BEST OF THE BROKERS March 14, 2010 HOME RETAIL GROUP Charles Stanley said the group’s fourth quarter trading update covering the eight weeks to 27 February was mixed. Trading was impacted by poor weather in January, but the impact on profits has been limited as the period is traditionally a low volume one. The broker remains cautious especially over the growing threat [...]
Wetherspoon dividend back as profit rises March 11, 2010 PUB chain Wetherspoon announced the end of a year-long dividend freeze yesterday after successfully completing its debt refinancing. Shareholders will receive a 12p dividend on 1 April for the year to July 2009 with a further special dividend of 7p a share. Last year it scrapped its dividend payment as it negotiated its refinancing. It [...]
JD Wetherspoon restores dividend after record profit March 11, 2010 PUB chain Wetherspoon today announced the end of a year-long dividend freeze after successfully completing its debt refinancing. Shareholders will receive a 12p dividend on 1 April for the year to July 2009 with a further special dividend of 7p a share. Last year it scrapped its dividend payment as negotiated its refinancing. It has [...]
THE TIPSTER March 10, 2010 HOMEBUILDER Barratt Homes is proving an interesting punt at the moment after speculation that rival Persimmon is mounting a bid of 170p per share. Barratt would make an interesting purchase as it is trading at a significant discount to its net asset value and has a large bank of land. ETX Capital is quoting 122.21p-122.79p. [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS February 10, 2010 RIGHTMOVE Collins Stewart thinks that consensus forecasts for FY10 are materially too low. It sets a target price of 690p – well above the current share price of 566p. It expects earnings per share forecasts to increase ten per cent to 30p. Valuation based on long term potential remains unchanged, and the broker advises “buy”. [...]
Greene King warns of a difficult year ahead but eyes food market January 27, 2010 GREENE KING may have managed to weather the worst of January’s snow storms, but the integrated pub and brewery giant expects the rest of 2010 to prove even tougher. For the 38 weeks to 24 January 2010, the Suffolk-based pub chain yesterday reported an overall 4.3 per cent growth in sales, despite a three week [...]
Greene King ‘weathering well’ January 26, 2010 GREENE King (GNK) may have managed to weather the worst of January’s snow storms, but the integrated pub and brewery giant expects the rest of 2010 to prove even tougher. During the 38 weeks ending 24 January 2010, the Suffolk based pub chain reported a 4.3 per cent growth in sales, despite a three week [...]
JD Wetherspoon’s sales take a tumble due to cold weather January 20, 2010 PUBS group JD Wetherspoon yesterday reported a decline in second-quarter like-for-like sales as a prolonged outbreak of snow across Britain kept drinkers at home. The company, which has 744 pubs, said sales at pubs open for more than a year fell by 0.3 per cent in the 12 weeks to 17 January, with the last [...]
Wetherspoon to create 10,000 jobs by opening 250 new outlets December 1, 2009 PUBS chain JD Wetherspoon is to create 10,000 jobs over the next five years with the opening of 250 new pubs. The business, which currently employs 21,000 people and has 743 pubs across the UK, is investing £250m in the new outlets. Openings are planned in cities such as Sheffield, Newcastle and Liverpool, with the [...]
JD Wetherspoon shares lift on investors’ dividend hopes November 4, 2009 JD Wetherspoon’S shares climbed yesterday after the pubs group said it expects to complete a refinancing of its debt by March next year, raising hopes it will resume dividend payments and overshadowing a slowing in the rate of its sales growth. The group’s shares lifted by almost three per cent to 477.7p by the close. [...]