Member Info for Qd22

Nice timing! Definitely one for the casual "By the way..." to the wife!

Great update this morning, and the usual restrained BB...

"The Group has achieved a year of outstanding growth with revenue up 43% to £19.5m* (2018: £13.7m) and consequently the Board expects that the performance for the year, including profit before tax, will be comfortably ahead of management's expectations.

The Group's diversification into financial services delivered significant revenue growth of 148% in 2019...

The Group continues to operate from a sound financial platform and is highly cash generative. Net debt as at 31 December 2019 had reduced significantly to £6.9m* (2018: 9.6m)."

That was very useful, thank you for posting it Rivaldo.

"The Company has been notified that Clive Watson, Non-executive Director of Breedon Group plc and a Person Discharging Managerial Responsibilities ('PDMR'), has today purchased 37,500 ordinary shares in the Company ('Ordinary Shares') at a price of 89.60p per Ordinary Share, to be held in his SIPP. As a consequence, Mr Watson now has an interest in 72,500 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 0.004% of the Company's total voting rights."

Almost doubled his holding. Can't be bad. It's a sizeable chunk, and not a duty-bound initial purchase. I wondered about taking some profits recently, just to spread risk. Maybe not for now.

As a matter of interest (and tax?) what is the issue with holding in your SIPP/ISA/outside?

Interesting that this chip sector rally is based on "hopes" and not more, and that it hasn't reached us! That may mean we are right at the bottom in terms of sentiment, if not SP.

IQE's last trading update in November is worth reading in full but this particularly stands out:

"The outlook for 2020 includes a seasonally weak Q1 and continued supply chain transitions in the wireless market. Beyond Q1 2020, IQE is cautiously optimistic about a return to growth, driven by expected content gains in an expanding market for 3D sensing, demand for GaN to meet accelerating 5G infrastructure deployments and expanding Asian market opportunities for both Photonics and Wireless products as supply chains continue to localise. Taking all of the above into account, the Company expects total revenue will return to moderate growth in 2020."

That meant we were always going to be hanging in the wind until we get results for Q2. And it destroyed hope. Great for those who are (a) not yet invested, and (b) very brave.

While we're naturally p'd off with Nelson and the board I don't remember them ever being dishonest (in fact I remember being impressed how immediately they dealt with a tax issue that came up from a US acquisition), so let's hope Nelson's comment from the same update turn out to be true: "IQE has experienced very challenging market conditions in 2019. Shortfalls in revenue relate predominantly to two major customers, WITH WHOM IQE IS CONFIDENT IT HAS NOT LOST SHARE and who remain very well positioned for returns to growth in 2020. Indeed, the Company remains well positioned to capitalise on an expanding future compound semiconductor market opportunity driven by the macro trends of 5G and connected devices." My capitals.

Having decided not to go in and out I've been just gritting my teeth. Jeffrey and jordie you have company! In far too deep. But I have found writing this some encouragement. The worry is, as some have said, being outflanked by alternative technologies. But at least Aixtron, who make the vapour deposition equipment has also rallied. ATB, all.

Well Simon, I am keeping the faith and holding.

But I was surprised they did nothing before the election. I didn't plan this to be a cash ISA! With a spread of nearly 10% that's quite an interest rate.

After the fantastic results - to my mind - in November it dropped 8% and |I topped up. We all know it dropped another 20%! Great company, commensurately expensive. For me this further drop is a rare chance to get in at a better price than normal, and I topped up again at the end of December. Up a bit since then and I expect (of course since I bought) an ongoing rise - probably steady up to previous levels perhaps by March/April. At a guess a pause then, before an interesting autumn: but I wouldn't risk coming out over the summer, personally. Before you ask I can't justify any of this, it is my best guess, coming from a gradually deepening (frequently painful!) experience. I'm now very cautious on this kind of thing since I lost a lot on ACSO topping up on the way down, down, down. Still can't fathom that, but fathom is the right word, it is fathoms down. ABDP is a company I plan to hold for the long term, and my guess is now may be the best chance to get in/increase. Stockop*dia gives it a forward P/E of 29, which is cheap for them. ATB!

"A revival is under way in the chip business. (The high-tech industry is as cyclical as any commodity.)"

https://www.economist.com/business/2020/01/11/a-revival-is-under-way-in-the-chip-business?cid1=cust/ednew/n/bl/n/2020/01/9n/owned/n/n/nwl/n/n/UK/375381/n

Don't know if you can see this, and it is very general... but it is encouraging.

Only just bought in, down 30% in 5 minutes - gutted/annoyed.

And even more annoyed that what seems in general an ethical company either cannot write English or is being deliberately obfuscatory. None of the 3 bullet points in their statement are actually clear as to what has actually happened, at least in combination with the others. That is really incompetent and annoying: investors do put their money into the firm.

I would like to take the opportunity to top up BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

Thanks for the roundup/update, Gotrader.

I want to top up, but it's a sea of red this morning, so I think I'll wait for the new year.

Happy New Year, folks.

I bought too much for me initially so logically it should be a hold but I've not been able to resist at this level. Simon Thompson in Investors Chronicle likes it ("Strong Buy" in August at 45p, now on 38p). Since then I can only see good news, including new products, new contracts in various areas, and substantial director buying at around this price level: the only time the SP dropped this far before - in October - the directors dived in very quickly. Plus it is in the process of coming into profitability.

Hi Londoner7, not seen you post since the July interims, which you did say had some concerns.... Are you still here? We do miss your depth of knowledge.

I hope you are, given todays jump on top of the recent rise.

Thank you :). Think I got the lowest price of the day!

https://newatlas.com/materials/light-plastic-waste-hydrogen-fuel-cells/

Vanadium based catalyst used to deal with waste plastic at low temperatures: another hot topic.

And the end product is formic acid, which can be used for hydrogen storage and hence transport, another huge area in renewable energy. In some ways a rival, at least to VRFBs, but many elements will probably make up the ongoing mix of energy storage solutions, and it's good to have a foot in the enemy camp!

"1 share issued for every 250 held." Where do you get this info? [And sorry, I can't tell you a single thing about what is going on!]

Plus the directors are almost all getting on a bit, and with the continued mediocre sp performance I can see them wanting to pass the baton on. Only one younger person - Chairman's son? - will he want to run with it or sell up?

Interesting some well known names among the posters here long, long ago. Still in anyone??

Quietest board ever?

Results were poor, as they had warned us. So of course it fell further. Yield 4.5%, lots of cash. When it appears to have turned I hope I remember to go in! Only a slight loss, very solid company.

Lovely quiet board. Bought this after the fall in April and largely forgotten about it. Just had another look: I'm no expert but the half year results seemed great, loved the 50% rise in dividend which really shows confidence, and the October acquisition looks to fit them really well: "nmcn PLC is delighted to announce that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement ("SPA") to purchase the entire issued share capital of Lintott Environmental Technologies Limited ("LET") which has a wholly owned subsidiary called Lintott Control Systems Limited ("LCS") (the "Acquisition") for a total consideration of up to £3,760,978.50 subject to a three year earn out.
LCS is a Process Solutions Provider. The company specialises in the design, manufacture & after-care of digitally integrated factory-built, Water & Wastewater Treatment Systems, Process Software / Systems Integration."

Plus wandering round the website was an absorbing and enjoyable experience! It looks like they've put a lot of effort into the rebrand, and present themselves really well. Unless I'm being hoodwinked they have a lot to crow about as well. Yuh, pleased I'm in here - especially as an E Midlands dweller - lots of good stuff going on.

I went in too deep with this after the announcement of the blanket purchase agreement earlier in the year. However, having a look at them again briefly now, I can't help being very positive (for anyone not too deep underwater).

They communicate very well with shareholders. Of course we always want more news - and of course it had better be good - but they do communicate new contracts etc, and their half year report was as good as most annuals, and last year they did a really informative trading update in February following the year end. You don't feel like you're in the dark. They're increasing R&D and marketing spends, which I like, and while I'm no accountant and things behind the scenes are probably more complex, I like the fact that the H1 0.28m revenue increase led to a 0.24m loss decrease: almost $ for $. Were last years 15% revenue increase to be repeated and the equivalent loss decrease happen for the whole year it would just about take them into operating profit [don't go by my figures, friends].

When it finally looks like it's turning I shall probably risk even more.

Simon Thompson in Investor's Chronicle today, as big as I've ever seen. Seems super enthusiastic. I've bought in, FWIW, and I think this stream of buys today is probably others like me. There are apparently 6 near term contracts they are targeting in SE Asia and the Middle East, which have an aggregate value of £300m and are nearing the point of contract. The profit margins look great, so any one of them should lift the SP considerably IMO.