Member Info for NickRubens

Thanks borrowfunds for the up to speed state of events here. It's on my keep watch list now and I'll take note of company updates from today.

But perhaps not surprised at the share price today after many years of following Black Vodka (Blavod)which I thought was genius back in the day. Any long tern holders able to give a state of the finances here? Debt etc?

To me the SP is suggesting a fund raise will be needed and hence dilution, but I've not checked accounts yet.

Mekas "This company needs a decent rising profit to get back to where it was share price wise."

Yes, that's the tough part and for many companies with highly paid executives and staff, almost impossible and in many cases not possible hence a big industry working in administration and receivership.

I keep looking at this company but never feel confident I'd ever see a return on my money or even my money returned, but hope I'm wrong for long term investors here, and hope I'll get on board in time should I be proved wrong.

I used to own shares here what seems like decades ago until it lost it's earnings momentum. I see things haven't changed, though I do note it's risen strongly from historical lows of around 30p not too long ago.

Not one I get too interested about anymore.

"It makes you think what is the point in buying more"

It's a had a good run the last few days. The good earnings will help underpin the business. Headwinds post April won't help as with all employers and slowdown in economy ( ie NO GROWTH ). This looks like one to keep an eye on and buy any dips should the market allow as long as no bombshells emerge. You never know with this Lay about Gov.

Have looked at this on and off before and residential property looks a good bet on the face of it, but with these higher interest rates pushing up borrowing costs, this is the only reason I can think of for the shares coming down in value.

Seems to be a lack of interest here on the discussion board also of late.

Well that was a nice surprise and it's seemingly lifted all the other retailers, but I can't help thinking that more difficult times lie ahead post April budget NI and employment cost rises.

The market looks forward so may be expecting that hurdle to be tackled as it presents itself. Some relief from the recent lows and hopefully will hang on to the gains today..

Edward " It could easily dividend out its entire market cap"

Yes and I think that is the problem, it hasn't done so and doesn't pay a dividend. With a family owning 56% they have complete control . I think that's the wider problem. If they paid a dividend and perhaps also sold half of their stake to an institution then the mkt cap would improve.

The shares are like you say cheap but will they ever distribute that NAV to shareholders?

Shares looking lively today., though not the chat board? Are we going to hear something from Iraq finally?

Sorry no dividend Mr Cooper. Dividend paid to yesterdays holders, after the market closed .

RoygGa "Minimum wages and taxes and BENEFITS are the issue"

Yes a huge proportion of the population are not in work and have no intention of being so and we are importing additional public cost liabilities from all over the world as well as criminals.

It's hard to be optimistic when we know anyone with 'anything' will be and is being targeted for his/her personal wealth however little or large, via Tax and inflation.

30 years of utter political mismanagement coming to a head now.

B&M should though benefit from skint working bargain hunters post April when NI tax rise gets past on to prices.

JG68 "I've got enough already for the dividend, so no point in topping up until after."

Will be interesting to see how the market reacts in the week or so ahead now that the special dividend is paid to tonight's holders.

The joys of share ownership!

Looks a bargain really, so this is what I have been looking for and feel the market has 'given me a gift.'

Famous last words? I'm never 100% confident, but this is as close as it gets to seeing good value in real time playing out.

I was prior skeptical with April's tax rise on B&M but they claim they have the lowest operating costs in the sector and I think consumers will switch more to them post April price inflation.

Yes the gilts market is causing nerves or should I say Labour's incredible incompetence and what look like endless lies IMO, are causing the nervousness in the gilt market. A QE intervention might be on the cards?

Quiet Brave LWHL to be buying anything in this market. Even though I'm looking here myself, the state of the UK public finances and a government prepared to strip everyone of any wealth rather than cut the public sector is a big concern.

Looks like we're all going to feel Labours hands in our pockets, irrespective of what we do anyway!

The whole UK economy looks in a perilous state, and being attacked by the government as a cash cow.

Record debt, a major bank that has said they are reluctant to lend any further ( ie buy more gilts) and retailers saying they will need to pass on the NI rise. More tax rises to come in the next budget.

It's no surprise that PETS SP is reflecting all that.

Well, I sold my last lot at this price, having sold some in the mid 70's prior and wondering if I'll get to buy back lower?

But do I want to buy back lower when the reality of the state of the UK finances is starting to manifest in the gilt markets and also equity markets. Even had a major bank more or less say they don't want to lend to the UK Gov any further.

We all know there is no such thing as growth anymore in the UK economy but only growth in the continued public sector spend and growth in the tax take.

Rank will report Interims on 30th Jan and goodness knows what they will say, especially with the NI rise and min wage rise?

Unhooked, I've actually been quite impressed by the annual cost cutting over the last few years. I wish many other businesses would have done the same before simply going bust leaving shareholders worthless.

But how many more years of cost cutting can they still achieve while the print business decline continues?

On a slight positive they do have loads of brands and titles so perhaps they could be sold off in pieces to stay somewhat comfortably alive.

I thought the biggest liability prior was the pension scheme which should have been sorted following the recent interest rate hikes on gilts, though not fully kept up here as I always held it for just a short trade which luckily turned out well a few times.

Just might get caught out if I try again? Would love for this to be a longer term growth story though.

Have to wait until late March 2025 for final results and then we'll see the direction this might be going.

Will they give a trading update before then, if they have had a good period over the last couple of weeks.

Have accumulated these at higher prices and might take one or two more lots at these lower levels as I can't find anything else to buy as the macro economic climate isn't that good all round really..

The direction has been cost savings and improving digital revenue. Current Full year is meant to be in line with forecasts, but it's the subsequent years ahead the market may be a little nervous about, but has been for a few years now, so it's just a strange cheap share that seems to stay alive but with no clear growth plans perhaps?