Member Info for NigeCo

I was a VOD shareholder for 5 years and made some good profits and great dividends along the way. I sold my holding @ 221p based on my opinion that the dividend was not sustainable at current levels, it looks like the market now agrees. I would consider buying back into VOD if or when they cut the dividend, although at the moment I see better value in BT.

Someone just dumped 7 million shares @ 173.90p.

Hi 5eightsaccount,

I don’t see a deal for ITV happening until the Vodafone and Liberty deal achieves regulatory clearance, this is expected by mid-2019. Once this deal goes through then Liberty will be in a cash strong position to make a move on ITV. I believe that they will try to manipulate the share price down through GS. I don’t see them wanting to pay no more than 220p per share. You know Maloan he wants things giving. JMHO.

The interim dividend a year ago came to 2.52p. For the full year, analysts are looking for a 5pc increase, although no one appears to have pencilled in any further special dividends, not least because net debt is now pretty much back to where it was in 2009 after a string of acquisitions and some meaty dividend payments.

CONT.....It is possible that the World Cup has given advertising revenue a bit of a lift and, if so, that would be a welcome bonus, but it is not fundamental to the investment case. Instead, this lies with the stock’s valuation, and the company’s long-term strategy and competitive position.

Besides the actual numbers, all eyes will be on the “strategic refresh” planned by Dame Carolyn McCall, the chief executive. The term implies that radical changes are unlikely; possible themes involve investment in programming and technology, which would reaffirm and deepen the firm’s commitment to content creation.

That makes sense for the long term and may increase ITV’s appeal to a potential bidder. John Malone’s Liberty Global still has a 9.9pc stake in the business and the ongoing tussle for Sky, discussed briefly below, could serve to highlight the value of ITV’s position in Britain’s broadcast market and its relatively lowly valuation.

Sky may have a firmer grip on prime content such as football and films but ITV’s content library is flourishing. And at Comcast’s offer price of £14.75 a share, Sky trades on more than 22 times forward earnings, while ITV trades on barely half that multiple and has a higher yield for good measure.

This attractive yield and valuation could reward patient support.

Questor says: hold

Ticker: ITV

Share price at close: 173.3p

Questor: at half Sky’s valuation ITV could be attractive to a bidder, so hold the shares

This column nearly got its head cut off the last time it stuck its neck out on ITV, assessing the shares just before full-year results in February led to a plunge.

It may seem foolhardy to try again, as the broadcaster’s interims are due next week, but without (carefully managed) risk there can be no reward.

Thankfully, the shares have largely recovered their lost ground, helped by May’s reassuring first-quarter statement.

Revenues rose by 5pc in the first quarter, with non-advertising sales 12pc higher, to reaffirm the value of ITV’s strategy to create and sell more programming content. Advertising revenues rose by 1pc and forecasts of a 2pc increase for the first six months of 2018 looked encouraging....

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/investing/shares/questor-share-tip-hold-itv-sky/

13% drop. Ouch.

Battling the media titans - How can players such as ITV compete with the likes of Netflix?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/comment/article-5951657/ALEX-BRUMMER-modest-players-ITV-compete-survive-grow.html

Hi H-hi, I don’t see a deal for ITV happening until the Vodafone and Liberty deal gets regulatory clearance, this is expected by mid-2019. Once this deal goes through then Liberty will be in a cash strong position to make a move on ITV. I believe that they will try to manipulate the share price down through GS. I don’t see them wanting to pay no more than 220p per share. You know Maloan he wants things giving. JMHO.

Even after the World Cup ends, ITV could be in for a dramatic year ahead, according to SocGen. Baker said the likelihood of a suitor swooping in to make a bid for the broadcaster had risen from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. Liberty Global, the American media giant which owns 10 per cent of ITV, has recently cut its own debt piles and could be in prime position.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-5926523/MARKET-REPORT-World-Cup-Love-Island-ITV-shares-lift.html

England is in the World Cup semi-final. Here’s how to profit

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/england-world-cup-semi-final-120029578.html?.tsrc=applewf

I don’t see Liberty wanting to pay any more than 220p per share for ITV. If memory serves me correctly Liberty said not at this price when the ITV share price was at 220p.

If Maloan goes ahead with asset sale to Vodafone he will have a hole burning in his pocket. However, you know Maloan he wants things giving.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/07/06/market-reportlove-island-world-cup-lift-itv-liberty-rumours/

Love Island and World Cup lift ITV as Liberty rumours swirl

World Cup broadcaster ITV topped the FTSE 100 scoreboard after City analysts argued that it has pushed past “peak pain” and speculated that shareholder Liberty Global could be circling the company.

The deteriorating advertising market sent ITV shares sliding to a five-year low in April but ITV has clawed back 27pc ahead of new boss Dame Carolyn McCall’s chance to woo investors at a strategy day 
in September.

Advertising revenue growth slumped in the run-up and aftermath of the Brexit vote amid heightened uncertainty. But “confidence has been coming back into the UK TV advertising market”, Société Générale analyst Simon Baker said, pointing to Zenith-Optimedia’s prediction of 3pc growth in 2018.

With Sky caught in a bidding war, M&A action in the sector has reached “fever pitch” and Liberty has the war chest to “launch a full-blown bid”. The US telecommunications and TV company already holds 
a 9.9pc stake and has “reduced its leverage substantially”, Baker argued.

Investor sentiment has also been lifted by ITV hosting the UK’s two summer sensations: the World Cup and Love Island, AJ Bell’s Russ Mould said. England beating Sweden tomorrow would set up a money-spinning semi-final on its flagship channel, he added. Société Générale’s double upgrade to “buy” boosted ITV well ahead of its blue-chip rivals, the broadcaster climbing 7.4p to 180.4p, a one-year high.

https://www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/news/shares/uk-stocks-winning-at-the-world-cup-just-like-england-analyst-reveals

Slownsteady, yes the ADR's were up 5.9% last night on high volume of shares traded.

expected to open @ $24.90 up $1.02 up 4.2%

It would seem a large share price move, 9.10p just on a broker buy recommendation. Maybe there is more to it? Some takeover speculation over the weekend will help push the share price further north.

In company news, ITV topped the FTSE 100 leaderboard thanks to an upbeat note from Societe Generale, which upgraded its recommendation on the shares to 'buy' with a price target of 220p. Analysts said the shares look relatively cheap and noted ITV's potential as a takeover target in light of the takeover battle for Sky.

http://www.hl.co.uk/shares/stock-market-news/market-reports/london-open-stocks-edge-higher-as-us-launches-china-tariffs

I hope TR closed his 175p ITV short. Lol

ADR's closed up 5.9%

Why has BT Group plc’s share price gained 6% in the last month?

https://investomania.co.uk/2018/07/why-has-bt-group-plcs-share-price-gained-6-in-the-last-month/