Member Info for Ballantyne

Love this Charlie Munger quote ‘Show me the incentive and I’ll show you the outcome’ - well with the recent announcement re CEO shared he certainly has plenty of incentive to turn this around!! Let’s just hope he can do it!

Copy and paste it into Chat GPT then ask the questions you want answered - much simpler way!

Let’s hope it gets more people converted to coach!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/national-express_iykyg-activity-7214933391194947584-lmkg?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Good to see the PR team are on it with announcing the new wins to build reputation as look to sell off! There was also some great coverage of National Express providing more and more coaches for Glastonbury….again helps to drive awareness with limited costs! HY results are going to be interesting to see!

There are lots of third party apps that provide bus information (for example, city mapper) but why would they need to develop if Google does this for them - and has the deep pockets to fund. Instead they are focused on how tech and investments can make more sustainable and safer with the introduction of new AI tech (listen to the podcast link shared).

I have no issues with them not having an app for buses, we all have lots of apps on our phones that never get used and if Google does this job then no need to build another one.

Just my perspective….my main concern is that I was in Leamington Spa a month or so back and every NXWM bus I saw had less than 3 people on it!

Just found this - CEO of WedriveU has been interviewed on a podcast called Transport Unplugged! Haven’t had chance to listen yet but could shed some light into how they are fairing….

🎙️🚍🚐 WeDriveU's CEO Erick Van Wagenen is on the new episode of Transit Unplugged talking with our friend Paul Comfort about our growth, rebranding National Express Transit, and innovations that make transportation contracting so appealing for transit agencies, universities and employers. From EVs to best practices, Paul packs a lot into their conversation on his award-winning podcast.

Found it on Spotify and will listen when get chance over the weekend - https://open.spotify.com/show/4bamX20yCJNFG0QaudNTNT?si=lEpNNp5JR9C7YAcD8e7Ztg

Bagged another 5000 shares so with my previous form this will head to lower lows today, so if you’re about to pull the trigger wait until the end of the day!!

The recent acquisition of Grupo recently for around 80m Euros and the other smaller acquisition of the transport services provider in Portugal is where I’m beginning to question what is going on behind the scenes! Both sit in ALSA and clearly the Cosmens made a case for these explaining how they are the growth engine so should be allowed to continue. This capital allocation is not what the market wants to see given (similar to the dividend issue) and is jeopardizing the wider business given how paying down debt should be the priority!

I’m in deep here as well and been averaging down but I’m in over a quid, and these drops are just painful. Although less so that a 4% drop today is significantly less at today’s price compared to 2 years ago!

Good luck all - I will be holding and wish I had the conviction not to continually check the share price multiple times a day!!

Another ridiculous wage increase!!

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2024/may/unite-seals-hefty-pay-rise-for-north-east-national-express-drivers

Hopefully a decent appointment to sort out the German Rail issues!

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mobico-group-plc_we-are-pleased-to-announce-dr-michael-hetzer-activity-7196509277887315971-St0m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

That’s the way I see it and will continue to add when receive each pay check. In a fortunate position that I don’t need to selll so if it takes an extra year to recover so be it, but you never know. Everytime I think it can’t drop, it does!

Good memory - and yes been in and held since Covid days. New to investing so never trimmed when was up and now well down with an average of about 1.20, but I can still see how this can turnaround in the next few years. Been painful watching as bought in at times when I thought was a bargain during the drop (1.70 and 1.20). Agree that removing both at the same time would not be wise so now time for Garat to deliver on the financials!

Well a poor CFO was a big part of this - and now we’ve had a change, I can see a brighter future as long as she delivers.

Few thoughts on Garat - yes, share price has tanked during this tenure. However, they have consistently been winning more contracts and those contracts have been implemented well (exception of German rail but that’s a different reason), they continue to win awards for being a great employer, put in a lot of cost reduction initiatives that are now coming to fruitition and have continued on various acquisitions…and most importantly, he has made changes to underperforming leadership in US and UK (along with CFO).

I still think we have a good future as contracts are renegotiated, new contracts won and we see the benefits of price increases filter through! Time will tell and I’m well underwater too so would like some upward movement to make me feel more comfortable!

Can someone explain how this continues to sink given everyone selling now must be making a loss!!?? Just can’t understand how it continues to fall…the only positive that keeps me sane is the Cosmen purchases recently as clearly they see value and potential!

Good news from the horse’s mouth…cam’t all be that bad behind the scenes, so staying patient for the SP recovery (although been waiting over a year now so patience wearing thin)

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/news/national-express-is-first-to-trial-brand-new-gte14-electric-coach-from-yutong

Didn’t see someone had posted earlier…but in other news!

https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2023/11/29/charlotte-transit-cats-national-express-bus.html

Interesting acquisition posted on LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mobico-group-plc_portuguesetravel-agencyibercruises-has-activity-7135570593726230528-a9_N?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Check out the share price tools on their website....so now we know what the IR team spend their time and money on!

https://www.mobicogroup.com/investors/shareholder-centre/share-price-tools/

This is brutally painful to watch - given we wont hear any news for several months this is going to drift lower and lower. I'll also be writing to IR later and keep you posted as the BoD need to take action as a priority. Confidence is low in their abilities (not the business potential) and it's showing by the never ending decline!

I’ll be taking the dividend, using it to max out Lifetime ISA, get the 25% bonus, and then buying more…remaining very positive here and need positive trading updates/big wins to get this heading north!