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The best bit about ONT is not only do they have the most promising gene sequencing tech but they also have a monopoly on the consumables required to use it, unlike their competitors. It’s a bit like inventing the DVD player and having a monopoly on selling all DVDs. While the accuracy is not the best, it is now good enough and the other advantages of the technology - cost, speed, ease of start up, training, logistics means widespread industrial adoption is now feasible. Applications are almost endless, disease diagnosis, screening, inherited conditions, veterinary, plant and animal farming, security, forensics and many others. Accessible and cost effective gene sequencing is an enabling technology that will permit huge expansion in genomics services, which could solve many of humanities problems and potentially have a greater impact on humanity than the internet.
Agree the timing of sales of holdings has been so bad over the past year has been so bad it almost looks deliberate. I intend to hold until Nanopore goes public. The Nanopore stake is worth more than the market cap in my opinion. If it lists on the Nasdaq it's easily a $10+ billion company.
AAF free float is pretty small so SP is quite volatile. looks like some panic profit taking after recent sharp rise has moved the price. Oil price steady and no big news out of Nigeria so investment case little change. Holdings RNS likely due soon.
£3 sounds pie in the sky but certainly not expensive at £1 given the strong revenue growth during COVID and growth potential from 5g, cable, mobile money & data. The big risk is the Nigerian economy - the government could use Telcos as a piggy bank to raid if oil revenues don't recover. Dunno what coupon AAF paying on the loan but sale & leaseback of towers may be a smart move given rich valuation of infra assets at present
Seems like a promising company, but the founders own over 75% of the shares, they are at liberty to do whatever they like e.g. award generous share options to themselves which will not benefit ordinary shareholders. Don't think the price will move much till they sell down their stake - ideally to some reputable institutions.
Went to my local Halfords yesterday and they had zero adult bikes on display. The staff were busily assembling more. A handful of e-bikes and a couple of kids ones were left. They were also sold out of the 500 quid E-scooters every man and his dog seem to zip around on at the mo. Traffic levels seem to be returning to normal so the motoring sales should bounce back.
I'm bullish on Halfords, the shares have been hated for years but now seem to have several factors in favour.
1. Government incentives and investment in cycling, e.g. vouchers and cycle lanes.
2. People and kids using bikes to exercise and commute, given the risks of public transport, gyms and team sports.
3. Staycation trend, money being spent on bikes, roof boxes, bike racks etc rather than foreign holidays
4. Large stores that easily allow social distancing.
5. Anticipated legalisation of E-scooters
6. People moving to rural areas or suburbs need more cars, accessories, parts & servicing.
7. Recession would mean cars kept for longer requiring parts & servicing. Older cars more likely to use non main dealer servicing.
8. Business rates relief, anticipated jobs retention and consumer incentives.
9. Exercise at home trend boosting sales of turbo trainers
10. After selling cycle republic Halfords (LON:HFD) now focuses on the low and mid price brackets for bikes which should hold up better in recession.
I reckon management are deliberately avoiding sounding bullish so they don't attract unwanted attention while benefitting from government relief and incentive schemes. Constant queues outside every store tell a different story.
'We didn't know what was going on, how terrible, nothing to do with us etc' predictable well worn explanation.
The illegal sweatshops are sub contracted and thus kept at arms distance. Any sign of trouble and the small sub contracting company vanishes, everyone knows what's been going on, it won't wash.
As the papers say, the illegal sweatshop exploitation was an open secret but was ignored cos to tackle it would not benefit anyone in the UK. Most of the workers are illegal so would have to be deported at huge expense and domestic manufacturing and retail decimated with loss of jobs and tax receipts. As with so many social issues, coronavirus has changed the equation.
Front page news on Sunday times, Priti Patel has tasked the NCA (who recently busted loadsa hard core organised criminals). Matt Han**** acknowledged Leicester sweatshop problem on Marr show. Just hope I can get my leveraged short on early enough. 30% down at least next week.
Boohoo (and other fast fashion chains) have gotten away with exploiting modern slavery in Britain for years. The game is up. Margins and the business model are unsustainable. The valuation was already stretched anyway. This is our Wirecard.