Universe Share Discussion Threads

[boadicea] 29/10/2013 10:54

In midsummer (July), the share price seemed to have dropped out of the two year rising channel. This now looks like a temporary aberration; it is up 50% since then and back on the same track, rising at the rate of about 2.67p pa. A continuation of the trend would put a 10p target about 18 months away (April/May 2015). This also looks very achievable from the fundamentals standpoint. The business should be far enough away from its earlier history for any theoretical resistance points (we are just breaking through the 6p one) to have little relevance. (All imho/dyor).

[davidosh] 28/10/2013 12:58

I recently met the new CEO and I am pleased with his appointment. He looks to be the right person with drive and ambition to get UNG through the next phase. It is now in my top ten holdings and so I will be watching things very closely and arranging a large group for an investor presentation in a couple of months or so just before the year end and once our new man has got his feet under the table.

[boadicea] 28/10/2013 12:28

As a long term holder, UNG still owes me - I have an average of 10.55p - but we're now more than half way there and I am becoming expectant that 10p will be broken in due course. After a deal of floundering over recent years with some rather unconvincing ventures the current management seems to have found a profitably exploitable niche and a success stream on which it can build. The market will want to see a year or two more of promises fulfilled, then it may grant a better rating, say x12, on earnings which could be approaching the 1p mark for 2015. Unfortunately, the balance sheet is carrying a hefty dollop of intangibles - goodwill etc. which must engender some caution. Any acquisitions will need to be accretive from the start as there is little capital to put them through an investive turn-round. However, I think there is a prospect of tax-loss credits to be realised and they can be acknowledged in the accounts on reasonably predictable profits.

[puku] 24/10/2013 16:16

Now up to 5.7p - belated reaction to good Interims perhaps - Chairman said "increase in scale ... to enhanced margins and bottom line growth". Last years eps was 0.71p. Finn Capital think little change in eps then up to 0.74p in 2014. But acquisition of Indigo Retail should help - so could we see at least 0.8 p for a forward p/e of 7 ? Finn Cap re-set it target to 8.5p

[thorne3] 30/9/2013 15:20

These figures and statement are quite impressive.The mists of time are lifting and there is much more visibility.Although markets are competitive there is clearly growth for companies like ung which are prepared to invest.The future in my opinion is pretty good aided and abetted by a few well selected acquisitions.So long as our new man does not screw up on the acquisition front I believe we could be set fair for a few years.

[ironstorm] 30/9/2013 08:45

Good set of results and nice to see the share price appreciate too. Cash is king and growth to come. Still far too cheap though. //ironstorminvesting.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/masters-of-universe.html

[puku] 10/9/2013 11:15

David - never been to one so yes I would love to attend. await details. regards Mike - Puku

[davidosh] 04/9/2013 13:15

Universe are a strong performer here.... hxxp://intel.harriman-house.com/investing/free-capital-what-happened-next/ Would any of you like to attend an interim results presentation in London on 30th September at 2.30pm?

[drunken sailor] 29/8/2013 12:22

At the AGM they said revenues were running about the same as the previous year. Interest payments should be down, Indigo will not have had time to contribute to the interims, but hopefully has since. There has been quite a lot of dilution from the last interims, thus overall I would not expect EPS to have changed very much. Very sad to see Stephen McLeod go, we have him to thank for the sound position the company is in today. I hope the new guy is as good as Robert Goddard is cracking him up to be.

[ironstorm] 27/8/2013 14:28

Interims due here next month in a couple of weeks and hoping to see more progress and news of early growth based on the Indigo / HTEC tie up. Last year they managed 0.35p in the first half - 0.4-0.5 this time would be good. hxxp://ironstorminvesting.blogspot.co.uk/

[davidosh] 20/8/2013 12:59

puku....I am not an expert on anything related to tax and exemptions but I do know Chris Boxall, the guy who runs FAM and as a specialist AIM fund and qualified advisor I would back him ahead of a journalist reporting in the IC. Renew is one of my top ten holdings and the directors came to present at our Mello dinner about a year ago. Patience has rewarded there and is the investors friend. I find that patience is far easier when I have so many holdings to watch over and there is more than enough news and events to keep me occupied and active. Boredom can be the enemy for an investor. Go to mellomeeting.co.uk for a diary of events

[puku] 20/8/2013 12:07

Hi David - nice jump in share price yesterday, thought it might kick on. I am based in London and will look out for such events. The best tip I have learned recently is to be patient and not to sell too early - e.g. Simigon, Westminster, Getech missed out on big gains, but happy with Gable, Globo, Renew. Have you watched the QPP saga, any thoughts, seems very cheap and I am in reasonable profit ? re your comment on AIM / IHT I am a bit puzzled by what seems to be contrary reports. Investors Chronicle said (re AIM into ISA's) " they have to be held for two years before they are exempt for IHT - and some shares in companies related to investment and property may not be such a shelter - so check before you buy - in this case check how ? Meanwhile Fundamental Asset Management (via Investors Champion) have been pushing portfolios made up of AIM shares (and not specifically in ISA's ??) for those which benefit from Business Property Relief (BPR)- if held for two years are exempt from IHT. They go on to list just over 100 such AIM shares, implying that the other 900 or so AIM shares do not qualify. So IC says property ones are not qualifiable but by inference all others are, yet FAM says ones with BPR are but not others . Any thoughts on that ?

[davidosh] 18/8/2013 19:05

puku...you are very welcome to come to any of the events. I am merely a private investor and looking for value, decent yield, Zulus, growth, good straight talking management, property and asset plays, management with a track record of under promising and over delivering, recovery situations with good new management or simple and solid family type businesses on Aim for IHT purposes that just grow nicely over a long period. There is something for everyone and you can build different portfolios depending on whatever suits your current needs. I just hope Universe is a recovery play under the new management.

[puku] 18/8/2013 12:34

Hi Davidosh - have watched and followed you around so to speak ! But never attended any of your presentations. Been an investor for a decade but only in last couple of years spent much time on it. You seem to be a big investor whilst I am really a small value player. Look forward to more news. puku

[davidosh] 15/8/2013 14:28

Results are less than a month away. I will try to arrange a results presentation for a group of us.

[puku] 15/8/2013 13:19

all very quiet here and a weak share price ? Last Results were eps 0.71 for a P/E of 6. Latest update says In-line so was expecting at least 5p share price . Happy to wait for Interims but not inclined to top up.

[loganair] 28/6/2013 10:05

drunken sailor - What I usually do is to put in a Limit Buy price for a month and managed to pick-up a good few every time the price dipped below 1.7p.

[drunken sailor] 27/6/2013 17:57

I managed to get some at 1.75p, but only £500 worth without being quoted over the offer. Very well done on accumulating your horde. Some days are better than others. I just wish I knew what could be done to improve the liquidity of the share as that is the only thing that puts me off buying a substantial wedge. I am planning to bed and SIPP some other shares when they get to the right price and I will use the tax rebate to accumulate some more of these in whatever size dollops the market will allow.

[thorne3] 27/6/2013 15:29

drunkensailor- I bought most of themin the period June 2011/2012.

[loganair] 27/6/2013 10:25

I had no problem in buying several £1,000's worth at a time when the price was below 2p.

[drunken sailor] 26/6/2013 18:07

thorne3 if you do not mind telling me I would love to know how you mangaged to accumulate so many at such a low average. Back when the price was down that low I could only buy a few £100s worth without having to pay over the offer. I am normally a great believer that directors should look after the business and let the share price look after itself, the exception to this is when they want to issue shares to either raise money or do acquisitions then they need to get the best possible price for the shares which means having the shareprice reflect the value of the business. I can see how over the next 2 years we should see 100% bottom line growth probably 25% this year 75% next year. That is a great story and if that was reflected in the share price it should be about 10p and still good value at that. But how does the market get that story now rather than waiting 2 years when the bottom line has doubled?

[thorne3] 26/6/2013 12:57

drunken sailor.As a holder of quite a few million of these shares acquired on average at about 2.4p I very much appreciate you comments about the AGM which I unfortunately could not attend this year.I agree with all your comments and believe that all issues will be resolved in due course.The upside in this stock is very considerable and Messrs Mcleod and Goddard who are both well incentivised are the men to realise it.They both have very sound judgement as evidenced by a comment Stephen M. once made to me-"I never talk about anything that I'm going to do until I've actually done it."As you say I wish all AIM stock MD's would keep to that policy.

[davidosh] 25/6/2013 18:50

drunken sailor.... it is free to join and very useful if you checkout all the links and info there.

[fugwit] 25/6/2013 18:35

Drunken sailor, ta for the write up, much appreciated.