Ashley (laura) Share Discussion Threads

[dashton42] 03/6/2011 08:53

Yaahoon - this thread is for "sensible posters", not "senseless posers"

[cockneyrebel] 03/6/2011 08:02

7% yield and you get 1p final divi next week from last year too - 2.5p divi over 53 weeks.


CR

[yaahoon 4 insurance] 03/6/2011 07:44

Woman has Man in it.

Mrs. has Mr. in it.

Female has Male in it.

She has He in it.

Madam has Adam in it.

No wonder men always want to be inside women!

Men were born between the legs of a woman, yet men spend all their life and time trying to go back between the legs of a woman...

Why?

BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

[cockneyrebel] 03/6/2011 07:43

There's the statement - sales must have picke up a lot to make up so much of the early year fall imo.

And if the reduced total sales is down to reduced loss making stores in part then that's not that bad either imo.

Oversold - like some other retailers imo.

CR

[philmac56] 03/6/2011 07:34

Interim statement release

3 June 2011



LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC



Interim Management Statement



Laura Ashley Holdings Plc today announces its Interim Management Statement for the 17 weeks to 28 May 2011.



Total UK sales for the first 17 weeks of the current financial year fell by 4.5%, although like-for -like sales were only down by 1.3%. The decline in total sales was largely due to the closure of unprofitable stores and the continuing store realignment programme.



It is noted that retail sales improved in the second half of this 17-week period. When the Company announced its last financial year results on 31 March 2011, like-for-like sales for the first 8 weeks of the current financial year were down by 4.2%. Due to better performance in the subsequent 9 weeks, the overall decline in like-for-like sales was reduced to 1.3%.



While store performance declined, on-line sales improved by 6.7% for the 17-week period.



The Company currently operates 214 stores in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. During its last financial year ended 29 January 2011, 16 stores were closed. Another 3 stores have been closed in the current financial year.


The franchising and licensing business of the Company continues to expand following the successful conclusion of several new agreements with established companies. There are now 236 franchise stores operating globally in 27 countries. The Company will continue to enlarge its global presence through strong international partnerships.



The continued international growth of the brand, strong product offering, built-in operational efficiencies and robust balance sheet will provide a firm base for the Company to meet its challenges this year. It therefore anticipates that full-year trading will be in line with expectations.

Following a recent review of its panel of advisors, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Seymour Pierce as sole broker.

[cockneyrebel] 01/6/2011 16:12

Buyers today - IMS statement imminent.

CR

[call-logger] 01/6/2011 07:40

Yes, the out-of-hours bid price has shown at 12.75p for a couple of months now.

Dunno why.

[cockneyrebel] 31/5/2011 21:23

yep, that's wrong.

CR

[peterbill] 31/5/2011 20:42

Not sure if anyone else has this in their SIPP ... saw mine at 12p today ... down 35% today ... must be some mistake?

[a1samu] 27/5/2011 15:00

killieboy

you will have to work out the answers for yourself.

next you will be asking me what to invest in.

just have to be a big boy and work it out all by yourself.

but I can tell you one thing, ii called this share a Bear on the 23 May with a target price of 12p, when it hit 19p and closed on that day @ 19.75p. Stop loss would be triggered at 23p, which we are now a long way off anyhow.

Good luck.

[killieboy] 26/5/2011 20:46

A1samu - any answers?

[cockneyrebel] 25/5/2011 21:26

When is the value always reflected in the shareprice a1samy ?

If every share was valued at fair value when would you buy cheaply?

Were these fairly valued at 10p last Sep? What happened after that to take them to 25p? Why aren't they undervalued like that again?

Perhaps you'll find the AGM will tell you more in 10 days time.

CR

[killieboy] 25/5/2011 19:23

A1samu - 3rd sentence above - please explain.

[a1samu] 25/5/2011 13:11

This one is down and down whereas other retailers may have been down and are now up, perhaps, who knows. Certaily M@S picked up well.

However, this is a dog and no one wants it. There are no trades in the shares and it is drifting further and further away from the indicated 30p.

I know I am wrong, but that is not the issue, that is the issue is not, who is wrong and who is right

The issue is where is the value reflected in the share price, even more importantly, if there is value, why is the value not reflected in the share price?

[ydderf] 23/5/2011 10:58

slowly slowly catchee monkey crookney, is that also Rudyard Kippers?

[cockneyrebel] 20/5/2011 12:58

Hmmm - I think you are somewhat wrong a1samu.

They increased the divi more than expected.

All retail was weak at the start of the year bu sincethen retailers have picked up a lot, especially fashion.

Forecasts were upped to 2.2p eps - that doesn't sound bad to me. They actually said:

"There has been a decline in performance since the beginning of February, which we attribute to a general weakening in the consumer economy. For the 8 weeks to 26 March 2011, like-for-like UK retail sales have decreased by 4.2%. We believe that our strong product offer and brand, robust balance sheet and continued operational efficiencies give us a sound base to face the tough outlook ahead.
The store portfolio realignment programme will continue in the UK. We aim to achieve the optimum balance between a profitable store portfolio and online retail. We will continue to develop our online presence through an improved and enhanced website which will give our customers a clear and enjoyable shopping experience. Our franchise business will maintain its current expansion programme as we develop partnerships in new territories. New licensing opportunities in high quality products will also be explored to improve the profitability of the Group. "

Many retailers like Next were down at the start of the year but have subsequently said trading is much stronger.

Retail is what they said was down, not internet which is growing strongly.

Add all that in and when you get £38m net cash (that's over 205 of the market cap) the net share price is 16.75p to buy or less.

You get 1p divi if you;re holding in a couple of weeks and 1.5p more over the next year to make 2.5p divi over 54 weeks or so.

Net PE is around 8 or less and a huge yield of 7.2% or more (and 13% over the next 13 months.

How anyone sees that as expensive I don't know.

But that's just my opinion.

CR

[a1samu] 12/5/2011 12:04

Well, I read this message in the final accounts of 2011 just as it was intended to be read. It is plain as can be that it means that there has been a decline in performance.

The message says nothing else about anything else. "There has been a decline in performance since the beginning of February, which we attribute to a general weakening in the consumer economy."

So the price collapsed from 25p to 20p at the time of the release. I am invested, but I am wary of what will be released in early June.

Unfortunately, despite the excellent performance and accummulation of cash, this share is not a "must have" share. People are not queuing to buy it. There is very little volume. This share is a bit of a dog. Unwanted and no one really understands where it is going. The trading performance is not inspiring. Perhaps the markets cannot make up their minds as to what exactly the malasian diectors are doing with this company. They may be waiting for some indications as to their intentions. I believe that the directors hold a majority stake and they are not exercising their minds as to how to increase shareholders value. I mean like share buy backs, or bringing in some serious partners to bolster performance even more or seek ways of making this share to be rerated as an out and out growth stock.

Therefore, despite the attractive performance, this share has limited appeal and it will probably slump after it goes ex dividend and the release of the AGM update.

I wish I could see more in this share, but in my mind these are the facts of this situation, but do your own research in any event and be sure as to your reasons of buying. This share will perform over the years in that it will produce nice profits and dividends, but there is very little chance of an increase in shareholders value any time soon, unless there is radical news to change the mindset of the market makers.

[cockneyrebel] 11/5/2011 22:29

Well the growth here is excellend and it isn't going to stop this year, 15% still forecast. The yield shouldn't be over 5% imo - which means 30p a share or more. Stripping out the cash that would be a PE of 12.

30p looks fair to me - they shot up 40% in a couple of days in Jan when they surprised with good news, they still haven't disappointed with news, all that's happened is they said 'retail in UK was off 4%' - that'd not overseas or internet. Lets see what they say but they are back down near where they were before that big rally in Jan.

Moved up through the 100 day moving average briefly today for the first time in a whlie too.

CR

[cockneyrebel] 11/5/2011 10:06

Yes - read it carefully a1saum - 'UK Retail Sales', they also are seeing high internet growth and theyu have international sales so that never gave the true picture imo.

They paid a divi that was higher than expected and the broker eps forecasts have been raised to 2.2p eps this year.

at 22p, 4p net cash per share and a yield over 11% over the next 13 months then I reckon all the bad news is in the price.

The co also says that it can do further cost savings and efficiencies yet.

all in my opinion but I think punters will like the trading update.

130k buy today I see Frauddy had to cough up and stop trying to deramp the share I reckon.

3 weeks to the trading update - I see Next is making an all time high almost today.

CR

[philmac56] 11/5/2011 10:01

A little movement at last getting close to rec date, expect a plus movement!!!!

[a1samu] 10/5/2011 07:44

Just a frienly caution as per second part of the 2011 year end report. Lets hope that the statement that will be released during the AGM in early June, will not be too depressing to affect the share price.

"There has been a decline in performance since the beginning of February, which we attribute to a general weakening in the consumer economy. For the 8 weeks to 26 March 2011, like-for-like UK retail sales have decreased by 4.2%. We believe that our strong product offer and brand, robust balance sheet and continued operational efficiencies give us a sound base to face the tough outlook ahead."

I expect that the AGM statement must negate the negative effect that this statement had on the share price, before a serious uplift in the price can take place.

[cockneyrebel] 09/5/2011 13:48

Yes, they are what the co owes - but they net off against trade and other receivables and inventories.

So if the £72m trades and other payables are settled with the receivables and inventories you are then left with the £38 cash.

CR

[johnv] 09/5/2011 13:43

CR,

Im not a accountant but what is the "trade & other payables" £71.8m ?. Is this not some debt? If you look at advfn finianicals tab above this gives cash/share as 5.3p whilst net cash ( cash-debt) as -4.8p. If Iam correct surely you should take debt into consideration

[cockneyrebel] 09/5/2011 12:29

My mistake - the net cash is actually about 4p a share not 2p. So 17p a share to buy with that netted off. 2.2p eps forecast this year - PE 7.7 with the cash netted off


Get 2.5p divi back over 13 months and you're buying so a PE more like 6 if you net of the return in yield over 13 months.

Mental - xd and trading update early June.

CR