Member Info for Wiscos

Oh, and the combination of greedy Private Equity loading debt into previously decent businesses and then Shorters... Makes me angry. Markets are supposed to work. Currently they are totally abused and are not working. And UK useless regulators are letting all this happen. It isn't just about profit - it's people's jobs and lives as well.

I disagree that shorters are OK. Many good enough companies have been destroyed by shorters forcing debt/equity ratios into a place that kills the company as surely as stealing all its cash.

I have to rather agree! Shorting is a rather stupid idea that has destroyed any idea of efficient markets. It is a game for big boys to destroy companies and scare private investors. Card Factory's recent results were disappointing but to lose 1/3 of the company from that update is utterly ridiculous. Sooner or later One of more institutions or big investors will buy a big chunk. We just need to wait. A profit warning would be pretty bad at this stage, of course. But this company is worth 150p a share all day. And let's all hope there's some good news about Aldi and US soon. I hope the current sp isn't damaging the negotiations too much.

I hope we get a final offer 4.5p but it's more likely to be 3.6p based on the statements from the Board, giving a total of 4.8p. Would be nice if it' SC higher of course...

Hard to know some of your motivation for posting. I won't be selling, and expect a big recovery in share price. I can only imagine institutions will be taking a look as well as potential buyers from Australia or PE bastards. This company is not a lemon but is a cash cow and will remain that way for a long time into the future. Some good news wrt US or other partnerships and sensibly improving profit levels is all it needs.

Pretty small purchase, but a purchase nonetheless. We've seen Card being driven down before by shorters and others trying to spook private investors. Is there logic in a drop this far? Of course not... It's a shame the interim div is so puny... A better division between interim and final would have helped. But this is a share to wait on. Again.

Well, if everyone panics and sells it can go to 5p! Obviously it's vastly over-sold based on the evidence but will need some good news (the Aldi deal and / or the US deal seem likely candidates). If they announce a profit warning it could go lower and I'm sure the shorters are well involved. Our Aussie friend may - of course - see it as an opportunity. If the company does £50m or more profit and is moving towards the 2027 targets then the price could bounce up. But unlikely to be for a few months.

My local store has improved layout and placement of gas for balloons, and the store manager mentioned that they had recently reduced staffing and suggested there was a push to streamline and reduce costs. But store looked very neat. With the various initiatives and costs of setting up, but likely positive contribution to top-line, I'm now expecting a 7-8% increase in turnover compared to last year, but similar overall profit. Total dividend about 5p for the year. This supports a price higher than today's closing - pick a number based on positive or negative momentum. But I've bought back a lot of what I sold...

You lucky thing! I sold 35% of my holding and am still sitting on a lot of shares, so not quite as smug... BoD will need to deliver over next few months, but I only half believe their words and fear that costs and grand plans are problems that may hurt the full year. Disappointing Matalan and I'm a bit wary of the US project - could go wrong! Top-line should have been 5% higher given existing business.

That might end up being optimistic.

Pretty lacklustre report with poor figures all round and no compelling news. Very disappointing and I expect sp to tank...

Hitting FTSE territory... Will keep going up now I believe...

Was re-reading the CFO report on divs from year end results of a few months ago. The 4.5p for last year was supposed to include an amount to make up for the non-paynent of an interim div. The interim for this year would normally be 1/4 of the total dividend with the final as 3/4, and dividend cover to be 2-3 times (I think anything being considered it safely in this range). He describes a progressive policy for dividends (suggesting increases) and mentions share buybacks to reduce dilution from employee/director share schemes, and returns of excess cash via special dividends. So... nothing new but plenty of scope for an interim div at about 1.25-1.5p or so. This would give 5p - 6p total div for the year. Looking forward to the results, but the one possible downside is that costs for the first half of the year are considerably higher and may dent the look of the numbers. We'll see. I'm keeping a little powder dry in case the market does what it so often does and takes a dislike to sensible numbers and statements. Or should that be the private equity tosspots.

Looks like some big buys went through just before close? Anyone with more sophisticated data able to confirm?

Still plenty of buyers around. This share is still cheap. Most of us are expecting interim dividend to be announced even if 1.5p or so. Quite a good chance something else will be announced given the level of recruits and momentum, so I'm hanging in there.

And Xmas cards if sent will be 2nd class and just take longer. Xmas cards will continue to decline I'm sure but only gradually...

Crazy, but for the white van delivery of everything generation £1.65 is still cheap...

After a bit of doldrums and a sinking sp, the buyers are back out. Gradually bought back a lot of what I'd sold and confident that the sp will soon exceed 135p so laughing all the way to the taxman.

Less calm this morning! Those US manufacturing things didn't look all that bad! Must be more general market jitters over there with their over-valued stocks...

So, I just bought back a small chunk of the shares I sold recently at a nice discount.