Steppe Cement Share Discussion Threads

[eggbaconandbubble] 09/10/2023 18:40

Well said Wilo!

[wilo101] 09/10/2023 18:22

will be paid in 12.23, ex in 11.23, like last year, season closes out end of 10.23

[1knocker] 09/10/2023 18:07

Current intention to pay a dividend this month, and still no declaration 9 days into the month?
Methinks the 'current intention' may have changed.

[aleman] 06/10/2023 15:08

"The current objective is to pay a dividend of 2 to 3 pence per share before November 2023."

[1knocker] 06/10/2023 12:54

Isn't it about time the dividend was declared if it really is to be paid by November?

Does that mean 'before November' or 'by the end of November'?

I can't see why we have not at least been told by now what the declaration, ex div and payment dates will be, even if they want to leave the declaration of the amount until as late as possible.

[jeanesy] 06/10/2023 12:28

Afew nice buys .. hopefully some better news coming here

[mattjos] 04/10/2023 09:25

numerous reent online articles seem to indicate the Kazakhstan economy swiftly bouncing back

[aleman] 04/10/2023 08:01

Kazahkstan services PMI rises from 50.2 to 52.3.

[thordon] 03/10/2023 22:14

Key statement that there was around $14 million held in cash , so dividend will proceed

[jeanesy] 03/10/2023 16:56

Let us hope so Aleman

[aleman] 03/10/2023 16:46

Q3 update is usually the 2nd week in October (but has been as early as the 5th, from memory).

The current objective is to pay a dividend of 2 to 3 pence per share before November 2023.

Presumably, the dividend declaration will come with the trading update, and with a rapidly ensuing ex-dividend date, if there is one. Although I do not know what national pricing is doing, Kazahkstan's national cement volumes have picked up as the year has progressed, which bodes well. Given the company said the following, I am cautiously optimistic.

Volumes are recovering in the second half of the current year and prices have been slightly increased, while the cost of production is improving as well.

I think a decent H2 will mean there is a modest profit to pay a 2023 dividend from, and a 2022 dividend, to be paid soon, will be set accordingly.

[plasybryn] 03/10/2023 16:34

Trading update due plus dividend declaration in November?

[aleman] 03/10/2023 11:09

Kazahstan Manufacturing PMI for September rose from 52.4 to 52.8. This survey only goes back to March 2019 but is on the verge of breaking its record of 53. Job creation was second fastest since the survey started.

[1knocker] 01/10/2023 19:23

Perhaps there is a market for concrete cots and playpens?

[aleman] 30/9/2023 10:48

It's not a huge point with regards to STCM but it's worth acknowledging that there has been a baby boom in Kazahkstan in the last 15 years probably driven by economic factors. There was a boom in oil production from around 1998 and a boom in GDP growth from around 2003. These followed years of economic austerity and disclocation before and after the break-up of the Soviet Union. The great economic expansion from about 20 years ago probably led to a significant rise in optimism about the future. Birthrates rose strongly and there is now a surge in young adults coming into the workplace that should drive further expansion for a decade or two.



I don't know if STCM can take any advantage of this but it sure beats being in a shrinking market. They will need to keep modernising equipment to keep up with competition as new cement plants are being built to keep up with the growth in the population and economy.

[return_of_the_apeman] 29/9/2023 14:41

Pinged an email off to investor relations after the results, unfortunately not had a reply back yet

I note there is some pressure on margins in your half year report released today

I expect this is the same for your competitors and I expect you monitor their margins but I am struggling to find this information

I am trying to work out if you are a bottom quartile cost producer in Kazakhstan please would you be able to let me know?

Thanks for your time

[aleman] 26/9/2023 07:53

Kazahkstan's August industrial production was good and cement production was above 2022 and almost back to 2021 levels so the market STCM is operating in seems to be continuing to recover.

The Q3 update would typically be in about 2 weeks.

[aleman] 20/9/2023 16:35

I presume there'll be dividend news with the Q3 update in about 3 weeks.

[aleman] 20/9/2023 10:47

CEO says the current objective is to pay 2-3p dividend before November after H1 finished. He tells us in yesterday's H1 report that H2 volumes, prices and costs have all improved. Straight after that, so insider buying is allowed again, his family buys £37k+ worth of stock. HHHhhmmm...

Granted, it's small compared to total family ownership.


"Before November" only allows 6 weeks to declare and pay any dividend.

[tigerbythetail] 20/9/2023 10:25

RNS out - decent buy from CEO yesterday. Always reassuring.

[fft] 20/9/2023 10:25

CEO bought another 160k yesterday.Think this *could* be a good recovery play as demand picks up and inflationary increases drop.

[aleman] 19/9/2023 17:33

Wrong thread.

[aleman] 19/9/2023 14:19

National cement sales were down about 18% in Q1. They were up about 3% in Q2. That looks more like severe winter disruption than a softened market to me and would explain why they talked of a 2-3p dividend after H1 had finished. Clearly the Q2 trend was much better. Presumably, they want to see if the better Q2 trend is sustained into H2 before deciding the dividend for 2022.