Hargreaves Lansdown Takeover Rumours (HL.)

I think the takeover thing is wishful thinking although there is a lot of HL. bashing atm. I have been watching HLs fall from 20 quid a share. It was obvious even then to a novice like me that the lofty price wasn't justified by the underlying figures and PE of 20/30. Also, the Woodford scandal has done them no favours.But the yield is currently approx 7% at this level with a PE of 9/10 and fees, whilst still higher than some others have been trimmed. The savings platform which i use for short term cash offers instant access accounts paying monthly interest at nearly 5% there are also loads of cash ISAs paying top rates. There are a lot of HL haters on this board but I have held and traded on spikes so my average is only about 700. The large short position does worry me though, 7.6% short is a lot and makes me wonder what they see that I don't.

I'd suggest ii if you want an easy to use site, low share dealing fees and an ok app. Btw I bought a small HL top up this afo at 689.5p as we are approaching the Oct low, and I smell some sort of takeover approach the further away from £7 we get.

Bloomberg UK Plc Attracts Wave of Takeover Offers From Foreign Suitors Overseas buyers attracted by cheaper valuations, weak pound. Direct Line Insurance, Currys, Wincanton among UK deal targets.

K Ashworth-Lord, Buffetology manager:The manager speculates that other names in the portfolio could also be vulnerable on this front. “We have got Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) which I think could be a takeover target to someone from the US,” he says. “All we have seen in the last six years at HL is a deterioration of what was a very good business and lots of cost put in. Hargreaves to me at this price is a sitting duck.” However, he praises the appoint- ment of non-executive Adrian Collins, who served as executive chairman at Liontrust among other things.