As I noted six months ago Bunzl (BNZL), the “specialist international distribution and services group”, may be a FTSE 100 company but it is not particularly well known. Nevertheless, it keeps on making business progress as observed by today’s first half 2023 numbers with it “upgrading our 2023 adjusted operating profit guidance, supported by a meaningful increase in our operating margin expectations”. Shows that despite all the doom and gloom out there, the world is not impossible right?

Three months or so ago, I observed that “DCC (DCC) is a little bit of a tricky company to understand” HERE. I know its website observes “provide solutions the world needs across three transformative sectors: energy, healthcare and technology; where we acquire, improve and grow diverse businesses”, but that hardly makes matters easier. Elsewhere, I have seen others use “international sales, marketing and support services group operating”, but I personally prefer the phrase “facilitation”.

As a boring (predominately) large cap global investor, it has perhaps been a bit of a surprise that it took me years to warm to FTSE 100 company Bunzl (BNZL), which describes itself as a “multinational distribution and outsourcing company”, which has banged out thirty years of rising dividends. A few months ago, I observed I thought it would be smart to “wake me up if Bunzl shares fall back below a 26 quid price (again)”. That has not happened and today the shares are kicking around above a thirty quid share price. Time for me to get (finally) more excited or not?

I am so happy that today is a Thursday during the quarterly global corporate earnings season, which means I am busy looking at a hundred (and one) companies and can ignore the latest political “excitements”. And to think some people voted for the current PM, in a choice of two, only six weeks or so ago! Back to the corporate world and three UK-listed names which have published a few new thoughts today.

Hello Share Scrapers. Companies essential in the way the business world turns have a stronger chance of growing their share price than most other concerns in this very dodgy economic climate. One such outfit is Bunzl (BNZL), a massive Footsie distribution company sending out stuff that’s important to other companies all over the world.

Almost exactly a year ago, I asked myself “I historically mucked it up on Bunzl (BNZL), so what do I think now?”. I concluded back then that it was a worthy business, which had grown its revenue, profit and cash flow over time but I passed on buying the shares as I was fired up by a bunch of different sectors and corporate names. Though, despite the stock falling about 4% this morning, it is still up over 10% during the last year. So should I be more boring and buy the stock?

If my maths is correct, it is almost one hundred months ago that I quit being an institutional fund manager. I certainly have no regrets. Anyhow, I do recall that one colleague was banging on about the attraction of Bunzl (BNZL), the ‘specialist international distribution and services’ company, at the time. Including dividends it has delivered a 200% gain since then which is far from shabby…even if at the time (and subsequently in my own pension fund) I’d invested in global companies I have inherently been much more excited by. So – on the last day of August, following the publication of first half numbers – what do I think now?

A rough day in the markets as worries about the coronavirus, supply chains and much else linger. If you noted my call that sub thirty quid was a potentially interesting level for Carnival (CCL), I guess today is the day for acquiring a few. Naturally, I will be joining... but onto something more boring…

As a self-confessed investment sad-o, I really like statistics such as when the guys who started the US discount hotel chain Motel 6 opened their first roadside inn in 1962, an ounce of gold would have apparently bought you a six night stay. Now (at today's prices) it buys you a twenty one night stay. Now we can debate whether you want to spend three weeks in a Motel 6 or not...but you get the point I am trying to make. A bit of gold goes a long way to improve the performance of the characteristics of your portfolio in times of strife…

Thanks to the excellent ShareProphets search functionality, I can see that I last (and initially) wrote on the international distribution company Bunzl (BNZL) last August. Within that article I also shared the useful information that apparently to 'bunzl' someone is 'to prank someone gently, randomly, and inexplicably'. Today's double-digit percentage dump by a company beloved by dividend munchers and earnest (but very boring) fund manager types is very, very out of character...

I am thankful to the Urban Dictionary (frequently a source of...insight), which tells me that to 'bunzl' someone is 'to prank someone gently, randomly, and inexplicably'. You learn something new everyday. 'Bunzl' (BNZL) is also one of the lowest profile members of the FTSE 100 and a description of its core activities - a focused and successful international distribution group providing customised solutions to B2B customers in 30 countries and six market sectors - is suitably opaque too…

Hello Share Scrapers. Already this week, I’ve brought to your notice DCC (DCC), a Footsie distribution giant. I’m so cheerful about the sector, I bring you another one which is also in the big 100 club.