Sdi Share Discussion Threads

[greenroom78] 30/4/2019 15:36

55p seems to find sellers, hopefully a decent update will blow that away.

[alter ego] 30/4/2019 15:34

I rather hope so having bought some more this morning as I couldn't wait any longer in case there was an update. Of course the update may be imminent but will it be positive?

[steeplejack] 30/4/2019 15:14

Good update in the offing perhaps?

[pireric] 26/4/2019 10:26

Great post Hastings

Interesting that Pyser Optics, from who we bought Graticules, has appointed joint administrators recently. Graticules not subject to the notice and continues to trade as normal.

Underlines though that deal flow is often opportunistic, and sometimes buying off a distressed seller (if I'm reading this correctly). But also underlines that Graticules possibly wasn't operating under a business structure that allowed it to flourish, yet was still growing mid single digits per year IIRC

Operating under a stronger capital umbrella like SDI and the financial stability and R&D budget can offer are some of the less appreciated factors by investors in my eyes. And why in some cases the operating performance of acquired businesses can improve quite materially in some cases

[cockerhoop] 24/4/2019 19:14

'barely made a profit' You're being too kind regards Synoptics :-)

My notes from Companies House suggest it actually made a cumulative loss of over £1m between 2015 & 2017 and broke even in 2018.

If it does start to contribute in a meaningful way then as hastings says it'll provide a further boost to earnings.

[hastings] 24/4/2019 17:43

Further to Pireric's excellent input, I think it is perhaps worth taking another quick look at the Synoptic's arm within SDI, not least, as it still makes up (as illustrated by pireric) for some 23% of revenue.

At one time and certainly when I first invested, the division accounted for a hefty 75% of all sales but barely made a profit.
It appeared to be, as is often the case, some rather smart technology spun out of Cambridge University providing some great products and end application but without any real business or commercial drive in order to grow markedly and increase profits.

Thankfully though, just as the new excellent businesses have been acquired and delivered which has also seen existing offering ATIK making great organic progress, so too albeit to a lesser degree as yet, has Synoptic's.

From my understanding and having gone along to its base on a few occasions now it is clear that with an old guard moving on in this arm, younger and arguably very smart and enthusiastic people have come through which has led to a raft of new products and seemingly a much broader reach across the pharma/health/food and lab space.
Additionally, the product range has been rationalised with costs also seeing a welcome much tighter control.

Importantly, new products now emerging from the businesses under the Synoptic umbrella appear to be improved and excellent support tools for pharma's and Institutional researchers particularly those operating in the area of a new generation of antibiotics.

The technology serving DNA imaging has also long been part of the portfolio and the products are now increasingly being used in the fight against various diseases including cancer. These markets if targeted as they now appear to be are vast even allowing for competition and present plenty to aim for.

I single out Synoptics as it has been and arguably still is easy to pass over its place in the group and the potential that it appears to possess to at last achieve acceptable growth and improving profitability.

It certainly seems to be a much invigorated business and surely looking at the product range and end clients perhaps has the scope to surprise going forward as it would seem to be targeting ever more regions away from its historic US and UK footprint.

[xajorkith] 24/4/2019 12:10

Trading update Friday 27th April last year, so not long to wait hopefully.

Comfortably in line early Feb, so every chance they are ahead & we see further upgrades.

Pireric - thanks for the new & improved thread btw :-)

[steptoes yard] 24/4/2019 08:46

Well they won't be shaking me out.

[ronwilkes123] 24/4/2019 08:30

I think you are right Tim Limits this morning

[greenroom78] 23/4/2019 21:50

Thanks, thought the other thread had gone quiet.

[tim1478] 23/4/2019 21:49

Big move today. Any reason?

MM's might be short of stock so could be a tree shake soon.

[garbetklb] 23/4/2019 21:30

Thanks Eric - v helpful
Andy

[owenski] 23/4/2019 20:37

Excellent Pie chart and earnings table, gives a quick clear overview of the company.

Thanks for the hard work.

Nice movement today as well.

[cheshire man] 23/4/2019 19:12

Nice move for holders today I see :-)

[hastings] 23/4/2019 17:31

Have to concur with you Eric, very well summed up.

[pireric] 23/4/2019 17:23

:0)

Now on 16.6x forward earnings; still seems good value to me versus most of the SMID cap AIM stuff. Especially if the trading update within a few weeks is decidedly positive. Plus, an accretive acquisition over the next few months, say 5% accretive, and suddenly you'd be back down to a 15.8x multiple.

[ronwilkes123] 23/4/2019 16:43

Pieric should start new boards on all my stocks - a good day

[steptoes yard] 23/4/2019 09:31

Great stuff, just need the periodicals about mad cows and we're in for business.

[rivaldo] 23/4/2019 08:19

Cheers pireric - useful sales info, and excellent graphics!

[robow] 23/4/2019 07:38

Great. Thanks Eric

[soundbuy] 23/4/2019 07:26

Oh......new thread........nice infographics.........

[pugugly] 22/4/2019 20:29

Eric - Great work - much appreciated - Revenue split most useful -

[hastings] 22/4/2019 19:50

Keep up the good work Eric, greatly appreciated.

[pireric] 22/4/2019 19:36

Definitely have the editor privileges for the header Rhom so I'll keep that updated :0)