flew a few years ago and quick look suggests that they have continued to develop and grow as a company.

Market cap £8.5m....cash rich with the April Trading Statement forecasting net cash position of £4m - a whopping £3m increase during the year :-)
The shareprice has done nothing and perhaps this is down in part to the horrendous 12% spread and reliance on the financial sector which is currently in the doghouse.
If one looks beyond this though the shares represent good value both short and medium term IMO:-

* Strong order book
* Blue chip client base (point of reference)
* Decent track record
* Good Cashflow / Net Cash Position
* Increasing regulation in Financial Services Sector

They trade on a lowly PER of with forecasts suggesting they'll come in with around 4.5p EPS next week and £1.9m PTP. (The small decrease in EPS over previous year is down to the fact that they will be paying tax for 2008).
15% growth forecast in 2009.

Look excellent value and I've taken a small position during the last few sessions, while continuing research.

Regards,
GHF

[welsheagle] 12/5/2009 18:54

From May's 'Company Refs', when price was 31.5p:-
a/ Prospective PE ratio of 6.12 (based on three broker forecasts, one recommending 'buy', and two with no recommendation).
b/ Forecast growth in eps of 16.4%.
c/ Turnover up from £5.39m to £8.60m in last five years.
d/ Net cash per share of 3.49p.

[welsheagle] 21/4/2009 19:39

St Helen's capital and Daniel Stewart both recommended Focus as a 'Buy' today, the latter with a target price of 57p.

[cockneyrebel] 21/4/2009 11:22

Good trading statement, still holding a load dormant in the wife's pension.

Spread is ugly - wish another mm or two would join in.

Not tempted to add on this PE but will continue to hold.

CR

[greek islander] 21/4/2009 09:16

Very reassuring today no negatives. Cash situation very much as I expected.
This is one of the best bargains around but no doubt I am preaching here to ther converted. Surprised the share price increase so paltry today. Thought news was worth a 40% rise in the share price followed by a sustained move forward. We are though on AIM!!!!

[boadicea] 21/4/2009 09:10

re: "Market expectations".

I have them as profit £1.3m and eps = 4.4p according to broker for the year just ended - unless anyone knows of a later update.

[drw1] 21/4/2009 08:37

Would have expected a little more interest here.Clearly cheap at these levels and risk diminished given the stated earnings visability.

[welsheagle] 21/4/2009 07:21

Focus Solutions Trading Update





TIDMFSG

RNS Number : 8701Q
Focus Solutions Group PLC
21 April 2009

?




+----------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Press Release | 21 April 2009 |
+----------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+


Focus Solutions Group plc


("Focus Solutions" or the "Group")


Trading Update


Focus Solutions, a supplier of enterprise solutions to the financial services
industry, today gives an update prior to the Group's Final Results for the year
ended 31 March 2009 (FY2009).


+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ? | Strong cash position, ahead of market expectations, at GBP4.0m |
| | (FY2008: GBP1.03m) |
+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ? | Revenue and profit continue to grow strongly, in line with |
| | market expectations |
+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ? | Changing business model with good visibility and increasing |
| | levels of recurring revenues |
+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ? | Increased investment in research and development |
+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ? | Strong pipeline for FY2010 |
+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| ? | Regulation continues to drive the market |
+---+----------------------------------------------------------------+


Richard Stevenson, Chief Executive, said: "The Board remains confident in the
Group's strong position, both financially and operationally. We are diversifying
our customer base, and have a strong pipeline of contracts and sales
opportunities for FY2010. Our market is very much driven by the need for
regulatory compliance, and the increasingly tight regulation that the FSA is
imposing on the sector is underpinning the need for our software, which provides
the Group significant opportunity.


"As a result of the increasing demand for our focus:360 product, in January
2009 we appointed Peter Dingomal as Sales Director - Wealth Management to
promote sales of the focus:360 product internationally. This is a significant
growth area in which the Board sees strong potential, not only in the UK but
elsewhere in Europe and we remain confident in the Group's ability to deliver in
the year ahead."


The Group will be announcing its Final Results in June 2009.

[welsheagle] 05/4/2009 22:32

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

[welsheagle] 31/3/2009 07:20

TIDMFSG

RNS Number : 7564P
Focus Solutions Group PLC
31 March 2009

?




+----------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+
| Press Release | 31 March 2009 |
+----------------------------------------+---------------------------------------+


Focus Solutions Group plc


("Focus" or the "Company")


Director Shareholdings in Company


Focus Solutions Group plc, a leading provider of proven enterprise solutions to
the financial services market, announces today that it has been informed of the
following purchases of Ordinary Shares of 10 pence each in the Company:


+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Alastair Taylor | 50,000 shares |
+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Richard Stevenson | 30,000 shares |
+--------------------------------+----------------------------------------+


Following these transactions, Alastair Taylor holds 225,000 Ordinary Shares,
representing 0.76% of total voting rights and Richard Stevenson holds 60,000
Ordinary Shares, representing 0.20% of total voting rights.

[applesanpears] 19/3/2009 16:46

Lots of sells today and the share price yet again is getting another hammering.Anyway these dovriks are going to kick themselves when we get a bid coming in.

[davidosh] 18/3/2009 18:30

No dividend which was promised as I stated before so sadly little to interest me at present.

[cockneyrebel] 18/3/2009 18:04

Look at the AIM index - there are very few businesses doing well on AIM at the moment as far as the share price goes. AIM is tainted by all the rubbish that's been allowed to float on there in recent years. Used to be well regulated, you needed to be profitable and have several years trading I believe. Now loss making start ups that are only out there to mug the punters are on there and it's hard for Joe Public to tell one from the other.


Wide spreads, mm's looking to tuck you up by over charging when there's a lot of stock about and you can see why AIM isn't popular. Index is off 70% from the high - perhaps one day it will be more popular but at the moment its a tired old place.

CR