Latham (james) Share Discussion Threads

[cwa1] 29/3/2022 07:16

29 March 2022

James Latham PLC

("James Latham" or the "Company")

Trading Statement

The Board of James Latham provides the following trading statement ahead of the Company's results for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Revenue for the year to 31 March 2022 remains strong and is anticipated to exceed GBP370m compared with GBP250m for last year. Cost prices have continued to rise throughout the year which is a major driver of the increase in revenues, and there are no signs currently of price weaknesses. Volume growth has slowed and gross margins percentages are now returning to more normal levels, as expected. Supply chain issues have continued, with shipment delays and congestion at the ports, and this has been exacerbated by the events in Ukraine and its effect on Russian ships and ports. We are still maintaining higher than normal inventory levels and using our extensive network of suppliers to ensure that we continue to provide a high level of service and product availability for our customers.

Overheads are facing inflationary pressures especially with increases in fuel costs causing an increase in vehicle costs per tonne delivered. We continue to monitor and control our overheads closely. The Company's balance sheet and cash balances remain strong.

The Board plans to report the Company's preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2022 on 29 June 2022.

[wad collector] 09/12/2021 19:48

IC article last week notes the last 6 month figures are unlikely to be repeated and the transport costs are up and the cash flow down. It says hold.

Certainly been an extraordinary time in the timber trade. We put a standing timber contract out for tender last year and saw the highest prices and unprecedented competition . We would have done even better if we had held on a year, but who can see the future? The extraction continued through the wettest conditions in memory , and then into the lockdown. Should be drying nicely now!

[km18] 03/12/2021 16:02

James Latham is one of the UK’s largest independent trade distributors of timber panels, decorative surfaces, wood, plastics and flooring products. Subsequently, the firm is highly innovative and is acknowledged for supplying cutting-edge materials technologies including thermoplastics and acrylics to designers and architects, enabling the most demanding designs and constructions projects to become reality. As a result, the firm’s profitability soared to £26,568m from £5,098m in 2020. Despite the robust financial performance, James Latham is trading at a P/E ratio of 6.8, lower than the industry’s P/E ratio of 22, hence it is undervalued and has the potential to further surge in value. This evidence is supported by the firm’s EPS Growth metric of 224%.

Keep up to date with WealthOracle AM

[davidosh] 29/11/2021 15:04

Just to let shareholders and prospective investors know that James Latham will be featured on the Mello Monday webinar event tonight at 5.30pm to 9:30pm. There will be over 400 investors attending and these are very popular shows with company presentations, fund manager and investor interviews, and panel sessions.
Tickets are still available and if you would like one at half price then enter the code MMTADVFN50.



Monday 29th November 2021, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Programme

5.30 pm Mello welcome
5.35 pm David Stredder interviews Rosemary Banyard, Fund Manager to VT Downing Unique Opportunities Fund
6.10 pm Company presentation by Headlam
6.50 pm Alan Charlton presents educational insights
7.05 pm Company presentation by K3 Capital
7.45 pm Steve Clapham is Behind the Balance Sheet and looking at The Hut Group
8.00 pm Company presentation by Kanabo
8.30 pm Mello BASH with Kevin Taylor, Damian Cannon and Chris Boxall

[jimboyce] 25/11/2021 22:48

Surely the market should recognise that the acquisition made during the period will enhance future earnings. Smart move by Lathams. This share is great value for money, which has yet to be realised.

[mw8156] 25/11/2021 17:15

guess market participants think the figures will be impossible to replicate next year,
so this marks the most profitable 6 months, also wary of cyclicality of timber and the supply chain difficulties though, if anyone can negotiate these, then Latham with its 260year history, connections and strong balance sheet which allows it to hold plenty of stock ought to be able to. Despite all this, the shares appear pretty good value to me, others views sought, main drawback is possibility of writedowns on stock held when normal market conditions resume.
welcome news on the pension deficit that's been a bugbear for many years.

[cwa1] 25/11/2021 16:53

Just imagine if they'd brought out poor results...

[jimboyce] 25/11/2021 12:22

Bit of a damp response to these spectacular results.

[mw8156] 23/11/2021 22:47

figures on Thursday ought to be excellent
will be interesting to hear how they're coping with the supply chain problems at ports and with drivers.

[alter ego] 11/11/2021 15:47

Good idea. They did a 4 for 1 scrip issue in Jan 2005 so it's been a while. Didn't realise I had held them since 2004 until I checked. How time flies.

[jimboyce] 11/11/2021 14:50

Perhaps the directors should be asked to consider a share split to make the share more marketable to joe public. Say 10 for 1 would do the trick.

[faxglacier] 05/11/2021 06:10

Noticed that three large share sales (totalling over £2m) went through just before market close yesterday, priced at around 1100 when the mid price was nearer to 1250.

[disc0dave45] 03/11/2021 14:34

Agree, it is undervalued.In their first 4 months their pre-tax was £18.6m, the same as what they made for their last FY.I'm hoping their latest acquisition was to maximise further their already increased margins and possibly relieve any Irish bottlenecks they may have been experiencing, rather than they have been struggling to meet demand due to supply issues.

[jimboyce] 03/11/2021 12:21

Underpriced by market in my opinion.

[faxglacier] 03/11/2021 11:15

Any theories on the reason for the increase this morning?

[cwa1] 03/11/2021 09:42

Pondered a top up yesterday-but thought I had enough already. Swithered about it but "put it off until tomorrow" to make a decision, as nothing much is likely to happen.

Ooooops :-)

[mw8156] 25/10/2021 10:48

purchase is a traditional NI business closes for the '12th day' in the summer etc.

[cwa1] 25/10/2021 07:29

25 October 2021

James Latham plc

("James Latham" or "the Company")

Acquisition

James Latham is pleased to announce that it has acquired the entire issued share capital of Sarcon (No 155) Limited and subsidiary companies ("IJK"). The trading subsidiary, IJK Timber Group Ltd, trades as IJK Timber and Northern Hardwood, and operates from two sites in Northern Ireland, offering a comprehensive range of panel products, softwoods and hardwoods.

The Company has acquired IJK for GBP4 million, plus or minus a net asset adjustment based on estimated net assets of GBP3.5m. The consideration will be satisfied in cash from the Company's existing resources. For the year ended 30 September 2020, the turnover of IJK was GBP8.8 million and EBITDA was GBP507k. Founded in 1799 as Irvin Sellers, IJK has for many years successfully provided the Irish market with quality panel products and timber.

Commenting on the acquisition, Nick Latham, Chairman of James Latham, said: "We are delighted to have acquired IJK which will allow us to increase our panel product and timber offering in Northern Ireland. We see a great opportunity to further grow and develop our products in Northern Ireland, which will complement our Abbey Woods business in the Republic of Ireland and the business we do into Ireland from Leeds. We have known the IJK directors, Graham Knox and Peter Elwood, for many years, and are excited to be working with them and the whole IJK team and welcome them to the Latham family."

[disc0dave45] 13/10/2021 17:27

Don't quite know why it's dropped back recently tbh.As posted previously, even if they shut up shop and spend all of H2 fishing or whatever they fancy, they'd still make 75p eps for the year, so an undemanding PE of 17x.

[cwa1] 13/10/2021 16:16

Gently inching ahead today

[cwa1] 13/10/2021 09:21

Saw that and wondered how much of a read across to "us" there might be. Can't be bad news IMO

[alter ego] 13/10/2021 08:32

interesting quote from BRCK trading update this morning:

"the Taylor Maxwell timber division has delivered exceptional revenue and profitability since acquisition, as material shortages drove unprecedented price increases. Timber prices in recent weeks have since reduced from this peak but remain higher than last year."

[disc0dave45] 07/10/2021 12:38

Would guess construction firms will be stockpiling materials to try and minimise project delays, so good news for LTHM and would imagine they can easily pass any additional costs they incur to their buyers.

[alter ego] 07/10/2021 12:19

Reports lately of large price increases on timber (see example below), particularly sawn and plywood. Not sure how this plays for Lathams. If they maintain margins, profits rise but can they? If they absorb rises profits suffer. Demand may shrink if projects are deferred. Small builders struggling to get other materials, eg cement, may have to hold off buying timber if work is held up. Larger house builders and construction generally may review whether projects make financial sense. All in all a difficult environment to forecast impact.

[cwa1] 07/10/2021 11:56

Nice to see a gentle upwards movement share price wise