Signature Aviation Share Discussion Threads

[mazarin] 06/2/2004 15:45

As the trading update (05.02.04) shows, the good trading numbers were impacted only US exchange rate, which otherwise were excellent. IMO this company deserves better trading values based on its actual performance, as opposed to perceived factors about which it can do nothing.
Signet Group is set to meet analysts' forecast with Pre-tax profit of £205 million (stg) and no doubt will be paying their usual dividend to shareholders in due course.
It continues puzzle me why the 'market' repeatedly piles into massive loss making ventures in some hope of future gain which may...never materialise!

[master rsi] 05/2/2004 13:00

Everythig up and the share price too.

SIGNET'S FOURTH QUARTER LIKE FOR LIKE SALES UP 7.0%

Signet Group today announced its sales performance for the 13 weeks and year
ended 31 January 2004.

13 WEEKS TO 31 JANUARY 2004

Group like for like sales rose by 7.0% in the 13 weeks to 31 January 2004. Total
sales were up by 9.7% at constant exchange rates (see Note 1); on a reported
basis the increase was 2.1% to #659.7 million (2002/03: #646.3 million),
reflecting the weakening of the US Dollar exchange rate. The breakdown was as
follows:
----------- Sales ----------- Change on Previous Year
COUNTRY - #m -- % of Total - Total - Like for Like
US ------ 448.4 -- 68.0 --- +0.2% --- +7.2%
UK ------ 211.3 -- 32.0 --- +6.3% --- +6.7% (b)
GROUP --- 659.7 -- 100.0 --- +2.1% --- +7.0%

(b) H.Samuel like for like sales were up by 4.3% and Ernest Jones up by 10.3%.

[testextnk] 04/2/2004 12:43

I'm in from 99 and holding LOL, i think its their trading statement tomo too

[royal trader] 04/2/2004 12:41

think now might be the time to get in imo.

[eithin] 04/2/2004 12:30

Anyone got the "A" on Signet.

[snaptastic] 29/1/2004 17:07

agreed master, went long at 101, too early again but looks like turning point today, dollar strength helping.... level 2 reversed to strong buyside too....

[master rsi] 29/1/2004 13:57

The shares are bouncing after having a good pounding for the last couple weeks.

Time to get in again, volume and share price on the UP

From .....SHARES STRONGLY UP this week 26/01/04 (UPS)

Master RSI - 29 Jan'04 - 11:44 - 310 of 323 edit
eightin

SIG, is very volatile at the moment signs of turning

It could be a buy around the 93/93.5p


Master RSI - 29 Jan'04 - 11:58 - 315 of 323 edit
"UPS"
SIG 93.50-93.75p

Signs of turning on the chart.
Share price below Lower band of bolinger bands
Volume picking up

[me_cynic] 27/1/2004 18:36

All I'm doing is looking at the charts and it looks to me as though it's going down. FYI I have a few of these and I am looking to buy more ( 95p seems very tempting ). The main reasons I've said earlier: well run company, increasing sales and a bet on the US dollar getting stronger relative to the UK pound
Usually the share price rallies after the xmas statement so this time it's a bit different.

[mazarin] 27/1/2004 16:55

It looks like it may pay to be 'cynical' and I respect your view, which looked this afternoon to have some bearing on the drop to 95p, but fortunately it was short lived as its recovered quickly before close,
Perhaps, on reflection, I should have waited to a little longer before buying more...!

[me_cynic] 27/1/2004 13:48

Yes the shares look good value: sales in US dollars and in the UK both up nicely at 10% and 6%+ but the dollar has fallen and this means sales up barely 1% in the US which may seem harsh but that's the way the market goes. The trend
DOESN'T look too good with the 200day MA being broken so if 95p is not a support level then 90p may be. If not then try 85p then 80p. If you look at the long term chart it's base is going up by about 10p a year so according to that
the shares will drop to 75p sometime in 2004. Maybe everyone has sold for that reason. At that level ie 75p I'd buy a truck load.
I expect EPS about 7.8p so 75p gives a PE of less that 10 and that for a well run company, expanding ( and increasing market share in the US ) would look far too cheap for me. You may consider 97.5p cheap but it won't stop the shares falling unless loads of other people think like you. IMO 90p is cheap.
Given that the dollar is approaching a high ( I expect 1.85 to be a peak - it will come down sometime ), interest rates ( UK ) will go up slowly so consumer confidence won't be hit too quickly, high UK employment, loads of 40+ baby boomers at their peak earnings power etc then spending on jewellery will keep going for a few years yet.

[mazarin] 26/1/2004 17:15

I've took today's drop as a buying opportunity and have just doubled my holding(in at 97.5p). I cannot believe SIG will stay at these levels for too long.
I consider it to be an over-reation to the Company's negative effect of dollar exposure and regard its fundamentals as sound with evidence of increasing profits.

Fortunately a few other buyers appear to think likewise as the price has since recovered slightly, but still remains 1.5p down on the day.

[snaptastic] 21/1/2004 09:47

buy signal.... been very high volume over past few days, mostly sellers yet price held 100p. been some huge trades gone through in past hour and suddenly level 2 reversed and now very biased to the buy side. think there may have been a big seller which is now exhausted imho...

[snaptastic] 19/1/2004 10:40

some large buys today, few sellers. dollar getting stronger re the pound again today, may result in some upgrades soon imho. level 2 looking strong too..

[snaptastic] 16/1/2004 16:33

gone long today, dollar weakness diminishing as dollar rallies against sterling. high buy volume on level 2 pm confirm others have same idea.

from a week ago...

LONDON (SHARECAST) - Currency concerns took the shine off strong sales over Christmas for Anglo-US jewellery retailer Signet.

Chief Executive Terry Burman said the recent weakness in the dollar will knock £14m off profits to January though it will meet forecasts of about £205m for the year.

[mazarin] 09/1/2004 13:55

Signet Group plc Christmas Trading Statement
Issued 12.30 p.m. (GMT) 8 January 2004

CHRISTMAS LIKE FOR LIKE SALES UP 6.5%
PROFITS ANTICIPATED TO MEET ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS

Like for like sales 8 weeks to 24 December 2003

Group up 6.5%
US up 6.4%
UK up 6.7%

Like for like sales 48 weeks to 3 January 2004

Group up 4.7%
US up 4.4%
UK up 5.5%

COMMENT

Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive, commented: 'We are very pleased with our
strong performance over the Christmas period in both the US and the UK. Profit
before tax for 2003/04 is anticipated to be ahead of last year and to meet
analysts' expectations notwithstanding the recent sharp fall in the US Dollar
exchange rate.

Our US business continued to implement its successful long term growth strategy
with total dollar sales over the Christmas period up by 10.4%. Like for like
sales rose by 6.4% over the same period versus challenging comparatives. Last
Christmas we outperformed our main competition with a like for like sales
increase of 4.7%.

UK like for like sales increased by 6.7% in the eight week Christmas period.
Ernest Jones had an excellent performance building further on its impressive
growth record of the last five years with like for like sales up by 10.3%. The
UK division did not participate in the discounting that was prevalent in the
retail market in the run up to Christmas and the gross margin should be somewhatahead of last year.'

GROUP

Like for like sales increased by 6.5% in the eight week period to 24 December
2003, building further on the Group's well established growth record. In the
same period total sales were up by 9.2% at constant exchange rates and by 3.0%
on a reported basis (Note 1).

In the 48 weeks to 3 January 2004 like for like sales rose by 4.7%. Total sales
increased by 7.1% at constant exchange rates and by 0.7% on a reported basis
(Note 1).

Group profit before tax for the 52 weeks ending 31 January 2004 is anticipated
to be ahead of last year and to meet analysts' expectations notwithstanding the
recent sharp fall in the US Dollar exchange rate. The average US Dollar exchange
rate, which impacts on the translation of US operating profit and the Group
interest charge, will have weakened in the year by some 10% to c. $1.68 / £.

The full year should again show better than expected cash flow further enhancing
the Group's strong balance sheet.

United States (circa 69% of Group annual sales)

In the eight week period to 24 December 2003 US like for like sales increased by
6.4%, despite facing challenging comparatives. Total sales at constant exchange
rates rose by 10.4% and by 1.4% on a reported basis (Note 1). The mall stores
and Jared both performed well.

In an improving retail environment, the business continued to benefit from its
competitive strengths in merchandising, store operations and marketing. As
anticipated, the gross margin should ease as a result of the increase in the
gold price and changes in the merchandising mix. The credit portfolio continued
to perform well in the eight week period with the expected bad debt percentage
being comparable to that of last year.

In the 48 weeks to 3 January 2004 like for like sales increased by 4.4%, with
total sales up by 7.8% at constant exchange rates and down by 1.3% on a reported basis (Note 1).

United Kingdom (circa 31% of Group annual sales)

In the eight week period to 24 December 2003, against the background of a
generally challenging retail environment, UK like for like sales rose by 6.7%
with December being the stronger month. Total sales increased by 6.6%. Ernest
Jones performed particularly well and again outperformed its main competition.

The results from the new store formats, designed to allow greater customer
interaction, were again encouraging and the drive to increase the participation
of diamonds in the sales mix continued to show success. Gross margin is expected to be somewhat ahead of last year.

In the 48 weeks to 3 January 2004 like for like sales increased by 5.5% and
total sales by 5.6%.

[aos] 29/12/2003 13:07

Looks like that way after all! Any comments from other investors?


LONDON (AFX) - UK blue chips remained modestly higher in very quiet
post-Christmas trade midday, with the skeleton staff manning trading desks today
happy to just square positions ahead of the New Year, dealers said.
At 12.10 am, the FTSE 100 index was 13.9 points firmer at 4,455.9.
Spreadbetting firm IG Index pointed to a 30 point gain on the DJIA at open.
All the broader FTSE indices stayed modestly higher aside from the techMARK
100 index which slipped back 1.50 points to 1,011.16.
Volume remained light with just 453.1 mln shares changing hands in 40,660
transactions with no major UK economic pointers due for release this week.
US data is also set to be scarce with nothing scheduled today although key
US consumer confidence data and the latest Chicago PMI numbers are due tomorrow.
The corporate news diary is also virtually empty this week so the main focus
remains on press comment and tips for the New Year.
Defence group BAE Systems was one of the top risers up 2 pence at 168-1/4
after the Sunday Times suggested the group is looking for more money from the UK
Ministry of Defence and the Treasury for two aircraft carriers to be built for
the Royal Navy.
Fellow defence blue chips also found support, with Rolls-Royce gaining 2-3/4
pence to 176-3/4, and Smiths Group adding 2-1/2 pence at 649.
Blue chip retailers also stayed in focus as the market assessed the strength
of the start of the important post-Christmas sales period, with newspapers
suggesting that although Boxing Day sales may have disappointed, the weekend
could have seen more of a pick-up.
Marks & Spencer shares gained 1 pence to 287, recovering after a nervous
performance ahead of Christmas, while Next took on 16 pence at 1,113, and
Argos-owner GUS added 9-1/2 pence at 768-1/2.
Selected second line retailers also found support, with Matalan rallying 9
pence higher to 172-3/4, while luxury goods group Burberry firmed 10-3/4 pence
at 365-3/4.
And jeweller Signet firmed 1 pence at 101-3/4 helped by good Christmas
trading news from privately-owned peer Goldsmiths Group.
Elsewhere on the second line, RAC remained a good performer, adding 18 pence
to 595 after the group said its contract hire business, Lex Vehicle Leasing -- a
joint venture with HBOS -- has been awarded a 7-year contract with anticipated
revenues of 1 bln stg to provide outsourced contract hire services to Business
Partner, the contract hire arm of Ford Financial.
Shares in football group Manchester United took on 7-1/4 pence to 263-1/4
after consolidating their position at the top of the Premiership yesterday
following victory against Middlesbrough and following a report in the Daily
Telegraph naming Ralif Safin, one of the founders of oil company Lukoil, as the
mystery Russian stalking the group.
The report says Safin is understood to have contacted London-based
investment bankers to enquire about making a bid for the club.
However, the Telegraph says city sources believe his interest could have
cooled after the elections, which strengthened the hand of President Putin.
Meanwhile, Premier Farnell added 5-3/4 pence to 235 after being included in
the Mail on Sunday's Midas 2004 portfolio.
Inclusion in the influential Midas portfolio also saw Henlys gain 6 pence at
98-1/2.
Elsewhere, among small cap issues, shell company Lupus Capital remained a
strong performer, up 1.25 pence at 9.12 after the Sunday Telegraph reported that
entrepreneur Greg Hutchings, who was ousted as chief executive of Tomkins nearly
three years ago, is preparing to make a comeback on the stock market with an
injection of capital in to the stock market minnow.
Arc Risk Management also moved higher, adding 0.13 pence at 1.50 after
highlighting upcoming product launches in a trading statement.
Stanelco found support too, adding 0.50 pence at 6.00 after the Daily Mail
on Boxing Day highlighted whispers that a contract is coming up for the group
with a big supermarket chain.
But on the downside, shares in Jasmin dropped 3-1/2 pence to 48-1/2 after
warning on Christmas Eve that the last eighteen months of trading has been a
difficult period in terms of cash management, with various contracts which have
overrun.
Trading in Gympie Gold shares was suspended midmorning -- having earlier
dropped 2-1/2 pence lower to 19-1/2 -- extending its Christmas Eve decline after
confirming that a fire has damaged its Southland joint venture in Australia,
with possible closure of the mine being considered.
dlh/rn












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gb advfnpgsiwiga 1 afxfreea :: 29/12/2003 13:05:21

[aos] 29/12/2003 10:10

I see that CH4 Teletext has an article on Goldsmiths, the Jewellers. Looks like they have had a bumper Christmas session. Maybe the same for us?

[aos] 29/12/2003 08:55

Surely the pre and post Christmas sales must push us higher today? I just missed selling at 102.75, so I am going to take that as a good omen. Hope I am not wrong! Happy investing to all.

[me_cynic] 09/12/2003 19:22

My guess is : judging by the last trading statements sales will be OK this xmas
and probably higher than last year on a like-for-like basis. The main problem is sales in the US ( in UK sterling terms )and therefore profits (in UK sterling terms )will not be as high as could be due to the dollar going from about 1.59 last year to 1.74 this year. I'll have a guess at profits about the
same as last year if not a little higher.
Still a well managed company though and a good cash generator.
Any bets on where the share price will dip to before/after xmas - 95p?.

[havasu] 29/11/2003 10:55

As a manufacturing jeweller, I am experiencing what several retail jewellers I have spoken to from around Britain are experiencing, and that is that this is the quietest Christmas we have known for a long time.

Normally the Christmas rush starts in October but it seems to be getting later every year. It's late November now and only in the last few days have things picked up. There just hasn't been the trade there usually is.

Things have to pick up before Christmas, as jewellery is always a popular gift.
Of course I am only commenting on the UK side of business but maybe the USA is experiencing the same.

Perhaps this is affecting the share price?

Havasu

[mazarin] 14/11/2003 16:05

Have decided to take another position with SIG, in the hope of positive news from Week-end press, who may provide some comment on Signet Group in the run up to Christmas.

[master rsi] 13/11/2003 16:42

Price 109.75-110p +1.375p

Finished at the high of the day after a strong order book at L2