Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/german-power-plant-halted-after-it-runs-out-coal
Completely agree SI. Loads of us have been waiting patiently on this one for months and we're heading towards show time! Fundamentals that got a lot of us to put our money in this remain the same.
SP looks (so far) to be holding up OK amidst the wider carnage this morning. Never know, today could see us through and above the 3.60 mark finally. Either way, I'm going nowhere on this company. GLA
Does anyone happen to hold these shares with AJ Bell? For me, it's impossible to know what's going on. Price goes up, holding value according to AJB goes down and vice versa - doesn't reflect the position at all! Doesn't seem to happen with any other holdings within my p/folio.....
I moved from HL to AJ Bell and whilst it is a bit cheaper, the service isn't as good. They are slowly developing the platform (live pricing etc) - that side is quite good and they're usually pretty good with crediting divi's, but it can take up to a month to get a response to a query and it's been like this for a while - it's not like it's a one off thing.
Agreed. What happened last year was the initial grades - being harsher marked drove applications to the mid to lower ranked uni's. When it was reversed to teacher assessment and grades were improved, they then moved away from the mid/ lower ranked institutions in droves and traded up. Unite focus on Russell Group cities or those locations with more than one university, so they're well placed.
UCAS figures out today for January deadline applications, show an 8% YoY increase. The 18 YO upward demographic through to 2030 was well known, but looks like the pandemic/ job market is accelerating it. GLA
Set up notifications on here (they're free). https://www.dividendmax.com/
It'll let you know when divi's are announced and how much you'll get based upon the number of shares you hold.
Unlike other operators in the sector (e.g. UNITE), WJG generally don't own the PBSA properties they manage. They forward fund, build and then operate on behalf of the owner - who will take the lion's share of any income hit. Where they will be affected is on their management fees, which are often linked to NOI. Lower income, lower NOI but it'll be much less severe than the hit taken by the owners. Their model is pretty insulated unlike owner operators.
Thanks Maddox
Universities have until the end of June to clarify their 'offer' for 20/21 and most are understandably holding back from announcing until the last minute to see what changes. UK Visa offices in the main markets have re-opened, so that removes one blockage that could have been an issue and the number of institutions that are accepting online English language testing to prove capability is increasing day by day.
International Students still want to come (in fact interest in the UK is higher than ever - see below), and don't seem to be put off by the prospect of quarantine on arrival, although I can't see that being in place by then. If it is, institutions and PBSA providers are putting in place discounted/ free rents for that period and practical support as necessary.
Also got to remember the geopolitical situation. The main alternative markets - the US and Aus are currently locked in disputes with China and in the case of the US especially, they have significant domestic issues that will drive students elsewhere. If BJ can keep out of the spat that US and Aus are having , the UK should do OK this year, so long as there is some face to face campus provision. Lectures are out, but seminars and tutorials likely to be face to face. Ignore the sensationalist reporting on Cambridge a couple of weeks ago - students will be on the ground there, too.
I've worked in International Education and Student Accommodation for 25 years and whilst no-one in the sector is saying international numbers won't be lower this year, the domestic pipeline is strong due to a rising 18 year old demographic and the higher ranked institutions (around which UTG focused their strategy a few years ago), should still do well.
DYOR of course, but long term, this is a strong hold for me.
#boycottASOS is trending on twitter. Something to do with making 70 x delivery drivers redundant...
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/boycottasos-for-workers-rights?source=direct_link&
UTG have announced today that students who have left their buildings due to Covid, will not be held to their remaining rental payments for the 19/20 academic year. Many Universities advising their students to return home where possible and given UTG has forward commitments for 50%+ of their beds through these Univs, they'll have been under pressure to be flexible. It'll be a hard year for them w. reduced income, but when this is all over they're still fundamentally a strong business and the market leader. Bit of a steal at these prices if you're in long term IMO.