Ken Baksh – December Investment Monthly
In our December investment review, Ken discusses the macro picture in the US, Europe, China and Japan before looking at the effects of inflation. We then look at moves over the past 2 months before moving to the UK economy and issues such as consumer confidence, the trade deficit and Govt deficit, insolvencies and recession […]
UK Investor Magazine podcast – Alan Green discusses markets, Whitbread #WTB, Kavango Resources #KAV & Sovereign Metals #SVML
Alan Green joins the UK Investor Magazine as we delve into the recent market volatility and explore the outlook for equity markets. We start by looking at upcoming central bank action with the Federal Reserve and Bank of England poised to hike rates in the coming hours and days. Market expectations point to a 75 […]
Ken Baksh – November Market Report – Is it safe to put a toe in?
November 2018 Market Report During the month to October 31st, 2018, major equity markets displayed a very weak trend, falling by 8.52% overall and the VIX index rose sharply to 22.05. The month was the worst equity performance for more than six years. There continued to be an abundance of market moving news over what […]
Ian Pollard – Whitbread #WTB, a solidly good year!
Whitbread plc WTB can not quite make its mind up as to whether its full year results are good or solid, so to be on the safe side, it claims they are both.On an underlying basis revenue rose by 2.6% and profit before tax by 2.5% which is hardly impressive. On a statutory basis, operating […]
Ken Baksh – October market report…..trickery or treats!
October 2018 Market Report During the month to September 30th, 2018, major equity markets again displayed a mixed trend, rising by 1.19% overall and the VIX index fell. There continued to be an abundance of market moving news over what is traditionally a quieter month, at macro-economic, corporate and political levels. The European Central Bank […]
Ian Pollard – Whitbread Delves Deep Into The Excuses Drawer – Even For Costa
Whitbread WTB is forced to delve deep into the excuses and jargon drawer to try and explain away its weak UK performance during quarter 3. It concentrates on total sales growth figures which look quite reasonable until one looks at how it fared on a like for like basis.Thus group sales growth came in at […]
Pipelines Are In Growth Channels & Lapped Prior Year Pipeline Fill
Whitbread plc WBT places such emphasis on its various pipelines new and old that one has to wonder which business it is in, hotels or oil and gas. Verbiage in its interim report has not however stopped it from having a good first half. On a statutory basis, profit before tax for the six months […]
Fast start to the year for Whitbread
by Ian Pollard Whitbread WTB – Management reports a good start to the year, with first quarter sales growth of 7.6%, in line with expectations. Premier Inn continued to win overall market share with strong sales growth of 9.2%, benefitting from a resilient hotel market and the contribution from the c.9,000 rooms opened over the […]
Whitbread Raises Dividend by 6%
Whitbread plc WTB is increasing its full year dividend by 6% after another year of strong sales and growth. Revenue for the year to 2nd March rose by 8.2% and underlying profit before tax by 6.2%. On a like for like basis revenue at Premier Inns increased by 2.3% after achieving an occupancy rate of […]
Major Companies Blame Challenging Conditions Again
Rank Group RNK met challenging trading conditions in the 6 months to 31st December but is still raising its interim dividend by 11% after a fall of 17% in profit before tax and 14% in basic earnings per share. Like for like group revenue for the half year rose by 2%. Nothing like raising a […]