Stocks I still love include Tate & Lyle and James Halstead

As noted back in November, I am a fan of Tate & Lyle (TATE) shares so it is pleasing to see them up 8% odd year-to-date. There are a bunch of reasons for this as I observed nearly five months ago, but the news today is that it’s buying a "leading prebiotic dietary fibre business in China from ChemPartner Pharmatech Co., Ltd for a total consideration of US$237 million". It is far from a boring thing to do, in fact - for a company which is outsourcing the management of much of its core historic business shortly - it is actually quite interesting to help it access more of the Asian/emerging market world over time. I remain a fan. And what also about James Halstead (JHD), “the AIM listed manufacturer and international distributor of commercial floor coverings”, whose shares are most certainly not up year-to-date?

James Halstead (#JHD) – H1 EPS -3%, DPS +6%, “challenges continue”

James Halstead (#JHD) – increased costs, H1 profit has been affected “to a marginal extent”

James Halstead – (Again) what a solid, family-influenced, business

It is easy to make investment selection errors but it is also easy to miss out on sensible investment opportunities. Over the last 10 months I have written twice about the industrial flooring company James Halstead (JHD), most recently back at the end of March. Back then I talked about that ‘looking for a bad day (or three) share price below 500p feels like a sensible longer-term buy of this sensible family influenced name forged in 1915’. Judging by today’s update from the company, I should have taken advantage of the opportunity I had to do that back in May.

James Halstead (#JHD) – H2 “record levels” trading despite “ongoing uncertainties”

James Halstead: What a solid, family influenced, business

Almost six months ago, here, I wrote about the industrial flooring company James Halstead (JHD) concluding that ‘at a billion quid market cap now and unlikely to best £50 million of operating profit this year, it is not a cheap stock but if you dig below the surface it is an impressive one’.  With the shares little changed from a 500 pence share price, how did today’s half-year numbers to the end of last year get on?

James Halstead (#JHD) – H1 to end Dec expects profit maintained but notes pressures

In praise of James Halstead plc

For another time are my views on Rolls-Royce (RR.) after its big money raising announcement today because today I actually want to dole out some praise. I know previously (for example here) I have lauded Next (NXT) for its commitment to a high level of disclosures and a detailed plan, and typically these are the sort of traits I look for. You can have all the numbers and insights you like but ultimately you are putting your faith into a management team and their day-to-day capabilities. I love the insights from big themes and various important numbers, but company culture matters hugely too. And talking about culture, brings me to the industrial flooring company James Halstead (JHD)...

James Halstead (#JHD) – Apr-Jun revenue averaged just over 70% of prior year, July continued improvement, second interim dividend

James Halstead – emphasises delivering “record pre-tax profit”… but value?

Commercial flooring manufacturer and distributor, James Halstead (JHD) has updated including “the company expects to report record pre-tax profit for the half-year… Turnover in the UK was 6.8% ahead of the prior year, a creditable performance against the prevailing market conditions. Underlying margins held up”. The shares have though failed to respond positively…

James Halstead (#JHD) – H1 underlying margins “held up” but impacted by “a significant engineering breakdown” & associated incremental labour costs

James Halstead (#JHD) – FY “modest” profit growth “in still difficult trading conditions”

James Halstead – strange name, decent company

I like a company whose name does not give too much away as it probably means that many investor and analyst types will overlook it. This means that in today's results crop James Halstead (JHD) stands out…

James Halstead (#JHD) – H1 EPS +3.4%, DPS +3.9%, ‘confidence in continued progress through 2019’

James Halstead (#JHD) – December “disappointing” but January ahead of comparative period & “confidence in full year progress continues”

Flooring Is Boring but this 100-Year-Old Specialist Knows How to Make Profits Zing

Hello Share Munchers. Nobody could accuse me of only featuring glamorous shares. And today’s choice shines in a field which is just about as boring as you can get. James Halstead (JHD) makes industrial floors. But it’s a reliable money-maker and a decent divi-payer. And in these difficult days, one appreciates companies which consistently bring in the sheaves...

James Halstead (#JHD) – trading “encouraging” & ahead of prior year, confident

James Halstead (#JHD) – FY record turnover, profit “in line with last year” after large new product development

James Halstead (#JHD) – “very early stages of evaluating making an offer for Airea” (#AIEA)

James Halstead (#JHD) – H1 profit “in line with expectations”, revenue +5%, positive for FY