Roundtable Discussion; The Future of Mineral Sands. Watch the video here.
So the 'gallop' appears to have slowed to a 'canter' but things still appear to be heading in the right direction. I'm quite surprised that there hasn't been a mean positive reaction to this morning's encouraging update.
Arrived on Saturday, a massive 86 pages of it but well worth the read as it contains so much incisive information on the company businesses. Exciting times look to lie ahead so really pleased to have built a useful holding and have every intention of staying for the ride. Well done to all those at ELCO who've achieved such a miraculous turnaround during the past five years.
Just announced as next Monday (27th), three weeks earlier than last year's date (18th April). As a believer in the maxim 'good news travels fast', I'll be awaiting next Monday's news with everything crossed. Time will tell!
Buyers around today which nudged the sp up. I'm not surprised as they, like me, may be anticipating that the annual results announcement is likely to impress. I can't understand why it has taken so long for the penny to drop.
The new 48 years old FD (due to start on 20 Feb) looks to be a good fit. The company certainly didn't waste much time in finding a suitable replacement. [http://uk.advfn.com/stock-market/london/eleco-ELCO/share-news/Elecosoft-PLC-Directorate-Appointment/73720239]
Have now seen finnCap's update: yr Dec '16 - pbt £1.7m with eps 1.7p; yr Dec '17 - pbt £2.2m with eps 2.1p. I feel both forecasts are understandably on the conservative side as I personally think last year's ICON acquisition, with a fair wind, could dramatically enhance ELCO's already substantial growth prospects.
Pleasantly surprised to see this burst of buys as I thought the bullish effect of Friday's RNS trading update had run its course seeing there was a lot of profit-taking yesterday a.m. Has there been a tip somewhere? It's been reported elsewhere that the company's broker (finnCap) issued a revised forecast on Friday, apparently, with a new target price of 40.0p. No other detail given (profit/eps etc) unfortunately so don't know how that compares with the 'Options' 2.76p requirement for year ending 2018.
Couldn't ask for better than that. [significantly ahead of market expectations]; seeing as the October 'Options' RNS, setting a target of 2.76p eps for the year ending December 2018, didn't appear to be believed by the market, perhaps this update will to be more convincing. Worth remembering, of course, that the divi then would then would be at least 0.7p. Needles to say I'll be staying put.
Now that the company appears to be in a stronger both financial and trading situation, will they issue a trading update shortly (as was the norm back in their profitable past)? Until the market sees such, I can't see the sp making any further progress. That said, for no obvious reason, buyers have been nibbling over the past couple of days ..... current online quote is 30.0p for 10k whereas at the beginning of this week it was 28.5p.
A frenzied days trading yesterday (by ELCO's standard). Is this a sign that the market has finally woken-up to the potential available for the company following the recent ICON acquisition. I won't be holding my breath, however, until yesterday's trading (and price rise) has been consolidated next week. I'll not be too disappointed if it doesn't happen tho' as I'd like to tuck a few more away sub 30p.
I'm amazed that since the issue of such a revealing RNS, there have been more sales marked than buys. What do investors need before investing these days? In the present uncertain economic climate any kind of profit increase is an achievement ..... isn't the possibility of a two-year compound growth of 40% each year worth taking a chance?
If the company is to be believed, they are aiming for earnings of at least 2.76p for year 2018 as well as a turnover of at least £21.4m. At that rate, this must qualify as one of the most undervalued company's on AIM. Come on investors, time to discover this little gem.
http://iconsystem.co.uk/industry-forum/ there is a short video featuring ICON clients Asda, Sainsburys and Waitrose all voicing accolades for the companies money-saving software [borrowed from another BB]. Three or four hefty (comparatively) sales easily absorbed today as buyers held sway, understandably imo. If the sp breaks through the 30p barrier, who knows where it'll settle.
Acquired a small SaaS company - ICON - which, on the bare facts given in the announcement, looks as tho' it could turn out to be an astute, complementary buy: http://irpages2.equitystory.com/websites/rns_news/English/1100/news-tool---rns---eqs-group.html?article=25088523&company=eleco
It's hard to believe that a bare two months ago sellers were dumping stock left, right and centre with hardly a buyer to be seen. The boot's firmly on the other foot now and, with a scarcity of tightly-held stock, any small amount of buying is forcing the sp up disproportionately. With more buyers lurking in the wings (apparently), I can't see the situation changing in the short term. Long may it continue!
Plenty of positive press coverage since the interim announcement but not being reflected in investor interest ..... difficulty in getting hold (in quantity) of tightly-held stock? The consensus is for eps of 1.3p for 2016 (personally think that's being a tad cautious) which would allow a total dividend for the year of 0.3p, yielding 1.07% with an undemanding p.e. (at current sp) of 21.5. Quite some turnaround since the dark days (7.5p) of 2013.
Released this morning: http://uk.advfn.com/stock-market/london/eleco-ELCO/share-news/Elecosoft-PLC-Interim-Results/72487782 Further progress has been achieved since year-end and ELCO's chairman confident that this can be maintained for the rest of their financial year. A small divi declared (0.15p) which should be at least repeated cum the year-end - aiming for four times cover by earnings. A just reward for those brave enough (foolish!) to have stayed with the company through all the traumas over the last three years.