Stanley Gibbons Share Discussion Threads

[skyship] 06/1/2005 12:59

My personal view is that Stanley Gibbons will be viewed as a trophy buy by some wealthy investor. A bid @ 150p would cost only £38m and secure 100% of an almost unique business. The more I think of it the more obvious it seems...Couldn't quite fund it all from my own SIPP unfortunately!!

[gregory0106] 06/1/2005 11:39

Just topped up at 87p - now all we need do is wait...........(I hope)

[hectorp] 05/1/2005 16:37

Gibbons may also advertise eg on the integrated web site, that stamps can be collected in sipps next year . The scope for increased sales ther is quite considerable, a lot of it new clients.
Glad to have bought in last month, they are in the sipp... not stamps as yet.

[xdavid] 05/1/2005 16:29

From their web site: Announcement of Full Year Results to Dec 2004: 4th March 2005.
IMO there will not be a trading announcement prior. I get the impression they do not want to "get into the habit" of having to do this - just to please the "non-faithful" :-)

A couple of other things which look new (or I just never noticed before):

Mission Statement, worth reading...


snippit...
"We now have the structure in place with seven Internet sites, which we believe cover every aspect of stamp collecting. We are best known globally as a publisher and for our unique stamp numbering system, which is the industry standard and used by all the major players in the market. We are continuing with our strategy of providing dynamic pricing and editorial content which forms the backbone of stamp reference for every collector.

There are an estimated 30 million collectors worldwide who all need to make use of this information whether it be annually or on a daily basis. The combined 'hits' we are already receiving is in excess of 8 million a month..."

Also Seymour Pierce report on their interim results (30 July 2004)...


Basically reiterates their previous report (2004 EPS estimate of 5.4 & 2005 EPS 6.8) but gives some analysis of the interims figures. Seymour Pierce are the "house brokers" so they would be positive but nice to see some analysis all the same.

-david

[addas99] 05/1/2005 16:25

I think we can expect full years results announcement Feb 25, last Friday in the month, with little hope of a trading update between now and then.

Looking at last years chart SGI moved almost vertically from 40 to 90p between Jan and the first week in March (ie just after their results were announced) before tailing off over a period of 10 weeks to their lowest price in 2004, 67p. Then once again they took off, all the way to the ints. announcement 30/7
and breeched the £1 mark. Sensible people (not I, and a fall to 77 confirmed this) took profits and were not tempted to remain holders by the special dividend, although generous.

If you're gifted at exiting on the highs and rejoining at the lows, good luck to you. I'm very happy to hold on to this one as SGI has growth firmly stamped all over it and a future bid cannot be ruled out at any time. We are but 6 weeks away from the release of, imo, tremendous results

[gregory0106] 05/1/2005 15:15

Offer is going up, but bid price seems static - currently 5p spread 85-90.

Is upturn solid or just MM's being gready?

[cockneyrebel] 05/1/2005 15:05

Moving up again today - results in a month.

I am wondering if we are going to get a trading statement prior.

CR

[pylewell] 05/1/2005 10:50

one for the money

I agree, the only way is up for the early GB stamps. There are 30,000,000 collectors worldwide who are bound to want at least some of these gems, the worlds earliest stamps. The portfolio I referred to above was all high face value stamps (plus one mint penny black) and these I was told were the best for investment.
I am torn between buying stamps for investment and buying yet more shares, On balance, for the moment, I think shares offer the best opportunity.
From April 2006 people will be allowed to put stamps in their Self Invested Pension Plans. I gather that some investment advisers are already reccommending clients to buy them now, in advance of this before they rise as they surely will as this date approaches.

[one for the money] 05/1/2005 08:50

Pylewell:

All IMHO...

Interesting observation on the business changing to reflect modern nvestment trends. That has to be good.

I'm a collector of line-engraved Victorian GB stamps but I am aware that the market is just like other 'antiques' in that it has fasionable 'themes' at any given time. SGI deal in a world market in stamps, so providing spread of risk against any particular downturn - and just like MMs they take a profit between buying and selling whatever the situation.

Having said that, GB stamps always seem to be popular and the rise over time is almost guarenteed.

Cheers
John
(positive SGI holder)

[pylewell] 04/1/2005 23:18

I recently visited the Investment Dept of Stanley Gibbons, The Strand. I helped a friend to invest £13,000 in a portfolio of just 5 rare early Victorian stamps.This portfolio was prepared beforehand by S.Gs Investment Manager. The portfolio is a very professionally produced document with colour photos and details of each stamp. These stamps are clearly set for good price rises as they are undervalued compared with similar early issues of other Western countries.
I was extremely impressed by the Investment dept and also the autograph dept which I was shown round.
On the strength of my visit I topped up with an extra £4000 of shares first thing this morning. I was told they were' Very Busy' there.
Investors should have a look at the extremely good website, stanley gibbons.com, and their Stanley Gibbons Monthly magazine is well worth buying to read about the investment opportunities of rare stamps.
The stamp portfolio included an unused 'Penny Black'. We had to wait to get that one and now there are no more available. Good quality ones start at around £5000. Surely every serious collector has this, the world's first stamp, on their wanted list.
This is clearly such a good business to be in that I felt there was not a minute to lose to buy more shares before the rise ahead of results.

[hectorp] 04/1/2005 17:49

Can we expect growth of 20% over the coming year? I believe its possible.. some wonderful prices appearing on samples etc..
We will get the clues and more in February. Sure to be a lot of T10 trades then too.

[skyship] 31/12/2004 11:19

jwe - you really did do well. I sold out far too soon this time last year, as you will see by my comments on the FAR3 thread. A couple of responses to my post there yesterday support my interpretation of a good run over the next QTR.

[hectorp] 31/12/2004 10:54

There are many clues already, looking back over the last few months posts and RNS, though its been quiet recently. EPS 6 or better: forecast 20% growth over next 2 yrs IMO.
Its sure to be tipped in the next few weeks even for the results in Feb. But I agree with some folk here that its one to stick away, not trade and ramp etc. I'll be adding more stock in January if I can get this price, need to release some cash from elsewhere ist.
H.

[kael] 31/12/2004 10:44

They'll be tipped (imo). Thoughts for earnings anyone? -->My op. EPS 6p which gives current PE 14. Be nice to see what they say about future growth in report.

[ukhawk] 31/12/2004 10:41

Not sure if SGI will be tipped, but would expect a run-up before the results at the end of february. There'll be a lot of people who sold in august looking to get back in.

[hectorp] 31/12/2004 10:16

We'll be back over 90p next week IMO. This is one that'll be tipped by New Year value watchers in the press.

[hectorp] 31/12/2004 08:22

I'm a buyer last week and again topped up today. Medium term holding, stashed them away, for the Pension Fund. Look to gains of 25% approx in 2005.
Happy stamp collecting New Year to all.

[jwe] 30/12/2004 17:21

Good to here from you skyship,your post on MW was why i bought into these at40p last year and was lucky enough for once to sell out at the top at 103p.I bought back at 85p a little while ago and am looking forward to any trading update.

[skyship] 30/12/2004 16:50

Had a great run out of these this time last year - sold out far too soon, but that is a fault I've never been able to break! Just missed buying back in ahead of that jump back in early November; and pleased to get the opportunity to do so now - paid 83p for 10/- today.

Reading the TA runes, I expect the support from both the 50day & 200day MAs to hold; and I'm looking for a serious challenge to the 100p ceiling early in the New Year. I anticipate a run to the 110p/115p level in QTR1'05.

[gregory0106] 30/12/2004 16:35

Offer price up a penny today - getting ready for the new year re-rating??

[tinker] 20/12/2004 10:33

Thinking of auctioning mine. Would make a great Christmas present. Any offers? Actually, I was approached for my autograph once. I was in the same athletics meeting as the great Herb Elliott, and as I arrived at the stadium, some kids ran up and said "Can we have your autograph, mister?" I duly obliged and felt pretty important until I heard a voice behind me saying "Nah, that's not him!"

[orange1] 18/12/2004 11:15

Tony Frogatt is the Chief Exec of FTSE 100 company Scottish and Newcastle. Hid Who's Who lists swimming and collecting autographs as his interests. Says Tony:
"Afew years ago my wife bought me an autograph of Jimi Hendrix and since then I have gradually built up a collection of historical signatures - Lord Nelson, Napolean, a signed photograph of Churchill, all people whohave changed the world. That's what really interests me; perhaps I should have read history rather than law."

This snippet illustrates well the burgeoning interest in collecting autographs. Can only be good news for SGI.

[orange1] 18/12/2004 00:00

Tinker
er yes! I accept your assertion. Still strange though.

[tinker] 17/12/2004 10:51

Orange1

I presume you're talking OKR. It's genuine, I assure you. It had his name on it. Whether he wrote it is another question.

[orange1] 16/12/2004 10:11

So Tinker, whilst you're here, why not tell us who wrote that e-mail.