Signature Aviation Share Discussion Threads

[mazarin] 12/11/2003 14:14

Some nice positive action today, it has just hit 1.09p for the second time in the course of a steady rally from 1.06p this morning, presumably responding to broker comment, as follows, taken from today's 'Sharecast' bulletin :

"UBS raised its price target on jewellery retailer Signet to 120p from 95p, keeping a 'neutral' rating"

Signet Group plc is currently in the FTSE 350, but it is worth remembering that in September Signet was put on the reserve list for inclusion in the FTSE100.

The next quarterly review is due in December, so provided at that point the share price justifies it, Signet may be relegated upwards. In which case it would enter an entirely new arena inhabited by Institutional investors ie. Pension and FTSE Tracker Funds etc.

[master rsi] 12/11/2003 13:41

Another good performance today 108-5-108.75p +3p

We are having a very good L2, with the order book very strong, as much as 6 times more BUYS than SELLS, so the rise is expected to continue

[eithin] 12/11/2003 10:01

Yup. See "UPS". Looks pretty strong today.

[mazarin] 10/11/2003 15:56

Is now the time to buy into Signet - views welcome?

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[w.bramley] 06/11/2003 16:02

Courtesy of T.D. Waterhouse.

tock News - RNS

Signet Group PLC - Q3 Sales Performance
RNS Number:7372R
Signet Group PLC
06 November 2003

Embargoed until 12.00 Noon (GMT) 6 November 2003


SIGNET LIKE FOR LIKE SALES UP 4.7% IN THIRD QUARTER

Signet Group plc (LSE: SIG and Nasdaq NMS: SIGY), the world's largest speciality
retail jeweller, today announced its sales performance for the 13 weeks and for
the 39 weeks to 1 November 2003.


13 WEEKS TO 1 NOVEMBER 2003

Total Group sales in the 13 weeks to 1 November 2003 were �289.4 million (13
weeks to 2 November 2002: �278.9 million), an increase of 7.1% at constant
exchange rates (see Note 1). At actual exchange rates there was an increase of
3.8%. Group like for like sales increased by 4.7%. The breakdown was as follows:

Sales Change on Previous Year
------- -------------------------
�m % of Total Total Like for Like
US 192.9 66.7 2.8% (a) 4.5%
UK 96.5 33.3 5.8% 5.0% (b)
GROUP 289.4 100.0 3.8% (c) 4.7%

(a) At constant exchange rates total US sales increased by 7.7%.
(b) H.Samuel like for like sales were up by 2.2% and Ernest Jones up by 9.4%.
(c) At constant exchange rates total Group sales increased by 7.1%.


39 WEEKS TO 1 NOVEMBER 2003

Total Group sales in the 39 weeks to 1 November 2003 were �956.8 million (39
weeks to 2 November 2002: �961.7 million), an increase of 5.5% at constant
exchange rates (see Note 1). At actual exchange rates there was a decrease of
0.5%, reflecting the weakening of the US dollar. Group like for like sales
increased by 3.3%. The breakdown was as follows:

Sales Change on Previous Year
------- -------------------------
�m % of Total Total Like for Like
US 667.8 69.8 -2.8% (d) 2.8%
UK 289.0 30.2 5.1% 4.7% (e)
GROUP 956.8 100.0 -0.5% (f) 3.3%

(d) At constant exchange rates total US sales increased by 5.7%.
(e) H.Samuel like for like sales were up by 3.0% and Ernest Jones up by 7.1%.
(f) At constant exchange rates total Group sales increased by 5.5%.


COMMENT

Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive, commented 'In the US like for like sales
increased by 4.5% in the third quarter in a mixed economic environment.

In the UK the 5.0% increase in like for like sales again outperformed the UK
retail market.

Our businesses have performed well in the first nine months of the year.
Supported by a number of new and continuing initiatives, such as increased
advertising, we are well positioned to compete during the important fourth
quarter.'

[eithin] 06/11/2003 12:50

Cannot copy and paste but briefly:
Sales for 3rd Qutr. up 4.7%
Well positioned to compete in 3rd. Qutr.

[eithin] 06/11/2003 12:24

Anyone got News Release SIG. ADVFN News down.

[master rsi] 04/11/2003 15:30

From

Master RSI - 4 Nov'03 - 08:38 - 116 of 169 edit
" UPS "
Signet 104.50-104.75p

Since yesterday is bouncing back as it reached bottom at the Indicators.

A good sign is have been large volume for the last 3 trading days.

Master RSI - 4 Nov'03 - 09:54 - 123 of 169 edit
SIG 105.75-106 + 1.325p

Finally had a better move up
The 5 days chart shows clearly the bottom and now changing direction.

[w.bramley] 04/9/2003 15:06

Master RSI
Please put a group of us out of our misery, and tell us how to put a chart on a BB, we have tried all ways.
Regards. W.B.

[simeon7] 03/9/2003 11:59

Results due lunchtime. worth buying in, as they are gonna be good.

[superdealer] 19/8/2003 09:26

Still rising. Looks to me like there is plenty more to come.

[master rsi] 07/8/2003 23:37

From FT.com..

Signet bucks trend with improved US sales
By Maija Pesola
Published: August 7 2003 15:40 | Last Updated: August 7 2003 15:40

Signet, the world's largest specialist jewellery chain, on Thursday said its key US sales had continued to improve, defying the country's sluggish consumer spending trends and uncertain economic climate.

The company, which operates more than 1,000 stores in the US, including the Kay and Jared jewellery chains, said like-for-like sales in the US had increased 3.1 per cent to £224.6m ($361.6m) in the second quarter.

This is an acceleration on the 1.1 per cent increase in US sales in the first quarter.

Signet has recently faced tough challenges in the US market, which accounts for 70 per cent of its sales. A fragile economy has caused many shoppers to tighten their purse-strings on luxury purchases like jewellery, forcing Signet to warn on sales at the end of last year.

Since last Christmas, however, sales have been slowly improving.

In the UK, where the company runs some 600 stores, including the H Samuel and Ernest Jones jewellery chains, like-for-like sales were up 3.8 per cent at £99.8m. This is a slowdown from the 5.2 per cent underlying growth in the first quarter. However, Signet said the group had outperformed the UK retail sector in general.

Overall, the group said like-for-like sales rose 3.4 per cent at £324.4m in the 13 weeks to August 2.

Signet shares, which have been climbing since the beginning of the year, edged up 1-3/4p 98-3/4p on Thursday afternoon.

[w.bramley] 25/7/2003 11:39

SIGNET has been making steady progress of late, however it still has a way to go to reach the previous high of 133.5p on the 19/4/02. Next high target 150p, when?? who knows, (buy/strong hold), it is going in the right direction.

[chutes01] 01/7/2003 15:40

Thanks aos.

[aos] 01/7/2003 15:25

Chutes01 - Taken from the Final results declared in March of this year.

The interim dividend was paid on 8 November 2002. The proposed final dividend
is to be paid on 14 July 2003 to those shareholders on the register of members
on 6 June 2003.

Cheers - aos

26 March 2003 - to be precise.

[chutes01] 01/7/2003 15:18

When is the latest divi of 1.8p due to be paid please ?

[r.dryden] 25/6/2003 19:52

I would think it would be

[ben gunn] 25/6/2003 14:22

Random
I am short again equities- particularly Techmark.
I would be happier to see the 10 year gilt yield fall below 4.00 for a straight week and the dollar to continue to drift down against Euro. If it does I may get my cheque book out and short the Dow IA as well with a two month view.
Do you expect the Nasdaq or the Dow to lead on the way down?

[random] 25/6/2003 11:32

A confirmed short term downtrend is in place now.

Is it a retracement of the previous trend, or the emergence of a new one?

Seasonal effects would suggest it is a new downtrend.

The next Sornette downleg is due any moment, and it accelerates quickly, making it hard to trade unless short from near the top.

Thus I am short the spx as a hedge for investments, with a stop placed just above short term resistance. I have been shorting during strength, and weakness. The market seems particularly weak now, so I am holding the short position open.

It seems to be a dangerous time to be invested in stocks without some kind of downside protection.

[aos] 20/6/2003 11:41

I read this article somewhere late last night, but now I cannot remember where. The article is also contained here, but I do not have access to it. Has anybody else got the access and might like to post it for other investors.
ventured.com/view/brokerrec/recommendations.asp?ArticleID=1008644

Sorry folks, that should read:-


It basically states that CSFB have set a target of £1 per share for Signet.

[aos] 16/6/2003 11:05

Looks like the Sunday share tip reported in then paper (can't remember which one) and on Channel 4 Share Tips seems to be attracting a price rise.

[me_cynic] 05/6/2003 20:30

I have held these shares from time to
time. In fact I always keep a few hundred
so I get the glossy annual/half year report.
It gives a good indication of how well
the company is doing and it's strategy.
I posted some acticles back in Dec 2002
when all was doom and gloom and the shorters
were forcing the price down. Back then the shares
could have gone below 60p but a good Christmas
gave the shares a boost, the postings then
disappeared and I assume the speculators
moved on to other stocks.

Pros:
====
Signet has got good management ( see company report )
and a clear growth strategy ( albeit a slow one )
and keeps costs under control.
It's main aim is to expand the US business by opening
200 large format so called Jared stores (presently at 67).
- adding about 1bn US dollars in total sales
This is where most growth will come from.
ie about 6% per annum
UK business has increased it's sales by targeting
more upper middle market Ernest Jones customers,
enticing them to spend more on quality diamonds etc

The problems I see is that
1) Sales at existing US stores were more or less flat
2) US dollar exchange rate has gone from 1.44 to 1.60+
so this affects sales in UK pound terms.
( does this mean that US debt goes down as well )
3) Majority of sales occur over the Nov-Jan period
so that the shares always go up after the Jan trading
statement. This year has been no exception.
Therefore when they have rallied they usually
go sideways over the summer. Last year they fell,
not surprising as they were well overbought.

For the future, IMO this one is a good long term hold
I think the shares will have short term support about 80p
and will trade between 80p ( 200 day MA ) and 87p until
a picture of increasing sales becomes apparant.
ie Thanksgiving/Christmas. A break above 87p takes it to 90-95p
Below 80p will not be good news but I think if it did go
back down buyers would appear. Go back to 1999 for an indication
of what might happen.
I notice a lot of sellers today.
Add in the FTSE has had a good run post Iraq, it's nearly
holiday time so upside is limited

As for a bid - 120p a share. But I don't think it's coming as
someone won't want to pay 2bn+ for Signet.
SOF has a lot of sites , which if owned by SOF can be
asset stripped , built on , sold off for a profit etc.
Same applied to Selfridges SLF.
Signet leases most of it's sites
( especially in US I think - DYOR )
Also SOF has sales of 5bn and can only make 50m profit.
Wm Morrison can do much better so under a takeover why
can't SOF.