Sthree Share Discussion Threads

[midasx] 11/10/2007 22:11

Hays Q1 net fees up 24 pct amid strong demand in all markets, expansion UPDATE




(Updates with regional performance, share buyback details)
LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Hays PLC, the UK's largest recruiter, posted a
24 pct increase in first-quarter net fees amid strong demand across its markets
and said that it will continue with strong international expansion.
Like-for-like net fees -- organic growth from continuing activities at
constant currency -- for the period to Sept 30 rose 21 pct.
Chief executive Denis Waxman said: "Although we are mindful of the increased
economic uncertainty, we continue to see strong demand across our markets and
fully expect to continue our good progress this year."
Hays, the market leader in Australia and the UK, said all its markets
continue to be strong, but Continental Europe and Asia Pacific in particular.
UK and Ireland, which is Hays's largest division representing 66 pct of
group net fees, saw 14 pct growth or 12 pct on a like-for-like basis.
The company said its Accountancy and Finance business continued making good
progress while Construction and Property benefited from strong demand.
Hays invested in its Information Technology business in the second half of
last year and said this business made steady progress during the quarter.
The company said it will continue to invest heavily in the newer
specialisms, which are performing strongly.
In Asia-Pacific, which represents 18 pct of the group, net fees rose 50 pct
or 40 pct like-for-like.
Hays said it opened a new office in Brisbane and a second office in Japan
amid strong performance by the Asian business including Japan, China, Hong Kong
and Singapore.
Net fees in Continental Europe & Rest of the World rose 40 pct and 41 pct
like-for-like helped by significant investment in the region and the
considerable structural growth in the market.
Hays said Germany, France, Belgium, Spain and Canada performed particularly
strongly. This division makes up 16 pct of the group's net fees.
The recruiter also continued with its share buyback programme, buying 21.2
mln shares for 32.6 mln stg in the quarter. The company reiterated it expects to
buy back a minimum of 75 mln shares during this financial year.
Hays shares closed Wednesday at 142.75 pence, valuing the company at 1.98
bln stg.
By Anita Likus: [e-mail]
aml/aml/jag/aml/jrr

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[midasx] 11/10/2007 12:38

Lets hope these early big buys are directors deals, that would get these going in the right direction, big bounce due soon, just picked up another £5K.



Num Code Price Size Type C T Bid Offer Time Buy
0 R7000P07FP 298.5 20 UT 298.5 295.5 08:00:24 20
1 A4002OMNS2 303.3 652 O 301.5 303.5 08:02:59 652
2 A4002OT3HH 303.5 652 AT 301.5 303.5 08:04:40 652
3 A4002OMNWT 303 50000 O 301.5 303.5 08:13:41 50,000
4 A4002OMNWW 303 25000 O 301.5 303.5 08:13:58 25,000
5 A4002OMNYU 303 25000 O 302 303.5 08:19:18 25,000
6 A4002OMNYZ 303 80000 O 302 303.5 08:19:35 80,000
7 A4002OMNZA 303 75000 O 302 303.5 08:20:00 75,000

[midasx] 11/10/2007 11:59

This has got to be a sceaming buy at these levels!




SThree

Our view: Buy

Current price: 488.75p

Despite being perhaps the least well known name in recruitment among the mid caps, SThree has kept up the pace with higher profile rivals Robert Walters and Michael Page.

Its shares have risen by more than 125 per cent since listing in late 2005 and if yesterday's interim results are anything to go by there looks to be more upside left.

Although the company has invested heavily in the last 12 months on headcount, information technology systems and new offices, first half pre-tax profits still rose by an impressive 32 per cent to £19.2m, and would have been 54 per cent better had it not been for the investment programme.

SThree provides staff across a wide range of sectors, providing temporary and permanent placements in computing, engineering, telecoms, human resources and pharmaceuticals, even if 80 per cent of its business is still in IT.

It operates out of 48 offices in seven countries and there is scope for more expansion in emerging and developed economies. New offices were opened in Rotterdam and Brussels in the first half and Hong Kong and Dubai will open in the second half.

SThree has moved away from more cyclical temporary recruitment and now makes exactly 50 per cent of its profits from permanent placements. Trading on under 15 times forecast 2008 earnings, SThree is on a discount to its two main UK peers and the recruitment industry looks to be in excellent health. Yesterday's bout of profit taking represents a good buying opportunity.

[midasx] 08/10/2007 08:37

Good write up in the Financial Mail " Good buying opportunity for the more adventurous investor"

Shares almost halved since July !

[quickmind] 29/7/2007 21:28

I don't hold STHR, which has been on my watchlist for a while. Certainly the H1 headline numbers are eye-catching and the recent weakness seems a buying opportunity. However, reading the H1 results, I feel unsure about two things. One is the cash flow hiccup and the other is vagueness of the "Current Trading and Future Prospects" (I couldn't get any sense of how business has started in H2.)

[m.t.glass] 24/7/2007 08:50

...Recruiter SThree has kept up the pace with higher profile rivals Robert Walters and Michael Page. SThree has moved away from more cyclical temporary recruitment and now makes exactly 50% of its profits from permanent placements. Trading on under 15 times forecast 2008 earnings, SThree is on a discount to its two main UK peers and now looks a good buying opportunity says the Independent.

The Times is more cautious suggesting that SThree, which still draws two thirds of its profits from the UK and four fifths from IT, is already up with events. Pass.

[m.t.glass] 23/7/2007 07:39

Nice numbers - six-month period ended 3 June 2007

Revenue --- up 35.1%
Gross Profit --- up 39.5%
Operating profit* --- up 29.7%
Profit before taxation* --- up 32.0%
Profit before taxation after exceptional items --- up 54.0%
Profit for the period* --- up 27.7%
Basic earnings per share* --- up 14.8%
Earnings per share after exceptional items --- up 34.8%
Interim dividend --- up 29.2%

[m.t.glass] 07/6/2007 15:22

Another day another broker upgrade

Strong Buy 2
Buy 1
Neutral 0
Sell 0
Strong Sell 0

Latest broker opinion: UBS, 7 June, reiterate BUY, with 590p target (was 555p).

[m.t.glass] 06/6/2007 07:49

Good positive update.

[maiseymouse] 17/5/2007 10:35

panmure gordon has come back from meeting mgt very heartened

[oscarino] 04/5/2007 10:59

what a share ! what a company ! What a happy little bunny iam owning these little babies.

[bonzo] 19/4/2007 19:17

What a chart!

[oscarino] 03/4/2007 15:51

its gone up 35p since my last post, yipeee and long may it continue

[oscarino] 30/3/2007 09:02

Brilliant results and the share price falls ????? Sure it will bounce back up again soon.

[bonzo] 16/11/2006 09:41

Hope so. Bought about 3 months ago, has given me a few wobbles but now seems on the right track!!

[artful dodger] 15/11/2006 15:11

I'm in today in my sipp
gives me exposure to a sector I don't carry and a chart that I like a lot.
maiden divi will attract some new institutional money.

funny how these solid performers attract no pump/dump merchants

s'pose it is boring really -buy and hold -

makes the most money, though...

[cambium] 14/10/2006 09:37

and a quiet thraed too MT

[m.t.glass] 14/10/2006 00:32

Broke to a new alltime high today..

Company website

And a page from their own recruitment site, indicative of company culture if you click the buttons there

[bonzo] 15/6/2006 16:31

Big mark down today..??

[teapreacher] 11/5/2006 10:58

Amazingly quiet on this thread - given the performance:-)

[sandbank] 13/2/2006 20:12

...Having said that, a good rise just before the bell today and a really excellent set of results released this month.

[sandbank] 27/1/2006 18:11

It would be really good to hear from some holders of STHR on this thread. I suppose today's fall is profit taking after a very strong week. ...and I notice that the share price was recovering at close of play - which is another good sign