Share Sleuth

Shenanigans at Eurasian Natural Resources remind investors to consider not just what kind of company they're buying but who they're going into business with.

Fast growing Intertek is the perfect company in every respect bar one, its share price. Even that might not be beyond justification.

British Polythene Industries is in an attractive business for value investors. Mundane, essential, and stigmatised because of environmental concerns about polythene, it’s likely to be overlooked by investors with more glamorous tastes.

Croda’s share price has risen by more than five times since 2005, mainly in the last few years. It’s unbroken trend in rising profit and growth stretches back to 2000 though, not the result of a change of strategy so much as increasing recognition by customers and investors that the strategy is working.

Aerospace and auto engineer Senior is a good company in a booming market.

LED manufacturer Dialight has grown fast since it developed its first industrial light in 2009. It’s not only a company to watch, but a company to learn from.

When I went on holiday two weeks ago I wasn’t expecting one of the portfolio holdings to go into administration, but if it was going to happen, I suppose it would most likely have happened to Metalrax.

Howden Joinery has enjoyed a spectacular turnaround since 2005 when MFI, the once ubiquitous retailer, appointed the head of its trade business as chief executive.

There are many differences between investors and traders, but the most important is perhaps the least discussed. Investing can improve companies, while trading can destroy them.