Ian Pollard – Thomas Cook Suspends Dividend

Thomas Cook Group TCG updates on its expected results for the year to the end of September and at first it looks like a mixed bag until you get to the important bits, the main one of which is that the full year dividend is being suspended. On top of that it has been impacted […]

Ian Pollard: Dixons Abandons Smartphone Sales in Greek Stores

Dixons Carphone plc DC Greece had become the jewel in Dixons international empire with like for like sales up 9% but it looks like that will not last for long unless Dixons management can start getting its act together. Smart phones is its problem. At one of its biggest Kotsovoulos stores in Athens it has […]

Ian Pollard – Taylor Wimpey Sees Surge In Profits

Taylor Wimpey TW With profit before tax surging by 46.8% during the six months to the first of July Taylor Wimpey saw demand for its homes remain strong in the first half despite some wider macroeconomic uncertainty.The interim ordinary dividend is to be increased from 2.3p per share to 2.44p. The number of homes completed fell […]

Ian Pollard: Countryside Properties, Robust & Excellent

Countryside Properties CSP The half year to the 31st March saw excellent progress and robust trading in all regions.  After strong growth the interim dividend is to be increased by 24% with reported revenue rising by 14%, operating profit by 19% and basic earnings per share by 23%. National Grid plc NG produced a strong […]

Ian Pollard – Countryside Properties -A Lesson in Clarity and Profitability

United Utilities UU must have decided to make its half year report as obscure and meaningless as possible. Thus it is full of PR19S, ODIs, RCV Gearing and the latest craze, System Thinking. What it wont do because presumably it would make the figures for the 6 months to the end of September too easy […]