Singing Pig

would anyone be interested in posting value shares they are considering?perhaps set up a list and choose a piggie portfolio of 15 shares and monitor it against a benchmark fund or index?

wide range of ideas technical or fundamental or both like me, uk only please,just post if your interested so I can see some life here and if its worth going forward with

Yeah why not. A great way to see my shares tank on a public website (as opposed to seeing them tank in private).  Might also be a good way to discuss ideas when we see how others are making their selections. 

well thats two of us much better than I thought,I'm having a bit of difficulty with the computer at the moment as I bought it off fred flintstone some years ago may need a nice new one,but if I can get all the programmes to work I'll run a filter through and post up some interesting candidates

OS.....what style of analysis do you use?and do you prefer large or small cap stocks?

Well two is a start!  I'm having computer problems too being based in Asia and the internet connection was badly damaged in the Taiwanese earthquake a couple of weeks back so painfully slow now.  Makes trading a little difficult. 

My trading techniques reflect the amount of time I have available, which isn't much so I tend to be a little conservative.  I tend to avoid the large caps if possible as it is more unlikely that they are priced wrongly with so many analysts looking at them.

I tend to do an initial screen looking at companies with steadily increasing earnings per share, sales, total equity and free cash.  The earnings forecast should also be at a decent level.  A high ROCE is also one of the most important factors.  I then look at the companies I fancy in more detail.  I like to follow proven directors too.  I then use some very basic (its a big weakness of mine) technical analysis.  I very much like a steady growth in the share price.  Companies that are hitting new highs are attractive.  As a last check I look at the analyst opinion (I try not to look at the beginning so as not to be influenced).  Generally with this type of company the consensus will be positive but if its not I want to know why.

One thing I don't do is pay much attention to PE ratios.  Because of this they can tank quickly if some bad news comes up but I generally I find that the higher PE companies actually do better.      

Anyway after all that rambling some typical shares are listed below (not 15 I know).  Some of them have already made me decent profits so there may not be much life left in them but you never know. 

Company                                              Price as of 12 Jan

Babcock International Group BAB            411

Brambles Ltd BXB                                  508

CPL Resources PLC, CPS                      421

Erinaceous Group PLC, ERG                  378

Enterprise Inns PLC, ETI                       1286

Hiscox, HSX                                         282

Hunting Plc, HTG                                  562

Keller Group PLC                                  884

Robert Walters PLC, RWA                    350

Spice Plc, SPI                                     452

Tesco PLC, TSCO                               420   (not a small cap of course!)

 DCC Plc, DCC                                    23.18 (May be selling soon)

 

 

I also use TA and FA for final selections,I like rising earnings,sales and dividends and use ROCE as a filter will post a list after the weekend when I get this blasted computer sorted out,hoping we might attract more posters with shares for the portfolio as we go on

I also like Tesco 16.47 return on capital and 5.4 billion pounds retained for expansion Its extremly likely to be worth far more in 5 years time and generating so much cash its expanding into finance and insurance as well as selling electronics and clothing

As my user name says to those that have read the Zulu principle by jim slater elephants don't gallop,having said that 80% invested in market leaders 20% small and mid cap but have found some interesting candidates

Zulu/Overseas, excellent suggestion. Will post fully on Monday when I'm back in "the office". Also hold three or four of overseas holdings (HTG,KLR,SPI,RWA). Zulu, could we have some more info on the "tree investment".

Good, another one!  Be interested to see what you both come up with.

Zulu, have to agree about Tesco.  Definately one for a long term buy and hold I think. 

I eventually found the e-mail relating to trees but no direct company info without signing up to their newsletter which I'm not inclined to do,but these will be USA stocks so have a look at their forestry sector or if really interested I'll post the newsletter referance for you

Anyway a few stocks to keep an eye on bearing in mind I use technical analysis for buy/sell points so just a watch list,with the larger shares I sell options to purchase below current market value then covered calls once I have them to enhance cashflow/income again using TA to time these

small-mid cap 20%%% weighting

Amlin,Aviva,Hanson,Kerry group,National express,National grid,Old Mutual IT,smiths group,stagecoach,wolsely

Ran a screen Mkt cap> 800m,per<16,Peg<1.6,Div cvr>1.4,ROCE>10 and 6mth RS>1...some interesting candidates

Large cap market leaders 80% weighting

Astra Zenneca,Associated British Foods,BAT,BP,Experian,Home Retail,Provident financial,Premier foods,Tesco,Unilever

I have a short (well not so short really) list of FTSE350 shares which I screen for various characteristics ie value,growth,quality

Still struggling with the computer so I'm unable to run the TA program.

Incidently I'm looking for a data provider that supports metastock and adjusts for stock splits,rights,index or sector changes if anyone knows of one