Imperial Brands (IMB) has announced results for its half year ended 31st March 2022 emphasising “stabilisation of our core combustible business” and “successful consumer trials validate our approach and strengthen our confidence in our Next Generation Product strategy”. This sounds encouraging.
As a lifelong non-smoker it is a bit ridiculous how much of an investment fan I am of Imperial Brands (IMB) shares, which are up over 8% today after the company’s first half numbers. But if everything that was potentially bad for you was not allowed and taxed then investors in a bunch of other consumer, defence, industrial, commodity and other areas would not be allowed. Given the world’s stock markets do tend to have to figure out over time if a sector and/or company is justifiable or not, my view is that all adults - and pension funds - can figure out whether they want to invest somewhere or not.
Imperial Brands (IMB) has announced in a trading update “first-half adjusted group operating profit ahead of last year on constant currency basis” and full-year outlook in line with guidance.
For a non-smoker it is a bit of a surprise that I am such a fanboy of Imperial Brands (IMB) shares. So what about today’s pre-close trading update?
I was a bit busy on Friday and missed two things. The first was that Rolls-Royce (RR.) shares pushed up nicely, which is good news given I am a fan of the stock (as last noted here, in February). I was pleased to read that “the owner of Air India is looking to snap up around 30 Airbus aircraft, which are powered by engines built by the UK’s leading engineering group". That was nice, but the real reason for the rise in shares was a few bid rumours based on the fact that, as the Mail on Sunday puts it, “arch-rival BAE Systems (BA.) could be a contender". All good fun…but don’t ever bet on bids alone. Meanwhile, I want to talk about Imperial Brands (IMB)...
Imperial Brands (IMB) has announced an update on its actions and impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concluding on Russia “an orderly transfer of our business as a going concern would be in the best interests… have begun negotiations with a local third party about a transfer”.
Imperial Brands (IMB) has announced results for its year ended 30th September 2021, emphasising “operational improvements supporting growth in net revenue, profit and free cash flow”.
There are naturally many different views on tobacco shares. I have never smoked and dislike even being moderately close to smokers, but Imperial Brands (IMB) is in the top half of my personal pension fund portfolio. And, as I noted back in July, it is not the only UK listed name in the global sector which is cheap. I have hardly made a fortune holding shares in Imperial Brands over the last couple of years, but I have done alright, aided by increasing my position earlier this year (and then there have been some very reasonable dividend payments too – more on this later). So what do I make of today’s full year numbers to the end of September?
