Member Info for driftking27

On positive side, STS.L that I also own has BATS as a 7.9% holding to the trust.

As BATS is StS top holding, I had to comment here.

BATS is going through stellar returns from 2025.

It’s Dividend payout ratio is biggest concern versus the FTSE average. BATS ratio is 170%, and concerns raised with a couple of brokers that a sharp rerating is close, to having a haircut to it.

Rightly so, as cigarettes are not bought like they once were, abd yes I have been to USA last yr and noticed even vaping was less than it is here, nor did I see any bales strewn on pavements there like here.

MS released a revised SPT of 3050p, YES 3050p on 1st Jan I saw.

That’s a sharp decline!

While PM has their SPT raised ..,

But it’s about the dividend payout being wrong.

Could be Inman for a sudden shock. A shock that I know / knew would be talked about…

Payout is massive, needs scaled back. Just like that of IMB

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/thinking-investing-stock-market-keep-081600097.html

Of by 2% at open, and IMB is holding ..hmmm

Is this not only the ex - dividend after feeling, but MS downgrade…

Since investing like so SINCE 2003, ‘…drip feeding ‘, using £10,000 since 2007 has a value now of £247k today plus dividends from that..

So, never sell, just add to and average down if needs be

GLA

You will see a BOTTOM in 2026.

You buy when people are selling, sell when people are buying that’s the knack you have to follow.

Drip feed in money I’m not in one full swing.

Though, like tobacco, alcohol is becoming less of a go to place due to rise in health conscious ppl now adays.

I still have mine from 2007, and another two tranches in 2018 & 2024.

Just keep adding you’ll be fine…

It’s not going busy anytime soon

Knife to point, what’s MS’s thinking of 3100p on BATS target.

Is the debt to equity as bad as it looks 170% payout. Biggest in FTSE. Compare that to RIO’s at 65% payout.

Divi has to be cut based on current growth.

Similar things happened at IMB I’m all too aware of that.

Think MS have got mixed up with IMB target!

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/morgan-stanley-jefferies-split-british-083040891.html

To add salt to Buffets bad moves in the short term, for whatever he’s doing with it, he bought a tiny stake in DEO / DGE first quarter 2024 think in January $135-140.

Currently at $88.

The last 4 -5yrs Buffets trades have bewildered me; selling the pharma / banks to say there too expensive, to selling Apple stake too.

But now he has officially retired, whom would be the next old investor to follow? SOROS , ACKMAN / Icahn ??

Good luck to those who have high hopes with BP.

After the catastrophic plummet to below 350p, I think we’re due to go below 400p again.

The dividend needs addressed like tomorrow.

A simple haircut would solve all the problems with the mountain of debt £26bn to be exact.

Dave Lewis did wonders to fix TESCO, he’s now at DGE and looks a dead certain he will possibly cut if not suspend dividend to help growth and cut debt.

These guys at BP are only there to get pay packet.

It’s a joke.

I have owned BP since 2004, added CVX / OXY / XOM in 2019-2020.

Imp have had a great turnaround and so have BATS.

I owned IMP, but jumped to BATS as Imp just don’t have the future growth potential compared to PM & BATS

Current P/E sits at 13 times, not 20

I’m with you on haircut with dividend.

If we all remember for those whom had TESCO shared, he suspended dividend, for I’m sure, 2yrs +.

Look where Tesco r now

Just home from Florida, competing in an Ironman 70.3 competition there recently.

While I was there went to Walmart & Costco.

I noticed each week I was there, and talked to people about trends with buying Grocceries, more so spirits, they opted for Mexican rum, American bourbon Knob Creek popular one ( bought a 1.75 lt for $62 inc taxes, whiskies Glenmorangie there but when I asked at Liquor she did say that not many buy British spirits from her record at counter, mainly US & Mexican liquor.

I still see many lines struggling.

Next yr might hopefully s€€ a bottom 1200p.

Divi is safe upto 5% I think …

It needs a new range to bring DGE to life.

This generation now are all about looking after there health and not getting far more so. Said this for years since 2021

Oh, don’t forget HARIBO, gummies are massive, DGE should think of something like alcommies lol

But not any different from current direction.

STS has always lagged, as it’s always been at a discount to NAV

They highlighted new holdings in Nike and Sysco, funded through the sale of Medtronic and Hershey, and said recent volatility had enabled investment at more attractive entry points.

The trust's NAV return over one and three years stood at 8.7% and 19.3%, respectively, against 10.4% and 34.8% for the benchmark.

Looking ahead, the board expects further market uncertainty, citing inflation, interest rate risks and geopolitical tensions, but believes the trust is well positioned.

Harvey said the portfolio's orientation toward income and capital preservation "is designed to perform in a less exuberant market environment" and that investors anticipating greater dispersion of returns "may be better served by a strategy grounded in income and capital preservation".

Does anyone think the divi could be raised much again for ‘26?

2025 is 40.6p

2026 if at same rate of increases could be 43.5p?

I agree ECKIE8.

High dividends are false value traps.

I agree. Dividend is struggling to be covered at a payout of 147% is got future problems if 2026 does not show growth in new ideas

As for PM, they seem to be bellweather

P.S. I’m now a BATS holder having sold IMB.

This is what I use

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/LEGAL-GENERAL-PLC-4002140/finances/

Based on earnings it’s NOT cheap. Estimates are for EOS to be 21p. They have to use debt to cover dividend payout, abd for growth of 2% for next few years, that does not scream cheap!

It’s cheap due to issues deep within.