Foresight Share Discussion Threads

[cockneyrebel] 13/10/2008 14:14

Yep, nice RNS - there is some good news in the market then :-)

It's a struggle for anything to buck the trend isn't it - I reckon if we found oil in my back garden I'd struggle to interest anyone.

CR

[westcountryboy] 13/10/2008 12:34

boadicea - typing slip there - I think you meant 'year' for 'day' :-)

[boadicea] 13/10/2008 10:27

Hardly the sort of day when small company announcements will get much attention, I fear. Good to read, all the same.

[welsheagle] 13/10/2008 07:21

Focus Solutions Trading Update




RNS Number : 6492F
Focus Solutions Group PLC
13 October 2008




Press Release 13 October 2008


Focus Solutions Group plc

("Focus" or the "Group")

Trading Update

Focus Solutions Group plc, a leading provider of proven enterprise solutions to the
financial services market, is pleased to announce
that it has performed well in the first half of the year. Sales for the period are expected
to be approximately £5.0 million, an increase
of 25% over the same period last year, with operating profit before exceptional items of over
£0.7m in the first half, compared to £0.5m in
the same period last year. Net cash balances at 30 September 2008 totalled £2.2 million, up
from £1.0 million at the year end.

The Group has significantly improved visibility of earnings, and is therefore in a robust
position as it enters the second half of the
year. The Board's decision to focus on package software rather than bespoke solutions will
have a positive impact on margins, and will also
enable further cross selling of products. The Group has a strong pipeline and anticipates
closing further contracts in the coming months.

The Board attributes the Group's strong growth to the increasing focus on regulation
within the financial services sector. By supporting
banks' efforts to achieve compliance, Focus is driving turnover and winning significant
contracts with large, multi-national clients,
particularly in the wealth management sector.

Richard Stevenson, CEO of Focus, commented: "As we have said to the market previously, we
are bucking the trend in terms of growth in
this sector. The significant investment we have made in our market leading distribution
platform, focus:360° ensures that Focus is in a
strong position to continue to win further business from our blue-chip client base.

"Our ability to cross sell our products to high quality customers supports our growth, and
gives the Board confidence in the prospects
for the Group over the second half of the year."

The Group will be announcing its Interim Results on 2nd December 2008.

[welsheagle] 13/10/2008 07:21

Focus Solutions Trading Update




RNS Number : 6492F
Focus Solutions Group PLC
13 October 2008




Press Release 13 October 2008


Focus Solutions Group plc

("Focus" or the "Group")

Trading Update

Focus Solutions Group plc, a leading provider of proven enterprise solutions to the
financial services market, is pleased to announce
that it has performed well in the first half of the year. Sales for the period are expected
to be approximately £5.0 million, an increase
of 25% over the same period last year, with operating profit before exceptional items of over
£0.7m in the first half, compared to £0.5m in
the same period last year. Net cash balances at 30 September 2008 totalled £2.2 million, up
from £1.0 million at the year end.

The Group has significantly improved visibility of earnings, and is therefore in a robust
position as it enters the second half of the
year. The Board's decision to focus on package software rather than bespoke solutions will
have a positive impact on margins, and will also
enable further cross selling of products. The Group has a strong pipeline and anticipates
closing further contracts in the coming months.

The Board attributes the Group's strong growth to the increasing focus on regulation
within the financial services sector. By supporting
banks' efforts to achieve compliance, Focus is driving turnover and winning significant
contracts with large, multi-national clients,
particularly in the wealth management sector.

Richard Stevenson, CEO of Focus, commented: "As we have said to the market previously, we
are bucking the trend in terms of growth in
this sector. The significant investment we have made in our market leading distribution
platform, focus:360° ensures that Focus is in a
strong position to continue to win further business from our blue-chip client base.

"Our ability to cross sell our products to high quality customers supports our growth, and
gives the Board confidence in the prospects
for the Group over the second half of the year."

The Group will be announcing its Interim Results on 2nd December 2008.

[kalmar] 06/10/2008 13:59

well..I just closed some of my holding...I have been in this situation in previous down markets ..where the stock you hold does not get crushed like many around it...yet on the upside also does not move.

As mentioned last week I think SOLA has more upside over the next 3-6 months.I did a simular thing 2 yrs back when I moved out of a static BVC into SOLA.We shall see if it is a good move.

K

[boadicea] 02/10/2008 22:07

.......... thought perhaps they'd started a "spot the difference" competition to raise a bit of interest ......

[kalmar] 02/10/2008 16:18

thanks B...agree that standard deviation of 2 (or more) re FSG and SOL (as im based in the US)would apply but then that is usually the case when applicable with risk/reward.

As for RCG I have been amazed at some of the better quality ADVFN posters imo (over the last few years) and holders of RCG who have been strong advocates and yet how the share price has just bombed...consistantly ...I have traded it a few times...but it seems to hit new lows whenever I think it has bottomed..good luck and thanks for posting.

K

[boadicea] 02/10/2008 14:00

That's a bit like being asked to compare mousetraps and pocket calculators on the grounds that they can both be bought at the same store (LSE in this case.)
A principal consideration atm (imho) should be sector and location.

However, you ask for an opinion, so I think the answer is probably 'Yes' i.e. more upside potential for SOLA from here.
Unfortunately, given its much higher volatility, there is probably also more downside or to put it all another way, I think the chances of the share price of SOLA differing by a factor of (say) 2 in either direction is higher than for FSG.

Coming back to the location and sector factors, I would currently prefer SOLA based in China and operating in a 'green' sector to FSG in the West and selling to banks and other financial institutions.
However, FSG's position is probably more complex than that for two reasons.
First, it does not necessarily follow that efficiency producing software and systems will be the main victim of bank parsimony in the months ahead and secondly, FSG is probably more open to a bid than SOLA.

Nor does it totally follow that a stronger RMB/Yuan, which translates profits more favourably to sterling, is an entirely good thing for SOLA as it also reduces the RMB value of its export earnings unless it can correspondingly increase its export sales prices. For this reason I tend favour Chinese companies selling a high proportion of output in their home or non-Western markets - e.g. CHNS.

That said, I would nevertheless favour RCG or GNG over any of the aforesaid - but dyor.

[kalmar] 02/10/2008 13:24

still holding...clearly the fact that we are gaining new business in this enviroment is great news although totally incapable of being reflected in the share price in this type of market.

But I have a question....from a trading situation....does anyone think there is more upside to SOLA than FSG at these prices??

K

[cockneyrebel] 24/9/2008 11:29

Nice to see a bit of a bounce oin that news, many stocks not reacting at all to news.

CR

[boadicea] 24/9/2008 09:45

Yesterday it was my only 'blue', so someone knew it was coming.

GI - In these markets it's a relief it didn't fall 2p (or 5-6p) on the news!

[greek islander] 24/9/2008 08:12

Amazed we opened with a mere 2p rise. I would have thought such a substantial contract win would add in excess of 5-6p. Early days though.

[bigbigdave] 24/9/2008 08:05

Thats quite a biggie for FSG, chart appears to have bottomed too.

[cockneyrebel] 27/8/2008 18:46

yep, nearly fell off my chair.

CR

[keane16] 27/8/2008 17:48

bit of movement today

[welsheagle] 25/8/2008 13:53

From August's 'Company Refs', when price was 25p:-
a/ Prospective PE ratio of 3.67 (based on two broker forecasts, one recommending 'buy', and one with no recommendation).
b/ Dividend yield of 1.19%.
c/ Turnover up from £5.39m to £8.60m in last five years.
d/ Net cash per share of 3.49p.

[drw1] 04/8/2008 07:56

Basket case....a little harsh maybe?

[ydderf] 02/8/2008 18:29

this is another basket case crrookney, i suggest you don't give up the day job just yet.......oh, you already did!