Robert Walters Share Discussion Threads

[boozey1] 14/3/2006 14:27

Still lonely here!! Melody, you still around?!

[boozey1] 02/3/2006 21:14

Well Melody I'm flattered that you may have made an investment decision on my account!!!! I hope it performs well for you and that you haven't bought in at the high of the immediate cycle. Recruitment companies in general are going through a boom time reminisent of the later 1990s when Robert Walters more than doubled in the space of a few months during its first listing. On a PE of less than 14 given a likely re-rating in the sector there is significant further upside and it RWA buys back another 5% of its stock this year (it stated in the results announcement that it intends to continue its buyback programme) that would help the price further.

I wonder if it will be tipped in the Investors Chronicle tomorrow.

I look forward to exchanging views with you and anyone else who joins us!

[melody9999] 02/3/2006 09:03

Hi boozey - to keep you company I've bought a few !!!

[boozey1] 01/3/2006 19:09

Another good day for RWA, but another lonely day for me on this BB! Bound to be some profit-taking at some point but with good results from MPI ad Staffline today I think RWA, along with a few others in this strong sector, will continue to be re-rated.

[boozey1] 01/3/2006 09:29

Interesting to see today that Michael Page fell a touch short of upgraded estimates and the price fell whilst RWA seems to still progress. Wonder if we are seeing a switch towards RWA.

Whilst both companies cover similar geaographies, main difference is degree of focus, MPI heaviliy into Europe - UK and France in particular, RWA main focus is Asia.

RWA is a tenth of size of MPI in terms of market cpitalisation although MPI turnover is 6 times greater and if you do the sums, MPI revenue 523 versus profit 66 agaist RWA 88 revenue versus 13 profit, you can work out that RWA is more profitable.

All things considered, when you combine the above with RWA's historical track record, I'd stay with RWA! All IMO etc.

[scumdog] 28/2/2006 10:05

Yes. A good set of results. Company still reasonably valued at current share price Prospects for coming year upbeat. I think this can go further.

[boozey1] 27/2/2006 07:23

AS good as it gets I IMO:

RNS Number:9529Y
Robert Walters PLC
27 February 2006


27 FEBRUARY 2006


ROBERT WALTERS PLC

('Robert Walters' or 'the Group')


Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 December 2005


ROBERT WALTERS CONTINUES GLOBAL GROWTH


Robert Walters, the global recruitment specialist, announces excellent financial
results for the 12 months to 31 December 2005. All regions traded strongly, with
Continental Europe and Asia Pacific in particular showing substantial growth and
outstanding opportunities for future expansion.


Robert Walters, Chief Executive, commented that:


'Our performance during 2005 continued to be strong with net fee income (gross
profit) increasing 31% year on year, driving a 57% increase in pre-tax profits.

We expanded our business in every location and see great opportunities for
growth in Asia Pacific and Continental Europe in particular. In Asia Pacific,
where we already have a leading presence, we will be opening a new office in
Kuala Lumpur this year and are exploring the possibility of an office opening in
China. In Continental Europe, we are in the early stages of rolling out contract
finance businesses in Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris which offer excellent
potential for further growth.

The Group remains very well placed to continue to deliver further profitable
growth.'


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
* Net fee income (gross profit) up 31% to £88.1m (2004: £67.0m)
* Operating profit up 63% to £13.0m (2004: £8.0m)
* Profit before taxation up 57% to £12.7m (2004: £8.1m)
* Earnings per share up 66% to 10.6p (2004: 6.4p)
* Full-year dividend increased to 3.40p per ordinary share (2004: 3.15p)
* Share buy-back programme commenced


OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

* Continued business confidence and shortage of qualified professionals
results in buoyant recruitment market conditions.

* Our ability to use our global network of 23 offices in 13 countries to
service clients and source professionals has proven a key driver in growing
permanent and contract net fee income levels.

* Asia Pacific is the Group's most profitable region. 44% of our
recruitment consultants are now based in this region.

* Strong performance in Continental Europe, particularly in France where
net fee income has doubled and Robert Walters is now one of the leading senior
financial recruitment companies.

* Newly established contract finance businesses offer excellent potential
for further growth in Continental Europe.

* New offices opened in Birmingham and Rotterdam.


OUTLOOK FOR 2006

* The Group will open an office in Kuala Lumpur in 2006 and is exploring
opportunities in China.

* We are also assessing the opportunities presented by India as both a
new recruitment marketplace and a sourcing location for candidates.

* The market continues to be strong and net fee income for the first
quarter of 2006 is set to exceed that of the same period in 2005.

* Robert Walters remains very well placed to grow existing operations,
develop new markets and continue to deliver profitable growth.

[boozey1] 26/2/2006 15:50

Thanks for that chippy. It all helps!

[chippy2] 26/2/2006 14:48

Tipped in the Telegraph today.

Robert Walters

Demand for accountants and finance professionals has never been greater, as firms try to cope with increasing regulatory burdens. One company that has benefited from the trend is Robert Walters (179.5p), the specialist recruitment group.

Established in 1985, Robert Walters has built up a global presence that spans five continents. Today, around half of its fee income is from overseas, with more than a third from the Asia-Pacific region.

The company is due to report full-year results tomorrow and, following a positive trading update in January, analysts are expecting good news. Pre-tax profits are forecast to come in at around the £12m mark, up substantially from the £7.68m reported last year.

We have long been fans of the company, most recently tipping the shares in March last year when they traded at 132p. Despite the 35 per cent price rise, we think readers should resist the temptation to take profits.

With such good prospects, as well as exposure to the Asian economies, there should be more upside to come. Any profit taking on the back of tomorrow's results would also present a buying opportunity for those investors not yet on board. Keep buying.

[boozey1] 25/2/2006 11:34

Results on Monday, Analyst presentation at 9AM. Excellent re-rating in run up to results which may mean profit taking on the day. RWA back to its old self delivering real shareholder returns as it did at the back end of the 1990s. It is also into the share buyback game which can only further enhance shareholder value. Moreover a lot of respectable fund managers have it in their top ten stock picks.

Singing the Blues, you still around?

[Abuse team] 18/2/2006 05:40

Post removed by ADVFN

[pixi] 18/2/2006 01:06

Target 240p in a couple of months.

[grantclarke] 16/2/2006 14:33

Anyone have any ideas on the 300,000 ?trades? Buy or Sell?

[grantclarke] 16/2/2006 14:31

Also bought today. Good stats, and as it's broken up through 170p, there is no stopping til 200p.

[superdealer] 15/2/2006 23:19

I bought shares and opened a spread bet today looking for a short-term gain. It was strong throughout today especially when the stock overhang at 175 cleared.

[jackman2] 15/2/2006 13:21

Watch it go now!

[boozey1] 25/1/2006 21:32

Robert Walters is a reasonably volatile share singing the blues, one has to have the stomach for the peaks and troughs...but with results 6 weeks or so away I suggest keeping faith! Look at the chart if you want reassuring in that respect.

[singing the blues] 25/1/2006 19:28

anyone else into this share, seems very quiet on this board, just been through the previous news releases seeing who wons what and there are sum large holders, company buying shares back and possitive forcast for y/e 2005 yet we keep heading down..... ummm

[boozey1] 23/1/2006 20:16

Hi Singing the Blues, no still very much about! The whole market is in the doldrums today after the biggest fall on wall street in a year last Friday. Robert Walters can be quite volatile as it is not the most liquid of stocks. Remember it has also enjoyed an almost one way rise since around 120p so some pullback was inevitable at some point. Am hanging around until results in early March and hopefully well beyond!

[singing the blues] 23/1/2006 18:38

hi boozey u still about, not sold out i hope, am sure there nothin in this small fall , i hope :)

[boozey1] 18/1/2006 07:36

STB, glad you took the plunge as it is nice to have some company! The slight pullback was inevitable, and RWA can be a little volatile at times as it is not the most liquid of stocks. But I hope for a strong run in the lead up to results which have already been confirmed as being ahead of expectations. I am surprised that more private investors have not picked up on this blue chip stock.

[singing the blues] 17/1/2006 16:17

Hi Booze......Finally bought in this morning like the looks of this one, sound future , relatively cash rich and results out at the beginning of march. so despite the slight pull back today I am hoping for good things, been watching this one since around 50p but same old really u think after the meteoric rise is there anything left but i beleive so.

[boozey1] 16/1/2006 21:48

Singing theBlues, welcome, been feeling very lonely!! There was a share tip for Robert Walters last week suggesting a £2.40 target price. Been in since £1.25, having more than doubled my money on Robert Walters the last time they were listed in the 1990s before being taken over. Am hoping that the 21st century will offer a repeat scenario. A solid blue chip stock currently being re-rated, maybe a slight pullback after such a consistent rise but I am reaslitcially looking for £2.00 before results. All imo of course...

[singing the blues] 16/1/2006 20:37

Not much discussion on here , got this one on my watchlist, time to buy?

[boozey1] 16/1/2006 18:30

Another good day for Robert Walters...if only all shares were like this one!