Maynard wrote investment articles for The Motley Fool UK between 1999 and 2014 before becoming a full-time investor at the start of 2015. As well as the articles he writes for SharePad, Maynard publishes his own investment blog at maynardpaton.com.
I’ve developed my investing approach after years of learning about the stock market and experiencing what actually works for me. Important influences on my style include the strategies of Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch and Jim Slater. I look to invest in respectable smaller companies run by capable managers that trade at modest valuations and to hold them for the long term.
Bumper contracts leading to rapid profit growth have prompted MS International to multi-bag during the last five years. Maynard Paton assesses the defence group’s sudden resurgence, fluctuating cash flow, old-school board and 13x P/E. This month I have gone ‘back to basics’ by employing an old screen that identifies companies with strong balance sheets, robust
Camellia has enjoyed incredible long-term NAV growth but recent years have not been very kind to earnings and the share price. Maynard Paton assesses the agricultural group’s eclectic assets, ‘value enhancement’ plan, revamped board and lowly valuation. “I stress the long-term advisedly, because our entire emphasis is towards the development of a worldwide group of
An employee culture where ‘B teams don’t exist’ has helped Elixirr International become an IPO winner. Maynard Paton assesses the management consultancy’s positive progress, entrepreneurial boss, lucrative options and current valuation. I remarked the other month how most flotations had suffered badly during the last few years. ShareScope lists 233 shares that joined the stock
Filtronic’s shares have defied AIM’s doom and gloom by rocketing 10-fold within three years. Maynard Paton reviews the multi-baggers announcements and asks whether we could have foreseen the huge gain. “London Stock Exchange boss warns AIM is under threat of collapse“ “London AIM market should be axed for failing to win tech floats, say think-tanks“
Sifting through the IPO carnage of recent years leads to high-margin, cash-rich BIG Technologies. Maynard Paton reviews the tagging specialist’s positive progress, entrepreneurial boss, generous options and current valuation. “It’s Probably Overpriced“ IPOs have suffered badly during the last few years. Buoyant markets encouraged lots of companies to go public at optimistic valuations… …only for
Pinewood Technologies is one of only two major suppliers of management software to UK car dealers and has grand plans to expand abroad. Maynard Paton reviews the group’s ambitious profit guidance and prospects of becoming a ‘scalable SAAS platform’. Investment ideas can emerge from the unlikeliest of sources. I booked my car for a service
Screening for shares with a consistently high margin and ROE leads to model portfolio specialist Tatton Asset Management. Maynard Paton reviews the small-cap’s impressive financials, efficient workforce, owner-aligned founder and bold growth target. Today I have revisited a ShareScope screen that applies two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity
Wynnstay has paid an increased dividend every year since 2004 yet its shares trade nearly 40% below net tangible assets. Maynard Paton weighs up whether the agricultural supplier is a value bargain or a value trap. I am back again looking for ‘value bargains’ and revisiting a screen that identifies companies trading at less than
Canadian 200-bagger Constellation Software has inspired Software Circle to become a serial acquirer of ‘vertical market’ software businesses. Maynard Paton studies the promising early progress of AIM-traded emulator. Mark Leonard has been described as the “best capital allocator you have never heard of“. According to Forbes, Mr Leonard is now worth $5 billion after he
A liking for ‘value bargains’ prompts Maynard Paton to search again for asset-rich shares with depressed ratings. Screening for low price to books and net cash positions leads to engineer Castings. I always love a traditional ‘value bargain’. Hence this revisit to an old screen that pinpoints companies trading at less than book value. Importantly,
The market has become very unhappy with buy-and-hold investor Nick Train. Maynard Paton studies Lindsell Train Investment Trust and reckons Mr Train’s fund-management business could now be valued on a P/E of less than 2. Could now be the time to back Nick Train? The buy-and-hold fund manager was for years feted for selecting blue-chip
RWS has lifted its dividend for 19 consecutive years yet the shares currently offer a 6.5% yield. Maynard Paton studies the translation group’s acquisition history, profit adjustments and management changes. An illustrious dividend history and a worthwhile yield have brought RWS to my attention. The language-translation group presently offers: An unbroken record of dividend increases