Member Info for MarkBellUK

Please use the sharing tools found via the email icon at the top of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/e98b390c-16d6-11e8-9376-4a6390addb44 Barratt Developments posts record H1 profit on strong demand Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Mail Save Save to myFT Aime Williams in London 57 MINUTES AGO Barratt Developments, the UK�s largest housebuilder, posted record first-half profit as demand for newly-built homes across the country remained high. Barratt said it had pushed up pre-tax profit by 6.8 per cent year on year to �342.7m in the six months to December and grown revenue by 9.5 per cent to �1.99bn, up from �1.8bn a year ago. As of February 18 total forward sales were up 2 per cent on the previous year at �2.4bn. Wholly-owned forward sales � which exclude joint ventures � were up 4 per cent at �2.7bn. The group bought land worth �641.2m in the six months to December, compared to �328.2m in the same period a year prior. In December, when the builder reported some metrics for the half-year period, it said total completions of new homes had increased by 2 per cent year on year 7,324. Average selling prices across its developments were up 6.5 per cent at �281,000. David Thomas, chief executive, said: �With good consumer demand, a healthy forward order book and a robust balance sheet, overall we have had a strong first half and we continue to deliver against our operational and financial objectives.�

Yes it must have been somewhere but I use the diaries on LSE, the times and digital look..no mention on any of them!!

Was this a scheduled trading statement as I cant find it any financial calendar?

UBS have just raised MCRO to BUY from HOLD target price 2600

PS The order book just reversed so we may have bottomed "Famous last words"

Exactly why I'm here M2P! Although as usual I jumped in too early!

Reduces to Add from Buy BUT just raised target price to 2980

You need to appreciate this is not a standard set of results. This is a company in the midst of a massive takeover to expand business and wipe out competition. Debt was always going to be up as was the operating margin being down. This is where Microfocus will tighten up and all the gains are

Seems like a good level to top up I just bought in the pre market auction @ 2365. I had bid 2430 so lucky for me it crossed below! Looks like another market overreaction to me. Forecast EPS is 2.09

Barclays put an overweight rating with a target of 920

>This didn't show up on Digitallook at all. Digital look will only cover transactions on the LSE. IWeb could have sourced the stock on another index like Chi-X or BATS and even from their own stock

Ive been out of the game with FGP for some time. Can anyone be kind enough to share any updates on the dividend situation, if there is any? thanks

0736 *LIBERUM RAISES FIRSTGROUP PRICE TARGET TO 165 (150) PENCE - 'BUY'

I think that given the decent results (23% Profit Before Tax inc) BUT given their history of big dividends people expected at least some dividend sugar. The strange scenario now is that we have two main broker reiterating their BUYs with a target of 150. I expected a reduce or hold or even sell Thankfully i got out at 147.3 but really wish I had rebought at -7%, especially considering I just put a whack on TW. which proceeded to go down another 3% Doh Theres a big 870K trade BUY just come in (FGP) at post market auction but you can never tell. From past performance I'd say this may peak again about 153 then settle back to 150 unless brokers reduced there ratings. Tomorrow is a key day we may see more runs off before it picks back up. Who knows!

2.45% 2017 3.49% 2018

Im pretty certain results will be good. Every analyst forecast is a decent increase and NET & revenue. Even if the numbers are flat in constant currency they will show a 12% increase to the rate drop of $ to £ very last years figures. Not sure if they will introduce a dividend although motley fool seems to think so: "Is FirstGroup plc the fastest growing dividend stock in the world?" http://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2016/11/15/is-firstgroup-plc-the-fastest-growing-dividend-stock-in-the-world/ Also its not been a disaster share since at least Feb..even Stockopedia defines this now as a "super stock" (top rating) and it made investors chronicles top value shares last month PE is 11/14 PB 1.11/2.26 (2rd value is sector average) forecast dividend of 2.11%..sales growth 5.07% at this year interim etc

Looking at the interim and TTM Im guessing they will. The question is what % will be deemed "ok"?

The most resilient stock in the "all-share"! It's like a tank just grinding out slow positives day after day ..even in the face of adversity! FTSE 250 was down 1.33% and it was still +.21%!

I suspected its just a fire sale people panicking to get their profit out. I cant find any news indicating any untoward! Great time to buy IMHO

Which do you use?