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.
Quartix’s vehicle-tracking services have delivered consistently attractive financial ratios. Maynard Paton spotlights how new customers and a good-value workforce are counterbalancing pricing pressures and rising costs. 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 re-used were:
Strix is the world’s leading developer of kettle safety controls, but a recent profit warning has sent the shares tumbling. Maynard Paton wonders whether the group’s competitive advantage can support an eventual recovery. A profit warning and 32% share-price crash brought Strix to my attention the other week: This small-cap dominates the market for kettle
Many quoted companies trumpet their TrustPilot ratings. But is Trustpilot itself a 5-star investment? Maynard Paton evaluates the review website’s financial progress and business model. Read a set of company results, and chances are you will spot a reference to Trustpilot. Examples of quoted businesses mentioning the popular review website include: AJ Bell: “Our operational
Difficult markets prompt Maynard Paton to search for asset-rich shares with depressed ratings. Screening for low price to books and net cash positions leads to house builder Redrow. Difficult market conditions have led to depressed ratings for many asset-flush shares. Hence a new screen to pinpoint companies offering cash-rich balance sheets and market caps below
Top of the shops this year is Shoe Zone with a 46% share-price gain. Maynard Paton explores the discount retailer’s post-Covid progress and wonders whether the 10x P/E offers re-rating potential. Top of the shops among this year’s market carnage has been Shoe Zone. The discount shoe retailer has enjoyed an amazing 46% share-price gain
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
Poor fund performances, sizeable client withdrawals and generally rough markets have left the shares of Liontrust Asset Management yielding 8%. Maynard Paton weighs up the fund manager’s pros and cons. Difficult market conditions have prompted yet another bout of ‘back to basics’ filtering. Introduced the other month to identify James Halstead, this screen short-lists companies
Difficult markets prompt Maynard Paton to search for ‘quality’ companies at reasonable prices. Filters for robust financials and director shareholdings lead to investment platform IntegraFin. Difficult market conditions for highly-rated ‘quality’ shares have prompted further back-to-basics filtering. Hence a new screen to identify companies offering robust financials, respectable growth, useful director ownership… and a reasonable
Beeks Financial Cloud offers investors a convincing growth story backed by recurring revenue balanced by hefty expenditure and a racy valuation. Maynard Paton weighs up the pros and cons. Every share has a bull case and a bear case. Our job as investors should be to consider the arguments from both sides, and decide which
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
Cake Box’s shares have tripled as its franchisees sell more egg-free cakes and open more shops. But Maynard Paton discovers the accounts contain some unusual financial disclosures and alarming remarks from the auditor. Oh dear. I had expected this article to celebrate a dynamic growth company that had commendably prospered during the pandemic. I find