Merlin Entertainments Share Discussion Threads

[philanderer] 31/3/2017 13:46

Lego sticks its neck out with new Birmingham attraction

[philanderer] 30/3/2017 08:48

30th march Barclays overweight tp 575p
30th march Credit Suisse neutral -

reiterations

[philanderer] 29/3/2017 17:17

Manly Sea Life Sanctuary aquarium to close at the end of the year

[farmergeorge] 24/3/2017 11:24

Yes, but how much of Merlin's revenues/profits are generated in London? We know it is a global business.

[philanderer] 23/3/2017 13:25

Merlin Entertainments PLC (LON:MERL) had its price objective cut by equities researchers at Peel Hunt from 510p to 450p in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday. The firm currently has a “hold” rating on the stock

[farmergeorge] 22/3/2017 23:32

Now, what is the overall contribution of the London Eye to overall revenues/profit? I'd bet it's nothing like 2.2% of expected future revenues/profits streams. In which case, clearly the 2.2% is an over-reaction, and the price will revert back to something more realistic.

[philanderer] 22/3/2017 17:36

London terror attack ... London Eye on lockdown :-O



'Tourists stuck on London Eye due to parliament terror attack'

London (AFP) - Tourists were stuck in mid-air on the popular London Eye attraction for around an hour on Wednesday following a suspected terror attack outside the Houses of Parliament.

Visitors on the London Eye, a 135 metre (443 foot) high big wheel, were later evacuated after the attack, in which a police officer was stabbed and the suspected assailant shot.

The London Eye has a clear view over the area.

"At present we are holding all of our guests within our attractions as per tried and tested security procedures," the attraction said on its Twitter page.

The account later tweeted that the passengers "are now disembarking".

The London Eye is made up of 32 white pods, each of which can carry 25 people.

[farmergeorge] 22/3/2017 12:08

philanderer, excellent ;-).

[philanderer] 22/3/2017 11:58

Research analysts at Numis Securities Ltd started coverage on shares of Merlin Entertainments PLC (LON:MERL) in a note issued to investors on Wednesday. The firm set an “add” rating and a 553p price target on the stock

[philanderer] 20/3/2017 13:25

Hamleys teams with Merlin for theme park offers

[philanderer] 17/3/2017 13:26

Meanwhile in India ;-)

'Shreya Ghoshal is the first Indian singer at Madame Tussauds'

[farmergeorge] 16/3/2017 15:00

philanderer, totally agree. They should all merge into one chattering group.

[philanderer] 16/3/2017 14:28

george, I don't think any of them have a clue. All talking their own book I reckon.

[farmergeorge] 16/3/2017 13:24

Makes you wonder. So, why has no one else caught on? Non of these recommendations have a credible track record. Is this insight or just "time to create some market activity", which is the collective motto.

[philanderer] 16/3/2017 12:53

Berenberg:


'Lego Batman cannot save Merlin Entertainments as patience 'wearing thin'

(ShareCast News) - Shares in Merlin Entertainments are only worth 375p and should be sold, said Berenberg on Thursday, downgrading its rating on the Legoland and Madame Tussauds owner.
With the stock closing at 497p the day before, analyst Owen Shirley in London moved to a 'sell' recommendation from his previous 'hold' due to a feeling that investor patience is wearing thin and that "Merlin is potentially one misstep away from triggering a material de-rating".

Results two weeks ago showed its largest division, Midway, recorded a constant-currency EBIT decline of 10% in 2016 and Shirley calculated that, on a same-site basis, visitation has been declining for the last three years.

Although management blamed weak holiday visitation to the UK for the weak performance in the first nine months of 2016, despite a material improvement in the final quarter, Midway achieved a "negligible" improvement in like-for-like sales.

"Even more of a concern is the fact that Merlin's ability to offset declining visitation with pricing appears to be diminishing."

What's more, hitherto-exceptional Legoland has seen LFL growth decelerate and turn negative against tough previous year comparisons.

Despite the release of 'Lego Batman Movie' and 'Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu' in 2017, Berenberg cut its LFL estimate to 5% growth this year from 7% and cautioned that downside risk into the first quarter "is significant, with only California, Malaysia and the struggling Florida park contributing for most of the period".

With capital expenditure being bumped up, free cash flow yield is only forecast to be a lowly 0.4%.

[philanderer] 16/3/2017 09:11

There`s always one and today it's Berenberg. Big downgrade from 'hold' to 'sell'... tp cut to 375p from 440p.

updated:


16th march Berenberg sell tp 375p
9th march Goldmans neutral tp 460p
7th march Panmure buy tp 525p
6th march Deutsche buy tp 530p
3rd march Morgan Stanley overweight tp 560p
3rd march JP Morgan neutral tp 450p
3rd march Beaufort buy -
2nd march ShoreCap hold -

2nd march ++++++ Results +++++


27th feb Peel Hunt hold tp 510p
23rd feb UBS buy tp 560p
20th feb Barclays overweight tp 575p


29th nov ++++ trading statement ++++

[philanderer] 15/3/2017 23:15

'Five shares to consider for last-minute ISAs and SIPPs'

Merlin Entertainments


Merlin Entertainments, the company behind Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds and LEGOLAND, is the world’s second largest operator of theme parks and attractions. It only floated on the market in 2013, and while the shares remain higher than the IPO price, investors have not had a completely smooth ride.

Recent concerns over terrorism have limited the number of visitors to city centre attractions, while the horrific rollercoaster crash at Alton Towers in 2015, for which the group received a £5m fine, dented visitor numbers at its theme parks.

Despite these short-term headwinds, we think Merlin has plenty going for it in the longer term. Merlin has some great brands, with LEGOLAND the jewel in its crown. The strategy is as simple as rolling out more of what the people want, wherever demand is likely to grow fastest.

More LEGOLANDs are scheduled to open in Asia, and the smaller Midway attractions will continue to spring up in cities the world over. The increasingly international composition of the group’s portfolio of attractions makes it a beneficiary of any sterling weakness too.

The roll-out story is expected to fuel double-digit earnings growth in the coming years, with most analysts expecting dividends to come along for the ride. This means that while the prospective yield is 1.6% now, analysts expect this to increase by around 50% by 2020.

[philanderer] 12/3/2017 15:08

Paramount theme park - dubbed 'UK's Disneyland' - is on course to be built by 2022


Read more at

[philanderer] 12/3/2017 10:32

Merlin Entertainments : Moody's Says Merlin Outlook Stable After Credit Neutral Planned Issue

[philanderer] 09/3/2017 10:11

9th march Goldmans neutral tp 460p cut from 480p

[philanderer] 08/3/2017 23:18

Budget verdict ....Nick Varney, Merlin Entertainments


While UK business seems to have been thrown a few bones in this Budget from the Chancellor Philip Hammond, there’s no meat on them.

At a time of unprecedented uncertainty for Britain’s economy ahead of the country’s forthcoming exit from the European Union, businesses today are facing a slew of additional levies imposed by Government without any proper consultation or awareness of the consequences on daily operations.

The UK Government is currently putting more cost on business than any other country in which we operate. The UK’s competitive advantage needs to be locked in by reducing the cost of doing business rather than increasing it. One action that Government could take is to reduce VAT on tourism services in line with all major EU countries.

This is something they could implement easily now as we exit Europe and which will be a significant net contributor to the balance of trade.

I’m an advocate of Britain being “open for business” , but it should not be at the expense of domestic UK business success.