Vp Share Discussion Threads

[paulf99] 17/5/2006 18:48

What looked to be happening was lots of small sells by PIs. Perhaps the MM didn't have much stock (is tight usually) and so one of them had to buy quite bit in X trade which started the bounce. Anyway I was glad to add to my holdings at the dip as I like the way this company delivers but the share price was getting rather rich before this week.

[diogenesj] 17/5/2006 10:12

Strange business. Can we just assume that it's very illiquid, and someone sold a lot of shares very clumsily? Everything was down, but not many fell as far as VP. or (as far as I can see) with so little reason. And today we have the big bounce.

[green sand] 17/5/2006 08:42

Nope, don't think the JP 25k is significant, however I am was interested in the VP Employee Trust announcing a 200k buy on the 7th April – the same day as the Trading Statement.

Keep going back to it, can't find the story change. I thought it was v. good value when it fell to £3.00 and topped up so what do I know?

On the April Brewin forecast, at 287p we forward PE of 13 with 30% growth, which gives a PEG of less than 0.5. Always worried about House B numbers but Numis had the same in March.

The last few "blood on the moon days" was inevitable and not many have escaped. I am still concerned about the markets, but not I think in the long run about VP.


Good Luck

[vernkel] 17/5/2006 08:08

Nope. But getting keen to buy back in at these prices pending confirmation all is well. These are tightly held. Does anyone think that the JP reorganisation could have been enough to trigger this fall?

[omankohakase] 16/5/2006 21:19

I've been trying to figure out what's going on here... It seems that the brokers have gone a bit cold on VP, although I have no idea why. Perhaps there will be a nasty surprise when the full results are reported in June, although the last trading update was fine. IC liked them partly because Brewin Dolphin predicted strong earnings growth next year. Perhaps that prediction has been revised? JP Morgan Fleming Mercantile Investment Trust plc seem to have been selling recently. Anyone know any more than that?

[martinc] 16/5/2006 09:09

I nearly sold when they went to 370p as it seemed expensive.. I delayed as usual and now look what's happened. I feel comfortable with the current valuation though, and I expect they'll recover in time.

[vernkel] 15/5/2006 23:00

Just had a retrospective look at these! Don't quite know what has happened. I bought in at £1.20 and these have been nice steady gainers. Sold my profit when it came off the peak the other week at about £3.50 and cashed in the initial investment at around £3.30. I have been burnt by not taking profits before so bailed on the little waiver at the top. However there was no reason other than to lock in profits after what I consider had been a good gains. Certainly did not anticpate these falls, but looks like I was a lucky for once! I checked the figures and still did not think they were too demanding for a company of this type when selling. At these levels I personally believe they look very attractive again and am tempted to go back in!

PS Don't forget there is also a resonable (if not great) dividend to consider with these!

[green sand] 12/5/2006 14:40

Cheers edmund happy hunting

[edmundshaw] 12/5/2006 13:46

Below the sector median was it? Glad no-one told me at the time!

Seriously, I only compared with a handful of other stocks; and as every co is somewhat different in lots of ways, I am cautious about sector comparisons in general.

Good luck yourself. And well done for picking these up under £1!

I shall keep an eye open in case this gets into bargain territory, and of course results are always a much easier read when you know the company. But right now my attention is elsewhere...

[green sand] 12/5/2006 12:36

Nice gain, edmund I enjoy anybody taking a profit. I have been in since 75p taking a nice profit along the way and still holding a fair (for me) chunk.

I slightly disagree about the 350p at which level VP is still below the sector median criteria and I think is a fair level given the predicted growth. However I must admit that I was surprised when it hit the 370s but still held. Anyhow what the hell, well done and good luck. I am looking for 330 to 340 in the not too distant, only time will tell

Good Luck

[edmundshaw] 12/5/2006 11:43

I have to say I thought 350p was getting a bit ahead of itself and bailed out for a 240% gain. 300p looks fair, and I like the company, but would probably not get back at these levels (nor sell if I held).

Good luck...

[green sand] 12/5/2006 11:04

... and still going! Anybody got any idea? Can't find any news, is it just when they have got them on the run pilr ot on?

Been in VP for a long time and intend to stay, if the story hasn't changed then this is v good value at this level. Looking to free up funds if no news forthcoming.

Good Luck

GS

[martinc] 12/5/2006 10:50

8% down seems a bit steep today...

[v11slr] 07/4/2006 07:20

Vp PLC
07 April 2006


Press Release 7 April 2006


Vp plc


('Vp' or 'the Group')


Trading Update


Vp plc, the equipment rental specialist, today issues the following trading
update in advance of its Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 March 2006,
which are to be announced on 8 June 2006.


We are pleased to report that Group trading for the year has been satisfactory
and in line with the Board's expectations. The four acquisitions made during
the financial year have been successfully integrated into the Group's activities
and further strengthen our competitiveness and market position.


The outlook for the markets within which the Group operates remains positive and
we expect that the Group will deliver another year of progress for the year
ending 31 March 2007.

[una] 23/3/2006 19:00

ive had these lot chasing me for 2 weeks, driving me mad, did anyone buy it? sounds way to good to be true.

[vernkel] 19/3/2006 00:09

Results not too far away now. Tipping and recent aquisition should give this share some more good press. Still a reasonable dividend and if they publish a positive set of results, I believe there is still a long way to go in the share price on the current valuations. They are still pretty cheap for the sector. Remember that these are very tightly held shares and any small influx of cash tends to push the price up quickly.

Best of luck to all.

[toby tots] 17/3/2006 10:55

Tipped in the IC today.

[vernkel] 08/3/2006 17:50

Nice business to be in the coming months, years...! This is such a stunning little stock. No pump and dump just a good continued business model... now thats what I like.

All the best to all!

[green sand] 08/3/2006 09:02

Acquisition of Bukom Oilfield Services for #5.7m!

No doubt that there is great growth potential in the African and South American oilfields, 0.9 pre tax at a ratio of 6.3, could be a nice little earner?

Also demonstrates the continuing intent to hunt out niche market acquisitions.

Good Luck

GS

[vernkel] 27/2/2006 11:16

Thanks for that. Still holding as seems very solid at the moment a and is ticking up a few percent here and there.

[green sand] 19/2/2006 13:11

Nice little write up by IC on Friday: -

VP Plc

A member of the LSE since 1973, specialist tool-hire business VP has a track record of positioning itself in growth areas of the equipment-rental industry.

After November's acquisition of Trax Portable Access (TPA), a supplier of portable roadway equipment, the group now has six divisions. The other five are: Airpac Oilfield Services (compressed air systems for oil and gas customers), Groundforce (excavation support systems for civil engineering, construction and utilities customers), Hire Station (rapid supply of plant, tools and other equipment to any location in the UK), Torrent Trackside (specialist plant and trackside lighting for rail infrastructure maintenance), and UK Forks (materials handling equipment).

Interim results for the six months to 30 September revealed that pre-tax profits increased to £5.5m (from £4.9m in the first half of 2005), although the group faced one-off costs of £400,000 relating to the integration of Pivotal Services Group – a safety products and training business that it bought for £4.5m in July.

That was achieved on first-half turnover up just 4 per cent to £47.4m. Revenue growth was held back at Groundforce, where a transition to a new investment planning round in the water services sector helped to reduce first-half revenues by £1.2m, and at Torrent Trackside, where revenues were lower by £700,000 largely due to the loss of a Network Rail maintenance plant contract.

Elsewhere in the group, UK Forks increased profits to £1.3m (from £0.8m in the first half of 2005) on revenues up 17 per cent. The division's order book remains strong, but the group said the seasonal nature of the market means that its second half is unlikely to be as strong as the first.

Meanwhile, Hire Station produced a revenue increase of £2.6m to £20m and produced profits of £0.9m (from a £0.3m loss in the first half of 2005).

Looking ahead, the addition of TPA – for which VP is paying up to £19.4m – introduces the group to a new sector that services the events market and the construction, telecoms, rail and power transmission industries. TPA provides portable bridging, fencing and barrier equipment that customers can install temporarily. In 2004, it produced profits of £1.2m on turnover of £6.3m and, for 2005, it is forecast to make profits in excess of £2m.

Recent acquisitions do mean that the group's net debt has increased from £5.7m at the end of September to around £20m, but net gearing of just 21 per cent means that this is manageable.

At a share price of 275p, VP trades at around 16.2 times EPS forecast for the current year and just 12.7 times next year's estimated earnings, yet these earnings are expected to grow at 31.8 per cent this year and by 27.1 per cent in 2007. This suggests the shares are undervalued, while the forecast dividend yield of 2.4 per cent (rising to 2.6 per cent in 2007) offers the prospect of a reasonable amount of income in the short-to-medium term.

[2georgie] 09/2/2006 08:23

Go for this