Member Info for RogueRiver

Savage_KeyboardR. No. The Conservatives have been largely supportive of Capita. They haven’t exactly been cheering them from the rafters, I know, but they have been content to leave a things as they are, with little intervention, probably content for Capita to take any flack, so ministers don’t have to. Capita’s problems (COVID excepted) have been mostly of their own making.

I’m not sure Labour will be happy to continue with this ‘hands-off’ arrangement and may see it as an opportunity to be more proactive regarding public services.

Culley01. As I’ve said before, it may not happen at all, but it is another risk factor. As far as insourcing is concerned, Labour policy appears to be to take the best examples of in-house services provision and use them as a template for other councils to follow. So, for example, the Brent plan might be promoted more widely and enthusiastically under a Labour national government. As I say, bashing Capita is unlikely to be a vote loser for a new Labour government seeking ‘fresh’ ideas.

Trisor. I didn't claim it was breaking news. It merely serves to illustrate what may happen on a wider basis, with a Labour government in power (which is all but inevitable later this year).

As I mentioned before, we might see a lot more 'insourcing', once Labour get into government. It is yet another risk factor for Capita. Let's face it, Capita are generally loathed by the press and public (admittedly, not always fairly), so Labour can probably smell votes to be gained here.

"Insourcing win at Barnet council

Over 300 staff in a variety of services like trading standards, environmental health and other regulatory services, will now be transferred back in-house

Staff at Barnet council are due to be transferred back to council employment thanks to a decade-long campaign by UNISON.

The 330 affected workers are currently employed by outsourcing multinational conglomerate, Capita, and are being brought back in house after the council was used as a test case for the outsourcing of local government services.

The staff who work under a joint venture called ‘Capita Re’ in a variety of areas like trading standards, environmental health, planning highways and other regulatory services, will be TUPE transferred back in house on 1 April this year.

In 2012, much of the service provision at the council was outsourced to Capita on decade-long contracts by the Conservative-controlled council, with the intervening 10 years marred by several controversies including a multi-million-pound fraud and contracts running vastly over budget."

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2023/01/insourcing-win-at-barnet-council/

No AimMaster, I have mentioned losing on that investment several times over the last few months (they are there for everyone to read, it they are that interested). Yesterday was the latest mention, that’s all. It represents about 0.3% of my portfolio. Of course it’s annoying, but also a reminder to spread your risk across a range of sectors and companies - and not to go chasing your loses in a failing business.

Old news, AimMaster. I mentioned taking a huge hit on Mobico on these very pages a few weeks ago. What I haven’t done is to keep ploughing money into a loser. I generally put a fixed sum into a holding and then leave it to sink or swim. I’m sure many Capita investors wish they had done the same.

I don’t think there is any relief to be taken here at the prospect of a Labour government. Indeed, it would seem to be another risk factor. It is Labour Party policy to reduce reliance on outsourcing in local government. They would rather see councils following the example of the best in-house service providers and rolling these out wider. Of course, this may not happen when policy meets reality, but there are certainly no votes to be lost in ditching Capita. A Labour government might even see it as a vote winner toward the end of its first term.

@Paddyboy1

I don't know what the margins are on National Express operations, but it has always struck me that they must be razor thin. When you consider the running costs (fuel, maintenance, fleet renewal, staff wages, driver relocations etc) compared with the fares (I recently did Cornwall to London for about a tenner), I don't know how they make a profit. It can't be down to passenger volumes, because the coach I was on was only half full.

I’m 82% down on this train wreck of a company. Just as well I all but wrote off my investment here, which fortunately is more than offset by the performance of my holdings in properly managed companies.

For those investing in expectation of a bounce here, just look at the track record of the past 2 years. You might as well throw your money down the drain.

What an utter cr@p heap of a company. Just when you think it can do no worse, it excels itself in its ineptitude. The BOD should take a short bus ride off a long cliff.

My (very unscientific) analysis: Wheezy, clapped-out conglomerate, which yields less than most savings accounts and hasn't grown in 6 years.

@Owls

Same here. It is always wise to have an exit strategy, especially when it's clear that a share is in danger of terminal decline.

I certainly wouldn't criticise NF for getting out. My problem is with having to wade through pages of his messianic zeal for this company, week after week, only to have him abruptly hit the ejection button one day. It completely undermines his credibility, such as it is.

@broomtree

Your observations of NF are spot on. He's totally shameless about it too. It is quite bizarre how someone can be so mentally (as well as literally) invested in a cause, to the point of utter fixation - and then, one day, he just decides to nonchalantly walk away from it all.

Looks like you aren't the only one bailing out, NOFEAR. 12p appears to be beckoning, again.

Unfortunately , shorts tend not to be spooked by an occasional uptick. They follow the trend - and we all know what that is for Capita.

“Most UK shares are beaten up at the moment.”

Really? Most of my blue chips are doing well. Even when they are down, they still churn out a good yield.

Capita might be the Humpty Dumpty though.

Indeed Kipper. I hope Capita pulls through. I’m not willing it to go down in flames, just trying to provide a counter to some of the more extravagant claims being made here.

Again, NOFEAR, the history of the stock markets is littered with directors who had a large stake in their company!the day it went into administration.

Please spare us the ‘too important to fail’ line. If Capita were to go into administration, its local and national government contracts would most likely be bought or taken over by a rival company.

I haven’t missed any boat, because the Capita (badly leaking and barely patched up) isn’t a ship that I fancy boarding.

I could show you many companies in which IIs had substantial holdings, right up to the day the companies went into administration. Same for positive broker ratings.

I appreciate those who are underwater here are trying to find solace somewhere (anywhere), but the sp tells its own story.