Foresight Enterprise Vct Share Discussion Threads

[h e went] 05/9/2002 08:29

Look at Fitness First
Tasty. In light of Hol and Cannons and Esporta bids, this is next to go.....

[reetus] 17/7/2002 13:56

I'd put it down to the market. Just look at the price bounce today and I think Fidelity feel they're going cheap too.

[henrysugar] 15/7/2002 15:00

Blimey - this one's just crashed through it's lowest level for 3 years.

Is it the markets, the sector, of something about FTF?

HS

[reetus] 16/6/2002 20:38

Think I beat them to it! From the sharecrazy.com website:

A high profile report by the UK's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson, and the launch of a government campaign to promote regular exercise will provide a boost to the health and fitness sector later this year. Operators such as Fitness First (FTF.L), LA Fitness (LFS.L), Esporta (ESP.L) and Holmes Place (HOL.L), should see a 23% increase in their turnover this year, and a further 12% in 2003, according to a report by research group Allegra Strategies.

[reetus] 15/6/2002 17:28

Shares starting to look seriously undervalued at the moment, but will look for a bounce in the chart given the state of the Stock Market at the moment. I expect the results when released to be rock solid as usual, then I don't think it will take too long for this one to climb back up to its year high price again. Health & Fitness sector still looks ripe for consolidation with many chains now in operation, so with Fitness First being the market leader by size in the UK/Europe, then it won't be too long before a few more are gobbled up. The recent acquition of the Curzon's chain is just one example of things to come I feel.

[reetus] 31/1/2002 09:49

Once again FTF has pulled it off with huge growth in turnover and membership numbers. should be due for its seasonal spike upwards from here.

[reetus] 04/1/2002 14:28

Looks like its the usual post-xmas/new year rise as usual for FTF. How long will it be before we hear the never ending fads of people saying they are going to get themselves fit in the new year by joining a Gym. Unfortunately not many new joiners keep thei promises until the summer, which can make the yearly revenue fluctuate. Do FTF operate a one year tie-in contract like LA Fitness and Holmes Place to iron out these fluctuations?

[e-boffin] 09/7/2001 10:21

From Telegraph
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Fitness First has shed some pounds

HEALTH Club operators are the darlings of the leisure sector and, at present, there seems little cause for them to trip off the treadmill.

A week ago, Europe's biggest operator - Fitness First - beat analysts' forecasts by unveiling a 60pc jump in underlying profits to £8m.

Like the company's members, though, the shareholders have lost some pounds. At 585p this week, they were well down on their 12-month high of 693.75p. However, this is a business in fine trim and the dynamics of its market are positively muscle-bound.

Figures out last week from US industry body IHRSA showed that 13.2pc of Americans are now members of a health club compared with 12.4pc one year ago, proving that gym membership is one of the last things people will give up in an economic slowdown.

There is clearly plenty of room for growth in Britain, where just 6.5pc of us go to the gym. Furthermore, the company is expanding into Germany, the Far East and other places where the sector is even less developed. It is on target to open 115 new clubs over this year and next, which will increase its estate to 270 outlets.

The biggest fear is that Fitness First will overstretch itself. However, with Colin Childs, the former finance director of coach operator National Express, behind the calculator, things should stay on track.

The shares are not cheap. On forecast profits before tax of £18.7m they trade around 35 times prospective earnings. However, the rating is probably deserved. Michael Balfour, chief executive, is highly regarded and the company is running fast enough for its earnings to outpace the multiple. Hold.

[reetus] 28/6/2001 07:51

Fitness First Plc
28 June 2001



FITNESS FIRST PLC

('Fitness First' or the 'Company')


Interim Results For the Half Year Ended 30 April 2001



Fitness First Plc, one of the major health club operators in the world,
announces another period of outstanding growth with pre-tax profits
increasing by 60%



28 June 2001

Half Year Ended 30 April 2001


2001 2000 Increase

Turnover £60.7m £24.4m 150%

Pre-tax profit* £8.0m £5.0m 60%

Earnings per share* 7.0p 5.2p 35%

Clubs 156 93 68%

Membership 365,000 195,000 87%



*Before goodwill amortisation



- Fitness First is the largest fitness club operator in Europe and one
of the major operators in the world.



- Strong expansion programme during half year period. At 30 April
2001, the Group operated 156 clubs (April 2000 - 93) an increase of 63
clubs and currently operates 164 clubs.



- During the half year, Fitness First opened its first clubs in Spain,
Italy and the Netherlands.



- Now operating in 13 countries across 3 continents.



- Total Group membership is now over 375,000 (June 2001), an increase
of 70% (June 2000 - 220,000).



- Operating profits at German clubs increased by 130%.



- Acquisition of 11 health clubs with 45,000 members in Australia (Nov
2000) makes Fitness First the market leader in Australia. Membership
has now increased to 63,000 with 13 clubs.



- An additional 26 clubs expected to open by 31 October 2001 bringing
the total to 190 clubs worldwide.



Mike Balfour, Chief Executive of Fitness First, commented:



'I am pleased to announce another set of outstanding financial results for the
period, as well as a strong start to the second half of the year.



'With our opening programmes in the UK, Continental Europe, the Far East and
Australia, we have further consolidated our position as the largest fitness
club operator in Europe and one of the major operators in the world.



'With platforms for growth now established in 13 countries, the Group is well
positioned to enjoy the strong expansion in the global health and fitness
industry. With our clear strategy and pipeline of new clubs around the world,
Fitness First is ideally placed to capitalise on the growing demand for
affordable, quality fitness clubs. We envisage strong growth in both clubs and
profits going forward.'

[reetus] 09/3/2001 09:46

Why all the sells today and yesterday? I can only assume it is profit taking. Also Esporta posted pretty solid results yesterday, so it would appear the industry is still doing very well with expansion into Europe/Overseas providing the basis for further growth, which Fitness First has already demonstrated.

[iandippie] 20/2/2001 10:09

Reetus

On 19th of Jan you posted a report that indicated the market had broken postively out of it's recent trend. You were spot on.

It's good news that it's not just Fitness First on the move. Holmes Place et al are on the up as well. Plenty of momentum now...

[reetus] 20/2/2001 08:57

Looks like this trend is happening all over again.

[iandippie] 01/2/2001 00:40

Reasonably large trades (buys) startng to go through...

[iandippie] 29/1/2001 11:11

Last year's full year results were released on Thursday 27th Jan 2000, when the price stood at 1060. On Monday 31st Jan, the price DROPPED to 978 - a drop of 7.7%. On the 2nd of Feb, it went UP to 1062. By mid March, it peaked at 1450.

Personally, I'll be happy to see the same trend again and I'll bet that many small investors we're caught out by last year's shake out before the rise.

It looks like it's happening again, but if I'm wrong, I have a stop loss price of £9. So I would lose around 12%, after commissions. However, if this DOES follow last years trend, then there is a big, big upside to this.

Do your own digging, but IMHO, this fall is a storm in a teacup.

One more thing, only growth companies offer share splits. And Fitness First said they want to exercise a 2 for 1 split.

[reetus] 29/1/2001 10:28

No idea myself. Its seems people still have negative sentiment towards growth companies that actually make a profit these days.

[crimbo] 29/1/2001 10:23

Any idea why fall in price today?

[iandippie] 26/1/2001 10:19

The Times today has an article on Fitness First. CEO, Mike Balfour said that there are currently 79 clubs in the UK with no sign of slow down. Hw said the market for his clubs would exceed 250 (in the UK).

Then of course there is Europe, Australasia, the U.S....

[iandippie] 25/1/2001 16:42

My thoughts are probably incorrect, but here goes.

After last years equally imnpressive full year results, the price went down 10%, and then rapidly recovered to a 30% gain.

It may happen again as there were a couple reasonably large sells at the end of today. However, I'm sitting on my shares, no matter what happens over the next few days.

This is a long term winner and I'm prepared to ride out any short term market maker shake.

[hsandhu] 25/1/2001 10:56

Say, excellent results, however very little movement.

I expect press to tip tomorrow.

Any thoughts?

[crimbo] 25/1/2001 07:48

Totally agree!

Beat earnings estimates by 7.8%
Beat Profit estimates by 3.6%

lowest P/E (40.3) for 2 yrs!

My target (based on earnings);
Current EPS= 25.3 x 2yr avg PE (about 75) = 1897

Even on a PE of 60 (previouse low);
25.3 x 60 = 1518

Technically - just bouncing of support, with next resistance at £12 (imo)

kc

[iandippie] 25/1/2001 07:25

Looking good.

Sh!ts on analysts expectations...
Proposed two for one share split split...

All systems go?

[iandippie] 12/12/2000 16:25

Reetus, thanks for that.

I looked at the price movement for the first two months of the year for 97, 98 and 99.

Interesting figures. In 97 it went from 110 to 148. In 98 it went from 226 to 273 and best of all, in 99 it went from 323 to 445.

Nothing's certain, but it looks like a very good gamble to get in now, which is exactly what I've done. (at 1010).

Best of luck.

[reetus] 08/12/2000 15:12

Ian, I would expect the share price to pick up to around the £12+ level in the New Year. Analysts always seem to tip the stock as a 'Buy' at the start of the year because of them getting increasing amounts of people joining them and as well as other health clubs, as part of their New Year's resolutions.

The Revenue and Profit for the company seems to double year on year, and is expanding its operations abroad in order to achieve this growth. So I don't see why it's share price has been knocked down so much recently, apart from the general slide in the stock market. Even with the competition from other Health Clubs chain in the UK, it still remains the Market Leader in the UK and is big enough to acquire other companies if it feels its No.1 position is being threatened.

This is a good time to top up at such a low price