Six shares pass 5 strikes this time. Richard takes a closer look at Morgan Sindall, which achieved no strikes. The building contractor and property developer is a complex business, as demonstrated by its loss-making Muse subsidiary. 5 Strikes Since my last update, 11 shares have published annual reports and passed my minimum quality filter. Six […]
Alpesh Patel applies his quality and momentum filters to 54 stocks recently upgraded by major investment banks. He highlights the themes driving analyst conviction and identifies where opportunities and risks may be emerging across global markets. Full stock-by-stock analysis available exclusively to Alpesh Patel Special Edition subscribers. THE METHOD — WHY THIS LIST EXISTS Every […]
ME Group issued a profit warning the other week and its shares now trade close to their 52-week low. Maynard Paton reviews the photobooth operator’s diversification into washing machines, its family-run boardroom and some slapdash financial reporting. Shares trading close to their 52-week lows can often provide lucrative buying opportunities for contrarian investors. In particular, […]
Richard Beddard returns with the latest 5 Strikes update, highlighting three new companies that have passed his quality filter and earned a place on his research list. He also takes a closer look at Me Group, reassessing its photobooth business, growth credentials and the risks facing one of this year’s lowest-scoring shares. In this update […]
Richard Beddard revisits his 5 Strikes quality screen, assessing a fresh batch of companies that have recently passed the initial filter and identifying those worthy of closer attention. He also explores whether AI-driven demand is creating an opportunity or a future challenge for leading IT resellers Computacenter and Softcat. Computacenter and Softcat are the UKs […]
Richard says there is more to evaluating directors’ shareholdings than considering the percentage of the company’s shares they own. In lieu of a 5 Strikes update this week, he lists all the shares that have passed the filter in 2026. I am away, so I haven’t appraised the companies that have published annual reports and […]
Recruitment agency SThree surprises Maynard Paton by appearing in a screen that hunts for asset-backed bargains. A notable cash position and a huge debtor book are the key deep-value attractions. I am once again looking for ‘value bargains’ and revisiting a screen that identifies companies trading at less than book value. Importantly, this screen attempts […]
Richard considers modest executive pay at Alfa Financial Software and Quartix, and recent share purchases by FDM directors. 5 Strikes Eighteen companies have published annual reports and passed my minimum quality filter since my last update. Name TIDM Prev AR Strikes # Strikes EKF EKF Diagnostics 27/4/26 ? CROCI – Growth ? ROCE 2 BILN […]
Ramin Nakisa of PensionCraft explains how he uses ShareScope to screen for ETFs and funds, focusing on cost, global exposure and practical usability. He walks through three powerful screening setups that help uncover high-quality funds for both long-term portfolios and tactical ideas. I’ve been using ShareScope, on and off, since the days of dial-up-modems. Since […]
Loads more companies pass 5 Strikes this week as the flood of annual reports continues. Richard looks at what software companies are saying about the AI threat, and reconsiders ConvaTec (CTEC) as its strategy evolves. 5 Strikes 21 companies published annual reports in the last two weeks or so and passed my minimum quality filter: […]
The lead executives at Alfa Financial Software were paid just £29k last year to match the London Living Wage. Maynard Paton links the commendable remuneration to the run of eleven special dividends declared by this high-margin, high-ROE business. Can you imagine company directors working for £14.80 an hour? If not, then say hello to Andrew […]
Since his last update, nine companies have passed Richard’s minimum quality filter. Most are very large businesses. He takes a peek at GlobalData, the smallest of four investment candidates to score less than two strikes. 5 Strikes Annual reports for companies with year-ends that coincided with the financial year end have swelled from a trickle […]
Marketing specialist Brave Bison undertook five acquisitions last year and recently purchased 28% of System1. Maynard Paton wonders if the acquisitions are creating value and whether he should join System1’s founder as a Brave Bison. Oh dear. This ShareScope report has not turned out as I first hoped. I had wondered whether Brave Bison — […]
With no new companies making it past his 5 Strikes filter, Richard examines transport software house and consultancy Tracsis’ rise and fall. To rise again, he thinks it must navigate a strategic minefield. 5 Strikes Since my last update, three big and ugly looking companies have published annual reports and passed my minimum quality filter. […]
Screening again for high margins and high ROEs pinpoints the super accounts of AJ Bell. Maynard Paton studies the investing platform’s impressive business that has attracted 681,000 customers – including himself. Last month I revisited a ShareScope screen that applied two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity (ROE). The […]
Richard’s filter strikes out, so he takes a closer look at Cerillion, the software company that achieved no strikes at all last time. The company has a perfect track record, but how much does that tell us about the future? 5 Strikes Over the last few weeks, very few companies have published annual reports, only […]
It is four out of four this time, as Cerillion, Hollywood Bowl, Ramsdens and RWS all pass the 5 Strikes test. Richard Beddard explains why Cerillion is the pick of the bunch, with a rare perfect score and a financial track record that merits closer scrutiny. 5 Strikes I’ve got good news and bad news. […]
A screen for high margins and high ROEs perhaps surprisingly identifies Hollywood Bowl. Maynard Paton studies the bowling group’s growth history, lease accounting, hefty capex and commendable leadership. Today I have revisited a ShareScope screen that applies two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity (ROE). The exact criteria I […]
Richard puts the last 10 shares to pass his minimum quality filter through 5 Strikes and finds two exotic companies. One is making less money in a roaring market. The other is making big profits in a declining one. Today, I am collecting up stragglers, the last companies to publish annual reports in 2025 that […]
Richard reveals the names of all 211 shares that pass his minimum quality screen, and the Strikes he gave them in 2025. Despite striking out, AstraZeneca features. Following my 5 Strikes explainer, I thought I would share the whole list of shares that passed my minimum quality filter in 2025. Shares that do not pass […]
Richard is screening for companies that have grown under their own steam. He explains the filter he uses to pick candidates for long term investment and the financial statistics that underpin it. Since this is my last article before Christmas, I wish you a happy one. ShareScope is my main tool for discovering shares. 5 […]
A fresh batch of companies has cleared Richard Beddard’s 5 Strikes filter, with Tristel and Bioventix standing out for their unusual strengths and resilience. Netcall also makes the cut and could be one to watch. 5 Strikes Since my last update, five shares have passed my minimum quality filter. Primarily, this weeds out companies that […]
Softcat and Dotdigital are the only shares to pass Richard’s 5 Strikes filter. He explains why we shouldn’t worry about Softcat’s volatile turnover, but we should keep an eye on Dotdigital’s increasing capital employed. 5 Strikes Just three shares have published annual reports and passed my minimum quality filter since my last update. Name TIDM […]
MP Evans boasts a very reliable dividend and profits surging beyond $100m suggests further income growth to come. Maynard Paton assesses the group’s palm-oil KPIs, high-margin accounts, intriguing board and record-high share price. I can’t be the only investor who likes to collect a reliable dividend. Hence this revisit to an old screen that pinpoints […]
Looking to uncover undervalued opportunities with ShareScope? We’ve created this Value Stock Screening Guide to go with our off-the-shelf Value Screen to help you learn how to spot them. It’s designed to highlight the key signals we believe matter when searching for shares trading below their true worth. ShareScope subscribers can apply this screen at […]
Churchill China’s shares have plunged to below book value as the struggling hospitality industry cuts back on new cups and plates. Maynard Paton weighs up whether the crockery manufacturer is a value bargain or a value trap. I am once again looking for ‘value bargains’ and revisiting a screen that identifies companies trading at less […]
Looking to find financially sound businesses with ShareScope? We’ve created this Quality Stock Screening Guide to go with our off-the-shelf Quality Screen to help you learn how to spot them. It’s designed to highlight the key signals we believe matter when searching for companies built on strong foundations. ShareScope subscribers can apply this screen at […]
Looking to capture rising trends with ShareScope? We’ve created this Momentum Stock Screening Guide to go with our off-the-shelf Momentum Screen to help you learn how to spot them. It’s designed to highlight the key signals we believe matter when searching for stocks showing real strength. ShareScope subscribers can apply this screen at the click […]
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 […]
Looking to build reliable cash flow with ShareScope? We’ve created this Income Stock Screening Guide to go with our off-the-shelf Income Screen to help you learn how to spot them. It’s designed to highlight the key signals we believe matter when searching for sustainable, high-quality income. ShareScope subscribers can apply this screen at the click of a button […]
Looking for companies with real growth potential? We’ve created this Growth Stock Screening Guide to go with our off-the-shelf Growth Screen to help you learn how to spot them. It’s designed to show you the core signals we believe matter to filter for scalable, sustainable growth. ShareScope subscribers can apply this screen at the click […]
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 […]
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 […]
Many investors like to buy shares that are popular or those of companies that are doing well. Phil takes a look at why sometimes buying shares that professional investors are betting against can generate big gains. Finding unpopular shares Most investors make money by buying shares that eventually go up in price. However, it is […]
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 […]
Obscure small-cap Colefax has repurchased 75% of its share count since 1999. Maynard Paton weighs up the fabric designer’s impressive buyback record and cash-rich financials versus its modest growth history and awkward corporate governance. The email I received was intriguing: “The numbers speak for themselves. The company has repurchased 75% of shares outstanding since 1999, […]
Poor record-keeping at a small subsidiary prompted an adverse audit at Victoria last year. Maynard Paton looks at other areas of the carpet manufacturer’s accounts in which the auditor identified ‘material errors’. Oh dear. Today I am writing about Victoria, a £228 million carpet manufacturer that last year attracted attention following an adverse audit. When […]
Yü Group has delivered wonderful multi-bagger returns during the last few years. Maynard Paton recaps the energy supplier’s entrepreneurial leadership and remarkable recovery following an accounting bombshell. Everybody loves shares that keep on rising. SharePad lists 37 names that have consistently delivered 15% or more annualised returns during the last one, three and five years: […]
Rockwood Strategic is buying underperforming small-caps, revitalising their boards and pushing for takeovers. Maynard Paton reviews the investment trust’s ‘activist approach, portfolio performance and current holdings. Rockwood Strategic could be the ideal choice for anyone wishing to capitalise on the sorry state of UK small-caps. A check of your own portfolio may support Rockwood’s belief […]
Property Franchise has consistently exhibited attractive financials and will soon combine with rival Belvoir. Maynard Paton delves into the small-cap’s balance sheet, acquisitive history, franchising KPIs and merger prospects. Today I am studying Property Franchise, an estate-agency franchising business that appeared on my radar after I reviewed fellow estate-agency franchisor Belvoir last year. To recap, […]
Phil takes a look at a strategy of identifying unloved shares as a way of generating market beating returns. In my last couple of articles, I’ve discussed some of the issues that investors face when looking at good companies. One of the biggest difficulties faced is that the shares of such companies can be highly […]
Fashion website Sosandar plans to open shops to bolster its sales and margins. Maynard Paton weighs up management’s bold financial ambition against the wider sector’s haphazard progress. Fashion website Sosandar provides a fascinating dilemma for small-cap growth investors. Bulls will highlight the online retailer’s very rapid expansion and bold ambition to raise profits to £10 […]
A search for ‘owner managers’ leads Maynard Paton to the impressive dividend record of Lok’nStore and the ‘extremely stable’ nature of self storage. I love ‘owner managers’ — company bosses with significant shareholdings who want to build wealth for the long haul. Such leaders do seem to act differently to standard chief executives. A hefty […]
Significant, acquisition-free expansion is prized by many investors. Maynard Paton studies the organic growth record of pay-by-mobile small-cap Fonix Mobile. Whisper it, but a few UK small-caps are still progressing well and maintaining resilient share prices in this difficult market. Fonix Mobile is a good example. Recent full-year results from this £206 million business showed […]
The UK stock market is undoubtedly cheap, but that doesn’t mean it won’t stay that way. Phil uses SharePad to show how you might sift this unpopular market for undervalued shares and creates 4 new SharePad stock screening filters for good measure. When I first entered the world of investing over a quarter of a […]
Screening for consistently high margins and ROE leads to currency manager Record. Maynard Paton weighs up the small-cap’s super cash flow, well-paid workforce, diversification ambitions and bold targets. I have once again revisited a SharePad screen that applies two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity (ROE). The exact criteria […]
Devoted company bosses do not always create great returns for outside shareholders. Maynard Paton studies chocolate retailer Hotel Chocolat and the board’s decisions and composition. I love ‘owner managers’ — company bosses with significant shareholdings who live and breathe their business and want to build wealth for the long haul. Typically, entrepreneurs, and owner-managers who […]
Screening for consistently high margins and ROE leads to property franchisor Belvoir. Maynard Paton weighs up the small-cap’s acquisitive history, super cash flow, visible management and immediate prospects. Today I have revisited a SharePad screen that applies two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity (ROE). The exact criteria I […]
Newspaper publisher Reach trades on a P/E of 3. Maynard Paton believes the rock-bottom rating reflects a pension scheme ‘black hole’. Let me start by confessing this article covers pension deficits. What follows is therefore not thrilling and does require some concentration. But please stick with me, especially if you have ever fallen victim to […]
Screening for a growing dividend, lowly valuation, net cash and decent director ownership leads to 40-bagger James Latham. Maynard Paton studies the timber distributor’s history, financials, management and prospects. I have embarked on further ‘back to basics‘ filtering to unearth a potential long-term winner for my portfolio. This new screen identifies companies that offer rising […]
WANdisco has owned up to ‘significant accounting irregularities’ and the prospects for shareholders now look grim. Maynard Paton revisits the software developer to identify the warning signs Small-Cap Spotlight Report Revisited: WANdisco (LSE: WAND) You can become a better investor by occasionally visiting the stock-market graveyard. One company that now seems destined for the cemetery […]
Cerillion’s shares have five-bagged since their pandemic low and remain near their all-time high. Maynard Paton studies the software group’s revenue profile, cash conversion and current valuation. Another month and another round of ‘back to basics’ filtering. Introduced earlier this year to identify James Halstead, this screen shortlists companies that offer cash-flush balance sheets, robust […]
Finding good investment ideas among companies that have floated on the stockmarket recently can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Richard thinks he knows what to look for, maybe it is Moonpig. Some of my favourite new investment ideas in recent months have been recent flotations, companies like Marks Electrical and Dr. […]
Richard surveys the latest annual reports for promising long-term investments. Big Technologies, Digitalbox, Somero, and Xaar catch his eye, but only one of them holds his gaze. Still, a strike rate of one out of four is not bad. Almost every weekday I open a table of all the shares listed in London in SharePad […]
From touring with Led Zeppelin to a £193 million shareholding: Phil Dudderidge has enjoyed enormous success leading music-equipment specialist Focusrite. Maynard Paton recaps the investment story. The market continues to wobble and I have therefore kept with my ‘back to basics’ filtering. Applied the other week to identify James Halstead, this screen short-lists companies that […]
A wobbly market prompts Maynard Paton to search for potential ‘safe havens’. Filters for net cash, high margins and a pandemic-defiant dividend lead to vinyl flooring specialist James Halstead. Recent market wobbles have prompted some ‘back to basics’ filtering. Hence a new screen to identify companies that have strong balance sheets, robust margins and a […]
Specialist SIPP firm Curtis Banks has seen its dividend go up but shares go nowhere during the last five years. Maynard Paton now wonders whether the small-cap’s recurring income and high margins make it a ‘QARP’ stock. Shares offering ‘Quality At a Reasonable Price’ have been hard to find during the last few years. But […]
WANdisco has raised $217 million since 2012 yet has never made a profit. But could deals with Microsoft and Amazon finally trigger a sales boost? The board’s optimism is not backed by its share dealing.
April is typically a strong month – perhaps because of all the tax-selling clearing and reducing sell pressure. New ISA money tends to enter the market too. Cash is a position, but many punters feel it burning a hole in their pockets and so tend to end up spending it.
I like companies that boast significant net cash. I therefore apply certain filter criteria to identify some reasonable cash-flush businesses.
I run my filter every week, usually on a Saturday morning. By running the filter every week, it allows five trading sessions to pass and therefore potentially offer up new stocks. Time is a trader’s greatest asset, and it makes no sense to run the filter every day when almost all of the stocks will be the same.
How do you answer that age-old investment conundrum – when to get in and when to get out? Here’s a technical approach to finding the best recovery candidates as they emerge.
I am probably jinxing it now, but owning shares in Howden Joinery has never lost me sleep. Despite the pandemic and a fall in profit, this year’s annual report has the same calming effect it does every year, and not just because of the pictures. Howdens explains the business very well, and quietly delivers on the promise.
Over the years I have ignored Kingspan because it is big, acquisitive, and supplies building materials. My gut reaction to these facts is that Kingspan is best avoided, but my gut could well be wrong.
One of my favourite SharePad screens identifies good-quality companies that have grown without acquisition. One such is Best of the Best.
For some time now IG Group has been flashing on my SharePad filters. The three screenshots just below show IG offers: High margins; Decent returns on equity; Cash-rich accounts; Attractive five-year growth; A lack of past acquisitions, and; A modest P/E. Those characteristics are an unusual mix in a market presently bereft of obvious quality […]
Happy 2021! I trust SharePad will help bring you good fortune in what could be another twelve months of financial thrills and spills. As usual I plan to trawl the market for interesting shares that I hope assists your company analysis and stock-picking. I start the year with Avon Rubber, a FTSE 250 member that […]
This year has confirmed that most of the news is at best irrelevant to me as an investor. Worse, the news stressed me out. It regularly fed my mind with impossible problems to solve. Companies I admired closed down, temporarily I hoped. They raised money in emergency fund-raisings. They furloughed staff. So far, the determination […]
I know this is going to make me sound like an alcoholic, but I rarely drink soft drinks. When a reader requested an overview of the soft drinks sector, I was not, therefore, particularly enthusiastic. For me, liking the product, or at least seeing its value, is a prerequisite for investment, and, on health grounds, […]
I am always looking for ‘multi-baggers’ — investments that can double, triple, quadruple or more. And here’s some very good news: I have stumbled on a company that can find them for me. Not just the occasional five-bagger or ten-bagger mind, but 20-baggers. It’s incredible stuff, especially as the track record of success extends for […]
There is no shortage of stocks that are delivering triple digit returns. Scholar Rock, Miragen, Zedge, Socket Mobile – even Tupperware is up nearly 1,000%. Source: ShareScope – Alpesh Patel Special Edition (click on image to enlarge) The problem is hindsight is great, but each of these and the other climbers have huge problems in […]
Today I have returned to one of my favourite SharePad screens. This screen applies two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity (ROE). The main filter criteria are: 1) An operating margin (latest and 10-year average) of 20% or more, and; 2) An ROE (latest and 10-year average) of 20% […]
Before I started fishing for a share to investigate for this week’s article, I culled my personal filter library. Many of the filters are derivations, refinements that effectively render older filters redundant. Some are failed experiments. Being a simple sole, I cut the library down to four: The old ones are the good ones – […]
This article was not supposed to be about paper maker James Cropper. I set out to write about Animalcare, a veterinary pharmaceutical company, but I quickly became disillusioned, wretched even. You probably will hear about Animalcare one day, because it is an interesting business, but it is also complicated and its complicatedness was epitomised by […]
I am not a great fan of the fund-management industry. I cannot think of another sector where the employees collect enormous salaries while the customers pay hefty fees and sometimes get nothing in return. Quite often us amateur investors are better off with simple index trackers rather than falling for the industry’s persuasive advisers and […]
First, a wealth warning. The last price-to-book ‘bargain’ I looked at for SharePad was Hammerson. Back then the property group’s £5 billion asset base could be acquired for a £1.6 billion market cap. Investors were in theory able to purchase £1 of assets for just 30p. Twelve months on, and the share price below tells […]
Let me start by thanking you for clicking on an article with Headlam in the title. Rest assured, not everyone will want to read about this rather dull business that has suffered badly during the pandemic. But for us contrarians, now may be the time to consider such stocks — unloved names that the market […]
A SharePad customer, Chris, reminded me of the power of ranking recently, when he emailed to say (among other things): “I find that I am playing with spreadsheets to get the data in place rather than actually making decisions. I guess sometimes too much data can be detrimental…” Decisions are hard, and messing around with […]
Has the market become too obsessed with ‘pandemic-proof’ shares? I ask because my SharePad screening has brought Frontier Developments to my attention. The shares of this computer-game developer have leapt 66% so far this year as industry sales rally during the lockdown. However, Frontier’s accounting looks rather questionable and the near-£800 million market cap seems […]
One way to invest during the pandemic is to consider shares that have climbed higher as the market has dropped. Such companies may well be ‘safe havens’ — businesses that are coping well with the lockdown, or perhaps even benefitting from the crisis. I applied the following simple criteria within SharePad to identify potential ‘pandemic-proof’ […]
While the stock market and the pandemic may have stabilised, I’m still thinking about financially strong firms. We never know when the next shock will happen, and a cash cushion gives us confidence a company will make it through when revenue melts away. I spent the last two articles experimenting with filters to find financially […]
Let me start with a confession.This Covid-19 ‘Special’ may not be all that special. I have just applied a new SharePad screen to seek ‘quality bargains’ amid the market chaos — and sadly the results were not that inspiring. The problem is nothing to do with me or my filters or SharePad. Instead, the Covid-19 […]
Recent market ructions have sent many shares tumbling — and perhaps created some buying opportunities. Amid the mayhem, I devised a straightforward screen. I simply looked for decent-sized businesses that were still expected to grow, paid a dividend and were conservatively financed, too I applied the following criteria within SharePad to identify some respectable candidates: […]
Cash flow movements can often indicate whether or not a business enjoys a powerful operational advantage. A strong business might: Receive customer payments upfront for goods/services it has yet to deliver, and/or; Pay suppliers months after goods/services have been received. However, a weak business might: Receive customer payments months after its goods/services have been delivered, […]
‘Run your winners’ is popular stock-market advice. Great companies often remain great investments for a lot longer than most people expect… … and can deliver life-changing rewards to anyone who refrains from selling out too soon. Where can we find potential winners to run? I thought the best performing shares of 2019 would provide a […]
This article has not turned out as I had expected. I searched on SharePad for magnificent dividend histories, and thought I would be evaluating a business with glorious financials and tip-top management. I have instead ended up with accounting alarm bells and a dissident shareholder trying to oust the boardroom. The screen I applied in […]
Studying free cash conversion is vital when evaluating a set of accounts. The measure compares free cash flow to reported earnings, and can indicate whether a business is a ‘cash fountain’ or a ‘cash guzzler’. Ideally we want to own companies that generate plenty of spare cash, because such cash can: * Underpin accounting profits; […]
Fallout from the demise of Thomas Cook reminds Richard of the virtues of vertical integration. In the month since the demise of Thomas Cook, the company that invented package tours, there has been much talk of rivals who will benefit from the fact that perhaps 2.5m Thomas Cook customers will be looking elsewhere for their […]
Dynamic growth shares are among the market’s most exciting investments. Find a business that has expanded rapidly and offers the prospect of further earnings growth — but also has an overlooked share price — and you could be on to a winner. Let’s use SharePad to pinpoint a possible example. Filter criteria These days many […]
Richard invents a new filter that promises to weed out big acquirers in a drive for simplicity he hopes will make investigating his next company easier. Complications tend to keep investors awake at night and wakeful nights are not conducive to long-term investment. You join me today on a quest for simplicity. Keeping it simple […]
Buying a share at a discount to its book (or net asset) value ought to be the safest way of investing. Indeed, what could go wrong if you can effectively buy assets worth £1 per share for, say, 50p? The reality — sadly — is not always that simple. Let me show you what I […]
A wise man once advised investors to stick to their circle of competence. Richard uses SharePad to keep his eye on the prize, and it leads him to Bloomsbury Publishing… My base filter in SharePad currently returns a total of 596 shares listed in London. It does not do anything clever. It just excludes the […]
Quality companies undergoing temporary problems can often become attractive investment opportunities. On that basis, perhaps AG Barr is worth closer inspection. The soft-drinks manufacturer famous for Irn-Bru recently warned that profits would be lower than expected… and the share price plunged accordingly: However, AG Barr does boast a quality track record. During the last 40 […]
