Nichols Share Discussion Threads

[davr0s] 18/3/2014 10:18

Sheesh - what's going on here? People stopped drinking the product ?!

[ygor706] 17/3/2014 22:46

Very chunky buy went through late in the day. Somebody still loves them!

[sagarn] 17/3/2014 10:42

ps chart not inspiring of late either. Stagnant for 6 months or so.

[sagarn] 17/3/2014 10:41

Not sure lobby ludd. They haven't done much with the funds from what I can see and that is disappointing. Would like to have seen some value enhancing acquisitions. Think investors are beginning to lose interest as company seems to be plodding along rather than positively accelerating. Without some forward momentum I don't think the growth story here is sustainable and at some point will begin to dip. Plus starting to look expensive. Having held for some time, I sold out.

[lobby ludd] 13/3/2014 18:45

£34m is a lot of cash. What are they going to do with it ?

[cwa1] 13/3/2014 07:35

Results out:-



Commenting John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman, said:

"I am pleased to report another excellent year for Nichols. We have successfully delivered on our strategy to increase our profitability and, pre exceptional items, we have delivered double digit growth to both profit before tax and earnings per share. The business continues to be highly cash generative and we propose a final dividend of 13.3p, taking the total dividend for the year up 13% to 19.62p (2012: 17.32p), reflecting the Board's confidence in the outlook for the Group."

Chairman's Statement

I am pleased to report another excellent performance for Nichols plc. During 2013, the Group has successfully increased profit margin, delivered double digit profit growth (pre exceptional items) and maintained its strong cash generation.

Group sales totalled GBP109.9m, 2% ahead of the prior year. During the second half of 2013 our sales performance started to gain momentum and showed a 4% increase over the same period in 2012.

As previously reported, during 2013 we successfully delivered our strategy to improve profitability by focusing on value over volume. As a result our operating profit margin (pre exceptional items) increased to 20% (2012: 19%) and our profit before tax (pre exceptional items) increased by 10% to GBP22.5m (2012: GBP20.5m). Once again, the balance sheet remains strong with our year-end cash balance totalling GBP34.3m (2012: GBP24.7m).

[lobby ludd] 11/1/2014 15:29

Featured in The Times today, recommendation 'buy on weakness'.

[cwa1] 10/1/2014 07:18

The usual solid stuff:-



In summary, during 2013 we have successfully increased profitability, delivered good sales growth in the second half of the year and we expect the full year profit and earnings per share to be ahead of the prior year and in line with expectations.

The Group's Preliminary results will be announced on 13 March 2014.

[davr0s] 20/11/2013 19:39

Time to resume upward trend - topped up again

[lobby ludd] 18/11/2013 15:48

Bought in today at 1175p attracted by the Africa/Middle East growth prospects.
Cultural note for Southerners: Vimto is usually drunk hot(in winter) here in the North.

[wayneduncan] 31/10/2013 08:01

Couldn't agree more. We need to here from Nichols about what us going on with the cash pile. A special dividend, share buy back programme or acquisition to rocket fuel growth are required. I am worried about the PE ratio here versus the growth and as has already been said better options are emerging. Monitoring very closely.

[ygor706] 18/10/2013 10:13

Bilbo...good question. I only get as far as maybe in my response to NICL's acquisition skills but this does not detract from the fact that it would be a very tasty morsel for a larger competitor. AG Barr wanted to buy Nichols when the share price was around £3 but didn't want to pay up........what a great decision that was in the light of its recent debacle with Britvic. It's still a good fit and they appear stupid enough to try it on again! Nevertheless, one of the bigger international players or a rich arab are more likely candidates imo.

Where did you see the Saudi distributor announcement? I missed that one.

[bilboburgler] 16/10/2013 14:46

Given the Saudi distributor half sale to Coke, do you see an aquisition from Barrs or Britvic or do you think Nichols management has the skill base for an aquisition?

[ygor706] 09/10/2013 17:18

Nichols has yet to do something with its cash pile and the dividend yield now looks low against similar stocks. The historic PE is also pretty full. The last set of figures showed very little increase in the revenue line but margins had increased. Nevertheless, there is only so long that you can keep things moving forward on that basis. Some may therefore feel tempted to take profits as the shares have had a good run in recent years. Personally, I'm in here for the long haul and I'm still expecting something to happen to all that cash!

[davr0s] 09/10/2013 16:16

What's happening here - share price just tumbled and almost all the sell orders disappeared. Recovered a bit - volatility like this is not something I associate Nichols with having held for 18 months or so

[ygor706] 02/9/2013 11:08

I've been digging around to try and see what Nichols are up to with regard to the Lucozade and Ribena sale by Glaxo. All that I can find is that they are mulling over whether they want to do anything at all. The leverage boys are all over the deal but appear to want their hands held by an industry professional. Since we are talking about a £1billion transaction here there are a few possibilities to mull over:

- could NICL do it on its own? Probably not.
- could NICL team up with a leverage team and put in a bid?
Probably yes but what would NICL get out of it apart from
potential grief in having to work with a gang of vultures.
- Does it make NICL more vulnerable to a takeover? Probably
yes as all the best deals now are still a little too big for NICLs
to have a go at.

The share price has been very firm of late and if I were NICL I would be using that to leverage up earnings. What about taking out Science in Sport the recent AIM float? Lots happening in soft drinks at the moment. Watch this space!

[ygor706] 23/8/2013 20:25

It has taken just 15 days for the share price to break the £12 level against a zero news background. I know that we've had a decent summer but I'm struggling to come up with a reson!

[mg78] 13/8/2013 22:29

Amazing l/t graph here. The beverage sector has been strong.

As I just stated on the Diageo thread, thought I'd make a few posts this evening specifically on other beverage related threads only, as it's all pretty relevant and on topic.

I've followed the fortunes (or otherwise) of drinks junior BES (Blavod Wines and Spirits) for a decade. A loss making micro-cap which I think could begin to turn the corner over the next 12 months. The old MD 'left' in 2011 and the co. seems to be making steadier progress under the new guy - an ex Diageo MD. The drinks portfolio is no longer just Blavod Vodka, but now becoming nicely rounded with a very good, niche Gin brand and another good Rum brand which has just gone into 625 stores in Australia. The FY results are due shortly. At a guess, I'd say they'll make another loss, but a narrower one, perhaps pointing the way to b/e in the year ahead. BES is a perennial underperformer, but things could change under the new chairman. The shares have been battered and are just inching up off an all time low.

I wont be spamming lots of other threads, but just giving a nod to other threads in this sector only. ADYOR, as always.

All the best.

[ygor706] 08/8/2013 17:41

Big rise today.........through £11 and still tromping!

[ryandj2222] 25/7/2013 09:39

Glad I bought back in... continues the steady upward trend really!

[cwa1] 25/7/2013 08:59

Steady as she goes, not much to scare the horses there.

[ygor706] 25/7/2013 07:32

EPS up 11% (brokers consensus +8%), dividend +13% and cash pile up to c£31m. Still no news on investment of the cash pile but everything else looks on track.

[ryandj2222] 24/7/2013 11:08

Well ygor funny you should say that... bnought back in this morning, I feel it's found a "bottom" back on the upward channel. At least back up to £11 or so again.

[ygor706] 24/7/2013 08:08

Ryandj2222..........can understand your nervousness but if we find something decent to spend that cash on the share price will continue to progress. I will not be doing anything in front of the results.

[ryandj2222] 23/7/2013 13:47

Hmm maybe they aren't going to be so good. I've sold out today (hit stop loss) but feel hapyp anyway, made a nice few quid from Nichols over the past few years. I may look to rebuy depending on the results and price movement this week.