Star Phoenix Share Discussion Threads

[gelp] 01/2/2008 21:40

Someone bought 100k shares at 60 late on fri pm. Someone else thinks nice results as well!

[gelp] 31/1/2008 07:39

Nice results !

[gelp] 08/11/2007 08:57

Clever way to start shop. Lester Bowden (1898) are running entire job. And are the importers and suppliers (already). I guess practically no over heads and the web site start up costs are little these days. As group already has substantial hits can only add to profits and profile as range is refined and increases.

Margins will be good like say every 100k of sales could contribute 50k, after administration/service costs of the operation. My guess is that without much extra on the marketing cost this division will contribute very early. Perhaps we will get some figures on this next announcement? Look at the contribution is if sales are £1million!

Overall, providing no warnings - and this was opportunity for an update, looking good!

[gelp] 25/10/2007 19:36

yes & as long as babies keep coming to fuel the classes! interims end of jan so hope there are no warnings - looks like those close pick up shares given a chance so shouldn't take much to take off.Stickin to forcast 100 (original float price) within year.But don't expect see many sellers around for a long time. Tightly held but like McDonalds, the franchise fees just keep on rollin'& you can't get better motivated than franchisees! dyor etc.If div comes back that will be a Plus.

[its the oxman] 25/10/2007 15:43

still here - chart looks ready for a further rise provided business is on track

[gelp] 20/8/2007 17:04

ok. point taken. organic growth stood test of time but expansion costs were underestimated. Prudently cut dividend when needed to get back on track. Surely there will be a point where the 1 mil plus of core profits will be enhanced, rather than subdued by other parts of group - and my 'Great' interpretaion is of a tide definite on the turn & with cash generation to boot.
Still multi national prospects now on a sound base and looks like good efficienciy savings/productivity with the IT investment - written off last year.
My forcast 100 well within a year now. Based on assett growth profit growth and even without a deal or too as the child sector grows.

[ptgint] 20/8/2007 16:33

I'd say "promising" results rather than great and maybe add on the report "but must try harder to maintain progress". I too need to see a recovery to 100p.

[gelp] 15/8/2007 07:47

Wow! Great results and prospects!!

[gelp] 02/8/2007 22:49

After last nights dragons den I think Yogabugs are running close!
Any way time for breath holding again as we come up to next announcement - so far no warning, a firm Director buy, & a buoyant industry & so lets hope that the positive suggestions within interims have been enacted and that the core profits within will out!
The results are always an interesting read anyway.
A sniff of recovery & what's the chance of a return to 100 ?
Still hoping to fund my entire grandaughter education, not just the Stagecoach fees from the investment!

[boxwellian] 20/7/2007 10:35

razmatazz coming up on the outside?

[gelp] 24/5/2007 00:20

Make that 3 deals today at 70 and now we know 40000 bought by Director at 66!Interesting. The spread is around 10%.
2 other major investors with over 9% each have reconfirmed their exact holdings.
Hazell Carr sitting pretty now with a buy in at 40 - not sure of average cost of VCT's but see little selling.

[gelp] 23/5/2007 11:27

Box/Ox are you still in?
price up & SALES yesterday - but 2 deals at 70 today! moderate spread - is this same share!
year end may 31 & have seen no warnings - any good news COULD see return to original float price 100 at least.(still time for warnings of course before end of year figures. However does not 2nd half have more income generating weeks if i recollect i read somewhere in the reports.
Very thin market as we know but surely the odds are on more than optimism when final results come out.
Any consolidation of the business model overseas could lead to further gobal expansion.
Web site shows franchise director has 14 country experience and franchisees invited from new countries.
The dividend was pulled quickly (sensibly) when cash needed for the new ventures (costing the founders as much as anyone)however any return to the success of original business model profit and growth trajectory now would be great especially if underpinned with a return to even a small dividend.
All in my own opinion DYOR etc etc.

[gelp] 22/3/2007 14:51

yes i saw that and was most impressed by the recognition that we are in a fast expanding sector. STA are big players and with International experience so are natural consolidators until even bigger operateion moves in.
Any big company attracts imitators.

[boxwellian] 22/3/2007 14:26

Razzamatazz from Dragons Den coming up on the outside

[gelp] 20/3/2007 09:13

the announcement on 14th that ISIS EP LLP has a 9.% stake via 3 trusts is interesting. Isis has very interesting web site and enthuses about its investment (and assistance?) with Kids unlimited and the growth within the sector. it seems very coincidental that isis happens to have 3 seperate VCT stakes that happen to have 9. % stake in STA and that someone has taken the trouble to declare it. A glance at kids unlimited shows a massive growth pattern and massive investments (in permenant sites etc)in an expanding market (note STA growing students in expanding market as well) - though no overseas experience. Wonderful cross data bases.Its all rather boring so far re STA though the shares are still little over half the float price - having recovered from 32 one feels with a half decent performance next time around and a bit of exitement around the sector that we could all be 'dancing' with the students at some stage! Let us hope that the profits at least on the UK operation will be not overshadowed by investment costs elsewhere. all IMOHO and DYOR etc etc.

[gelp] 31/1/2007 08:34

Core business strong demand and profits over 1 million now in that core business. THAT IS THE MAIN POINT. Clear statement as to intentions on 'profit,restructure or....' of the smaller struggling areas - absolute reversal of trend of the last few years - though the core operation has been upwards fairly constantly. Shows figures with and without general overheads I am reaassured by the figures and my enthusiasm is undiminshed - and thank you to Andrew Lloyd Webber and 'How to solve a problem like....!'Experienced motivated team clearly have fingers on every button & recognize the balance between growth and profits. I don't mind modest losses on new ventures in an expanding market and with a proven business model (SHOWS POTENTIAL) but perhaps the planning needs to be a little more long term - it probably is but that is not obvious always to outsiders. Agency is mentioned as significant in size and marketshare but Box no mention of contribution or other wise - as i said previously perhaps no material problem and that issues are being addressed? - they seem to address every thing else!

[gelp] 18/1/2007 16:26

Box - i see you mentioned agency problem dec 05 - is this a material problem do you think ie much effect bottom line and is it really any worse than last year. I'm not sure that agency is big part of sales/p/l but you seem to be better informed.
We await latest figures shortly with interest!
I don't think there is any suggestion of anything but good moral elsewhere

[boxwellian] 18/1/2007 14:58

Agency problems rumoured to be unchanged.

[its the oxman] 16/1/2007 09:49

breaking up - getting quite excited now

[gelp] 14/12/2006 12:14

i have regularly posted and bought since my grandaughter joined locally.
the posts are visible to see.
I generally bought at the 'wrong time' but have averaged down (not always a wise thing especially if you work to a stop loss normally) to an average of now just over 50p cost and have 'quite a few' but would rather not say how many - my wife may find out!
I have indicated that I felt the options insead of bonus's this year at 32 p put a solid floor under the price and for excersise after 12 mths. My guess was that we had reached a turning point at the least.
The chart has responded to a few buys - we don't know what would have happened with a few sales.
My take is that the existing people have chosen not to sell but with regard to the above we do not know if the market would pick up many sales.
I personally like visibility of management objectives and to be able to understand a business. This is easy to understand and if it appeared on dragons den in my view would be an easy winner. The founders and experts hold half and are driving the company as always have done.
All comments are absolutely personal. The reasons for the chart are very obvious if you look at the recent trades. The reason that no one appears to be selling (at this point) are personal to each holder, and of course it can all change tomorrow!
The news is that there is no news and the closer we get to the end of jan news without adverse news the better - again that is not to say there will not be any bews in the next 40 days or so - not unknown for news to come out on Xmas eve with some concerns.
My stock picking record is up and down!!!
If seriously interested suggest you read the announcements and draw own conclusions.

[fliparoo] 14/12/2006 01:10

Gelp, if you dont mind me asking how long have you held for and how much you got tied in? Whats with the massive jumps in share price recently, graph looks like a rocket?! whats the news to an outsider like myself!?? Very keen for a punt on this, seems lucrative!

Flip

[its the oxman] 11/12/2006 10:05

through 50p - something must be looking up!