Moss Bros Share Discussion Threads

[justjim37] 17/10/2004 17:08

MOSB rec'd in Money Weekly so might move a bit north tomorrow.

[justjim37] 16/10/2004 12:11

pip-uk,
have a look at FOGL,
AS EVER BE LUCKY,
jj

[peter001] 15/10/2004 21:47

Looks loke a Breakout here fill up your boot for xmas.

[bargain] 15/10/2004 12:29

Well 101p mid so far ...

[peter001] 14/10/2004 21:12

1.50 within a month if the market goes up . DYOR

[tinker] 14/10/2004 13:15

Confirming the trend:

Moss Bros (post 62 above)

"Trends towards more formal dressing and tying the knot in top-hat-and-tails boosted sales between February and July."

and from Citywire today:

Burberry:

"Dress-down Fridays are becoming unfashionable in the United States where there is a return to sartorial dressing, says up-market clothes and accessory retailer Burberry.

The new trend helped lift North American sales by 15%, more than double the European growth, according a trading statement for the six months to 30 June."

Let the trend be your friend!

[bargain] 14/10/2004 11:14

Ah, glad to see you all haven't jumped ship. It would be a somewhat premature move given the good ship MOSB has charted a very interesting journey ahead ...

[alfwilson] 14/10/2004 09:52

Mike

IMHO about 160-165p come the results and a further 12 months out about 260 -270p but don't ask me to explain.

Alf

PS
I will stick with my own guess of 5.4p & 7.6p, WHICH SUGGESTS 140p & 200p.

[mikepompeyfan] 14/10/2004 09:16

Profit forecasts are going up all the time. Just found this latest one on TDW. It's the highest forecast l've seen so far.

2005 2006
Broker Date Rec Pre-tax (£) EPS(p) DPS(p) Pre-tax(£) EPS(p) DPS(p)
Peel Hunt Ltd 13-10-04 BUY 5.13 5.55 2.00 9.54 9.31 3.00

What price would eps of 9.31p deserve ?

[mikepompeyfan] 13/10/2004 16:40

What is there to say that we don't already know ? The business is being turned round superbly. There is 'significant unrealised potential' hinting at a lot more to come. New stores are planned at the rate of 10 a year. The company has loads of cash. There are relatively few shares issued and those that are seem to be fairly tightly held. Just enjoy the ride and long may it last. Oh yes and the shares have been mentioned by frequent trader in his daily report recently although as far as l know he's not bought any himself.

[alfwilson] 13/10/2004 16:33

Bargain

Just to get a discussion going.

The interim results suggest that actual eps for this will be nearer consensus for next year 5.4p and somethings like 7.5p the year after? That kind of recovery / prospects should produce a share price of 140p come the full year results and confirmation of the recovery?

[bargain] 13/10/2004 12:01

Oh well, if you guys are not saying anything I'm not saying anything ...

[peter001] 10/10/2004 16:42

Moss Bros reports its first half-year profit for five years

CAROLINE BISSON


THE menswear retailer Moss Bros yesterday reported its first half-year profit in five years, boosted by a strong second-quarter, on the back of increasing demand for its suits.

Helped by valuable franchises for the high-street brands Hugo Boss and Cecil Gee, the London-based group unveiled pre-tax profits of £700,000, compared with a loss of £1.8 million a year earlier, driving shares on an upward slope and raising pre tax-profit forecasts by 13 per cent to £5.2m.

Moss Bros's turnaround was primarily driven by sales of in-house suits, which rose 14 per cent in the first six months, causing like-for-like sales to climb 18 per cent in the first nine weeks of its second quarter, and 8 per cent in the six months to 31 July. However both the company and analysts pointed to a "significant unrealised potential" within the business.

"Outperforming the wider market and major competitors reinforces the message that there is growth potential to be released," analyst David Stoddart of brokerage Teather & Greenwood wrote in a research note.

Moss Bros is now the third-largest retailer of men's suits in the UK after Marks & Spencer and the fashion chain Burton, with about 8 per cent of the suit market. Chief executive Philip Mountford said he will keep nipping at his competitors' heels as he opens ten new Moss stores in the next 12 months.

The 100 existing Moss stores will be refitted over the next two years.

[peter001] 10/10/2004 16:31

It's hats off to toppers
GENTS' outfitter MOSS BROS has made a profit for the first time in five years.

Trends towards more formal dressing and tying the knot in top-hat-and-tails boosted sales between February and July.

Profits of £700,000 compared with a £1.8million loss last time and easily beat City expectations.

The shares advanced 4p to 89.5 as chief executive Philip Mountford reassured investors that its Cecil Gee and Hugo Boss chains are doing well too.

Article from The sun

I can see this share up to 1.50 very soon time to top up BUY!!! DYOR

[bargain] 08/10/2004 17:41

I do have a TDW account. I've not noticed before but I'll check it out, thanks ...

[mikepompeyfan] 08/10/2004 16:42

I deal through T D Waterhouse and their charts go back 10 years if you're interested. I agree about growth prospects v takeover. Mountford's doing a great job.

[bargain] 08/10/2004 12:30

10-year high? Can't find charts going back that far but I am firmly in this group, namely "A majority of investors, perhaps including Mr Stanford, may now conclude that the current management team is doing as well as any could." and the "yet the prospects are better than most. Buy."

Forget any bid it's the growth prospects that's key here and so may well approach the 10-year high over 2-3 years. Regards ...

PS: where's the man who overlooks a churchtower? Can't believe he's jumped ...

[mikepompeyfan] 08/10/2004 07:46

Very good press this morning and Tempus likes Moss Bros too. Bodes well.

Markets

October 08, 2004

Tempus

Moss Bros

TAKEOVER speculation has surrounded Moss Bros, the gentlemen's outfitter turned fashion retailer, for longer than anyone connected with the company would care to remember. Up until this August it was thought that Shami Ahmed, the entrepreneur who dreamt up the Joe Bloggs jeans brand, would try to take control. The spotlight has now shifted on to Kevin Stanford, the man who made a fortune with the Karen Millen empire.

Although Mr Stanford's stake is much bigger than Mr Ahmed's ever was, a bid is looking increasingly unlikely. The company has spent years struggling to sustain a level of profitability that is anything like as respectable as the clothes its brand is famous for. Under guidance from Adrian Wright, who was chief executive until February, and now with Philip Mountford in that position, Moss is producing much more encouraging results. A majority of investors, perhaps including Mr Stanford, may now conclude that the current management team is doing as well as any could.

It is difficult for retailers with associations as entrenched as those in the Moss Bros name to appeal to a new generation of shoppers. Yesterday's interims, coupled with the most encouraging 18 per cent rise in like-for-like sales in the first weeks of the second half suggest that Moss is succeeding where many have failed. The challenge will be to sustain the growth. Shares trade in line with the average for the retail sector, on a p/e ratio of 12, yet the prospects are better than most. Buy.

[mikepompeyfan] 07/10/2004 19:37

Hey Bargain, l'm not talking about the 5 year chart. That high's only about £1.13 . I'm talking about the 10 year chart where the high's about £2.82 lol.

[bargain] 07/10/2004 17:44

LONDON (AFX) - Kevin Stanford, the co-founder of the Karen Millen clothing
chain who controls some 28 pct of Moss Bros Group PLC's equity, is playing it
cool as regards his intentions, resisting the menswear retailer's request for a
meeting.
News that Stanford has so far rejected Moss Bros' overtures came as the
group confirmed its first interim profit in five years and detailed a strong
start to its second half.
"We've offered him an investors' meeting as we would with any other
shareholder," Moss Bros chief executive Philip Mountford told AFX News.
"We've contacted him to discuss a meeting ... and he said when he wants a
meeting he'll come back to us," Mountford said. "There has been no more
conversation after that one telephone conversation."
The chief executive denied the board is frustrated by Stanford's tactics,
insisting "it's not a problem."
"We're quite comfortable with it, the focus is on results," added finance
director Roddy Murray.
Stanford upped his interest in Moss Bros by acquiring rights over about 22.6
pct of the retailer's shares through contracts for difference (CFDs) from Shami
Ahmed, the Joe Bloggs jeans founder.
The move re-ignited speculation that Stanford, who in June sold his stake in
Karen Millen to Icelandic group Baugur, could be planning a takeover approach
for the 139-outlet Moss Bros.
However, some 38 pct of equity is held by the founding Moss and Gee
families, effectively enabling them to block any approach.
For the six months to July 31 the group made a pretax profit of 0.7 mln stg
-- in line with guidance issued in August and compared to a loss of 1.8 mln stg
last time.
Moss Bros detailed an 8 pct increase in like-for-like sales and a 2.1 points
rise in gross profit percentage, as it benefited from improvements to product
ranges, buying and the supply chain as well as more effective sales promotions.
All three of Moss Bros' core fascia -- 100 Moss stores, 28 Cecil Gee
outlets, and 11 Hugo Boss stores -- delivered like-for-like sales growth, up 9
pct, 2 pct and 14 pct respectively.
These figures have accelerated to 17 pct, 13 pct and 22 pct in the first
nine weeks of the second half -- a total like-for-like rise of 18 pct against
weak comparatives in the third quarter last year.
First half suit sales across the group were up 14 pct on last year,
increasing the group's branded suit market share to 8.1 pct. Moss Bros is
targeting a share of 8.4 pct by the year end.
"This is encouraging progress but there remains substantial unrealised
potential," said Mountford. "We head towards the key last quarter of the year
with confidence."
He noted the Moss store refurbishments at 40,000 stg a pop have been well
received by customers -- the 28 refits so far are delivering sales growth of
over 20 pct, while the Cecil Gee brand will see the launch of a new concept
store at Lakeside next week.
"Enhanced ranges, more effective promotions, improved merchandising and
supply chain initiatives are providing the foundation for medium term growth,"
he said.
Mountford plans to open at least 10 more Moss stores a year over the next
few years.
Moss Bros also returned to the interim dividend list with a 0.5 pence
payout.
Nick Bubb, analyst at Evolution Securities, upped his current year to
end-January 2005 pretax profit forecast from 4.5 mln stg to 5.25 mln stg and his
recommendation from 'reduce' to 'add'.
By 3.20 pm shares in Moss Bros were up 3-1/2 pence at 89, valuing the
retailer at 82 mln stg.
Mountford today purchased 26,000 shares at 89-1/2 pence each, increasing his
holding to 100,623.
[e-mail]

[bargain] 07/10/2004 12:23

LONDON (AFX) - Moss Bros Group PLC said chief executive Philip Mountford has
bought 26,000 shares at 89.5 pence each, raising his total stakeholding in the
company to 100,623 shares.
[e-mail]
ra

[bargain] 07/10/2004 11:47

errr, and beyond given there is "significant unrealised potential" still to be gained. Yes, solid results for the 6 months ...

EDIT: Ah, just looked at the 5 year chart - see what you mean

[mikepompeyfan] 07/10/2004 07:45

Interims and outlook all look pretty good to me. Price already moving ahead. I see no reason to change my view on keeping these shares in the hope they'll reach the previous highs.

[mikepompeyfan] 05/10/2004 19:39

Has anyone else noticed the normal market size used to be 5,000 but is now 3,000 according to ADVFN ? Is this because the market makers are short of stock or for some other reason ?