Member Info for BlahBlahDoh

Transformation of the UK and Europe business continues, with a switch of admin supplier (for M&G Prudential) from Capita to Tata: http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/190093/capita-shares-drop-as-prudential-terminates-contract-for-uk-life-and-pensions-administration-190093.html https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/tcs-signs-690-million-deal-with-prudential-plcs-unit/articleshow/62522286.cms

Looks like today's spike to a new high was triggered by the announcement of deals with banks in Thailand and the Phillippines. Quite volatile at the moment, but North Korea's begging the South for handouts probably helped too (I mean, er, "opening dialogue"). Share price is currently 1965/1966 (lse has got muddled), and 20 is so close!

Seems like harsher critics are judging this company by questionable criteria, demanding vastly increasing profits during the most intense growth period. Any other companies out there doing that? There are numerous examples of successful companies who kept ultra low prices, even made losses, for years while they built up market presence. Aiming for maximum profitability right now would almost certainly be counterproductive, I think the company is being steered very sensibly, maintaining a level of profitability balanced against an impressive growth rate. Its a trick many companies fail to pull off. The future profitability rate is very likely to improve dramatically, even if the timing is uncertain, provided the management ignores siren voices and sticks to its own judgement. To expect the p/e to be slashed to around 20 in just a couple of years seems unconvincing to me, it doesn't seem like realistic market behaviour where very strong growth is clearly visible. Surely the growth figures are far more relevant than profitability at this stage, so why adopt a skewed focus?

https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/london-mayor-rips-planning-rules-makes-way-high-density-housing/

Hope G4M are doing well in the (extended) Black Friday sales: https://www.gear4music.com/black-friday Trading statement in early January?

Hope G4M are doing well in the (extended) Black Friday sales: https://www.gear4music.com/black-friday Trading statement in early January?

Are you predicting a financial crisis in China then? If so, that would surely affect the entire market, and indeed markets worldwide. Are Prudential at more risk than anyone else from this threat, and is there any way of avoiding it other than withdrawing from the market?

Yes, various concerns over Asia have held back the share price for years, that's possibly the main reason they are undervalued, but Pru keep outperforming there, and doing rather well outside Asia too. A few weeks ago it was North Korea, before that Chinese capital controls, before that the Chinese property bubble. There are risks in any investment, it's sensible to be aware of them, evaluate them as best we can, factor them in, and make informed decisions.

Broker Rating Target Previous Target Numis Add 861 813 Credit Suisse Neutral 790 700 Societe General Sell 643 565 Bryan Garnier Buy 860 830 It's noticeable how analysts who are consistently wrong, time and time again, utterly refuse to admit it, or to adjust their obviously failed evaluation methods. Presumably they have some agenda other than accuracy.

Share price surges past �8 and effectively re-rated, just as Maddox predicted 4 months ago when it was at �6.77. Sage now in good shape under excellent management: feels the start of a new chapter in the Sage story.

Plenty of profit takers as Pru surged over �19 for the first time yesterday. Never criticise someone cashing a profit, but surely this has much further to go based on earnings, proven management, sustained dividend growth and extremely bullish outlook. Most analysts have a target well over 20.

"Sage Group kept revenue growth and margins above their annual target and said the launch of its Business Cloud software suite would enable it to "accelerate momentum" in 2018. Two years after setting out a plan to transform the business, chief executive Stephen Kelly said 2017 marked the completion of this metamorphosis. " 9.0% increase in the full year dividend to 15.42p http://www.lse.co.uk/share-sharecast-news.asp?shareprice=SGE&ArticleCode=26734368&ArticleHeadline=Sage_completes_cloud_transformation_and_promises_2018_acceleration

"While analysts were hoping for an update on a mooted sale of Prudential's legacy book of UK annuity business, Wells said no decision had yet been reached, but should the insurer sell some or all of it, excess capital would be returned to shareholders." http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareNews.asp?shareprice=PRU&code=03j7qgon&headline=UPDATE_3Prudential_seeks_larger_slice_of_life_in_China_as_Asia_drives_profit

Seems Orangetree was right and I was very wrong: over the last month the price has suddenly reverted to fundamentals rather than looking to the long term story as it had been for months. The price drop is reasonable, hard to argue the share is worth more right now, but I thought holders were pricing in expected growth and looking much further ahead. Can't see any reason for the abrupt change of sentiment other than a quiet news period (this board has been noticeably quiet).

"Barclays raises Sage to "equal weight", saying that after a year of underperformance, having been solidly following the transition plan, co could revive market expectations" So the confirmed and reconfirmed guidance of at least 6% growth is underperformance? You have to wonder what the analysts are puffing on sometimes, perhaps a herb other than sage? Perhaps they should look at their own performance: share price was up 14.4% over that year while they were advising against. Don't see how a "revival of market expectations" is relevant when the market has been fine - perhaps they mean a re-rating as the successful transformation approaches fruition? If so, "equal weight" doesn't seem adequate.

I got in on the slapstick dip yesterday. Looks like good timing, but I've actually been following the share since it was �1.80, so doh! My view is that the price has got ahead of itself, but there probably won't be many better opportunities to buy because it has such a strong story, and the underlying position is moving rapidly. So I finally bit the bullet. I like the fact that the founder is a musician. I actually bought from the company as a consumer about 10 years ago, and it was a great experience. Very surprised to come across them again as a listed company. Seems to be a long period of successful development, and every reason to hope it will continue under intelligent leadership.

No I'm not. I'm merely suggesting that Apple are complacently failing to even try to prevent potential advantages falling into the hands of the Chinese government, which completely controls their most important market and would dearly love to see it dominated by a Chinese firm. Buying obsolete IP would not help that aim, and even if you don't see any potential problems for Apple, that doesn't seem to be a credible description of what is actually happening here.

Morgan Stanley reiterated it's "Overweight" rating on Prudential yesterday and raised its' target price to 2166p http://www.iii.co.uk/stockmarketwire/453389/broker-forecast-morgan-stanley-issues-broker-note-prudential-plc I've been overweight on Pru for a while, and getting fatter. If we hit �20 I'll be borderline obese.

Is there any evidence that Apple are not using IMG patented technology in their phones, old or new? They certainly haven't produced any when challenged. I would have thought the opposite is more likely. Describing IMG GPU technology as "obsolete" seems like claptrap. IMG also have various other ongoing IP developments which will probably be exploited like never before, under Chinese ownership. Apple has a growing dependence on the Chinese market and are potentially sleepwalking into a nightmare. A company backed by the Chinese government won't care a flying fig about Apple's cash pile, and if they want to boost their own phone makers (as they clearly do, evidenced by this deal) then the opportunity to take on Apple in court, if there is any case to answer whatsoever, seems like a gift. I still don't think Apple will bid, but I suspect they may bitterly regret that decision in the long term, one way or another.

As I understand it, they are bonds issued by the company which they have decided to buy back. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_bond This could indicate an improvement in the companies finances which makes the borrowing no longer necessary, or possibly it is anticipating a relaxation in regulation. On the face of it, it saves the company 65 million dollars p.a. in interest payments.