Universe Share Discussion Threads

[papalpower] 01/9/2005 12:02

addict I think the results will very much please everyone with the outlook statement they make. Broker forecasts we know are due upgrading after results and I do think we are looking at over 3p for forecast EPS and that makes the shares very very cheap at the moment.

[addict] 01/9/2005 11:52

Papal,
Agreed-interesting markup today.I suspect the results will please the market.DYOR

[papalpower] 01/9/2005 11:49

addict the earlier AGM statement said expect the 2nd September but the later trading update said expect 9th of September, so it could be either but more than likely the 9th I think.

[addict] 01/9/2005 10:44

I read somewhere that results expected tomorrow??

[papalpower] 01/9/2005 09:43

We are now just 6 trading days away from results, this share is massively undervalued and I think we might see some big buys come in now before the results and after results and then broker upgrades following results.

They have been holding it low to get weak holders out on a small previous rise and now it should rise strongly from here.

[verynervy] 01/9/2005 09:38

well penpal yesterday only showed sells and then today up she goes with nothing showing - seems likely someone was snapping up all those sells yesterday but not yet disclosed

any thoughts?

[papalpower] 30/8/2005 15:25

verynervy they just paid 22 for a sell of 500 there, we might not be far away from a move up if more larger buys come in.

[verynervy] 30/8/2005 14:45

agreed about the buys papalpower and with the history of the share price it likes to go up in leaps and bounds so looking forward to the results and some awakening of interest!

[papalpower] 30/8/2005 10:04

verynervy, some nice buys coming through at full offer so I wonder how long before they start to raise it up again with only around 8 trading days to results. Interested in BOI now and with their results due on the 7th September will be looking for confirmation of things moving forward, if we get it I am expect decent gains on UNG and BOI in September.

[papalpower] 23/8/2005 16:40

I am happy very nervy, let it keep falling this week and next, as I will be adding more and more when it bottoms.

After the recent rise, and knowing the brokers will upgrade forecasts after results, its just a little shaking to try to get any weak holders out.

[verynervy] 23/8/2005 16:37

And the price falls - its an amazing world!

[papalpower] 22/8/2005 09:38

That makes UNG tipped as a buy by t1ps.com and thewrongprice.com and now the IC.

Mid 30's target after results and broker upgrades after results on 9th Sept.

[papalpower] 22/8/2005 09:35

verynervy yes thay did and said it was a good move selling First Remit and good value at 23.5p.

Its going up not long to wait for results and news now.

[verynervy] 22/8/2005 09:28

Mentioned in IC as being of good value now it has sold its money transfer business.

[papalpower] 20/8/2005 18:41

The other exciting thing is the comment from the 13th of May, if we see the money from First Remit moved onto accelerating HTEC it could be very good for future growth with it coming more quickly.


13th May 2005 Universe Group plc
AGM Statement

Looking further ahead, we are very excited by our PIN enabled unattended payment system. We have commenced installation in petrol forecourts and we are seeking unattended applications outside our traditional markets. We anticipate that unattended systems will be a growth market as a result of the introduction of Chip and PIN'.

[papalpower] 20/8/2005 17:38

And I would expect that the new 2006 forecast EPS to be 3p or above. With no more loss making First Remit and with the cash from that sale, and all other parts of the business profitable it should, after the results and upgrades, be trading on at least 12 times forecast 2006 EPS in my opinion so I stick with my target of mid 30's after results and upgrades.

[papalpower] 20/8/2005 00:24

Sounds good.

[giovannina] 19/8/2005 21:54

Universe announced that it has sold its international money transfer business, First Remit, to Travelex Money Transfer Limited ("TMT"), a subsidiary of Travelex PLC for an undisclosed sum. This leaves the group with HTEC and Master Change, both of which are profitable and cash generative. With the former showing good growth prospects and the improved group visibility following the disposal, we expect the shares to be re-rated and upgrade our recommendation to Buy from Hold (August 1 2005).

The performance of First Remit has been disappointing over recent years; with the business unable to reach critical mass in a competitive market, it has continued to be loss-making. As such it has held back the group, diluting the strong performance of HTEC and improving performance from Master Change.

For the year to 31 December 2005, we were forecasting First Remit to contribute an operating loss of c.£0.45m. With the majority of this weighted to H1 (and with the interim results due on 9th September) we are leaving our group pre-tax profit forecasts (before exceptionals) unchanged at this stage at £1.5m giving adjusted EPS of 2.2p (assuming an effective rate of tax of 10% given losses brought forward) and DPS of 0.75p.

We expect the impact on cash-flow in terms of consideration received to be immaterial although the disposal will free up working capital to be invested in HTEC. For the 2006 financial year we were forecasting pre-tax profits of £1.8m (including losses of £0.25m from First Remit); we plan to formally review our forecasts following the interim results on 9th September.

[papalpower] 19/8/2005 07:49

From what I hear Teather & Greenwood upgraded from hold to buy this week after the sale of First Remit.

Anyone got any info ?

[papalpower] 19/8/2005 01:57

Yes but taking into account Mastercharge was profitable in the first half, and the previous plan was that the profit from Mastercharge full year would pay for the operating cost of First Remit full year, or nearly. So now we have a situation where First Remit is sold, for what price we do not know. Mastercharge profits in the second half will now all go towards profit. You now have only 2 profitable sections of the business, those being profitable and cash generative. Mastercharge will continue to make profits, although not with massive growth, but the big growth comes from HTEC.

Although present full year targets will likely be beaten by a small amount following the disposal of First Remit, next years forecast will have to be upgraded, and this will happen after results on the 9th of September, I still believe new EPS targets for 2006 will be in the range of 3p and over.

The money from the sale of First Remit also allows them to accelerate developments at HTEC and that is very good news if it is what happens.

If you go back to the comment in May, this is the one I am looking for more information on ;

Looking further ahead, we are very excited by our PIN enabled unattended payment system. We have commenced installation in petrol forecourts and we are seeking unattended applications outside our traditional markets. We anticipate that unattended systems will be a growth market as a result of the introduction of Chip and PIN'.

So there are many things that could happen including a buyout, but the good thing is they are all positive.

[acrussell] 18/8/2005 16:32

Radbrooks, I agree. It will be interesting to hear the comments on future strategy on Sept 9th

[mercedes] 18/8/2005 16:10

papal

It will eat away at you........the greed that is?

I would of thought that movement of 50-100 even 200k would be counted as very small beer for this stock.
My view is that very little movement means just that.

merc

[rabbrooks] 18/8/2005 16:10

The remaining businesses operated by UNG do not appear to me to be complementary. Mastercharge has never been very profitable and seems to be a stand alone business now operating in a truncated form with no expansion on the horizon. IT is in a holding situation. THis could be sold if it could be merged with a profitable competitor ,leaving the rump of the business -HTEC.
UNG is and will remain a small co. which would make a worthwhile division within a larger co., giving a better return to shareholders. They were, as most shareholders know, a hive off years ago from RTD as it is known today.No reson why they cannot go into reverse gear with a benefit to everyone concerned.

[addict] 18/8/2005 15:46

Perhaps Travelex?DYOR.

[papalpower] 18/8/2005 15:41

I think they took advantage today, saw over a 100K sells and straight away snapped them up.

To get a good price like that all the time whoever it is must be big.