ADVFN Logo ADVFN

We could not find any results for:
Make sure your spelling is correct or try broadening your search.

Trending Now

Toplists

It looks like you aren't logged in.
Click the button below to log in and view your recent history.

Hot Features

Registration Strip Icon for tools Level up your trading with our powerful tools and real-time insights all in one place.

Staffline: 210% so far but there is more to come

Share On Facebook
share on Linkedin
Print

I first recommended shares in AIM listed Staffline Group (LSE:STAF), a provider and manager of industrial workforces which operates from more than 190 locations in the UK, at 77.5p in March 2010. The payment of a 3.1p per share interim dividend on 9th November – as declared in the company’s results for the first half of calendar 2012 released last month – will take dividends received since the initial recommendation to 18.1p per share and the shares currently trade at 225.5p. So clearly this is no disaster – it has been a bit of a red hot penny share for me with a total gain of 210% so far. But what to do now?

© Tom Winnifrith

Its half calendar year results published on 3rd September, saw Staffline report an adjusted pre-tax profit of £3.59 million, generating earnings per share of 12.4p. The profit was slightly lower than in the comparative prior year period (£3.74 million) as an increase in profit in the core recruitment business was offset by a combination of start-up costs on a number of contracts and anticipated losses from within the company’s ‘Welfare to Work’ division. However, Staffline noted that the trading performance of that business was “slightly ahead” of its estimates and that it remains confident that the business will make a positive impact on group profitability in 2013.

Six month revenue was £163.92 million, with net debt at the period end totalling £8.39 million. However, net current assets increased by £2.20 million during the period, to £7.32 million, with non-current liabilities reduced by £1.09 million, to £5.88 million. The company noted debtor days remained steady at December 2011 levels – with a £3.33 million increase in trade receivables attributable to growth in sales from acquisitions and new customer wins.

The balance sheet is thus in robust shape and, looking ahead, although describing the general recruitment sector in the UK as remaining an extremely competitive environment, Staffline “remains confident” that it will meet current market expectations for the full year. Its confidence is reflected in a near 7% increase in the declared interim dividend and its house broker, Liberum, has full-year earnings per share of 34.5p pencilled in for calendar 2012, rising to more than 40p next. Clearly there is some macro economic-related risk to the company delivering this growth, although its results have continued to show that a focus on ‘blue collar’ work and delivering operating efficiencies to client organisations (whilst enabling them to focus on managing their core businesses) is an attractive proposition in the prevailing economic climate. As such, despite our returns to date, the rating continues to look much too low – a 2013 earnings multiple of little more than 5.5x for potential earnings growth of 16%+. At up to 250p, the shares look worth continuing to buy. Fair value should be at least 320p.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE ON ADVFN, the world's leading stocks and shares information website, provides the private investor with all the latest high-tech trading tools and includes live price data streaming, stock quotes and the option to access 'Level 2' data on all of the world's key exchanges (LSE, NYSE, NASDAQ, Euronext etc).

This area of the ADVFN.com site is for independent financial commentary. These blogs are provided by independent authors via a common carrier platform and do not represent the opinions of ADVFN Plc. ADVFN Plc does not monitor, approve, endorse or exert editorial control over these articles and does not therefore accept responsibility for or make any warranties in connection with or recommend that you or any third party rely on such information. The information available at ADVFN.com is for your general information and use and is not intended to address your particular requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by ADVFN.COM and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making (or refraining from making) any investment decisions. Authors may or may not have positions in stocks that they are discussing but it should be considered very likely that their opinions are aligned with their trading and that they hold positions in companies, forex, commodities and other instruments they discuss.

Leave A Reply

 
Do you want to write for our Newspaper? Get in touch: newspaper@advfn.com