Nichols PLC Discussion Board http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion http://www.iii.co.uk/icons/logos/uk_logo.gif http://www.iii.co.uk tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9672514
It's not a cheap stock, and while this is fine as long as the double-digit growth continues, the fallout could be severe on any whiff of this slowing down. No overt sign of this yet of course, though the dividend restraint last time out raises issues for me (as per earlier post). And it can't be that hard for a new competitor to muscle in on the scene - though they do seem to have the marketing midas touch.

Then again, the free cash flow is superb and with that, the brand and the balance sheet, you can't rule out someone big gobbling this up at £10 a share.

By Bill1703 ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9672514&action=detail Wed, 23 May 2012 10:35:00 GMT Bill1703 tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9671749
Fully agree with your comments. I bought in at £1.04 donkey tears ago. Fortunately they are in my wie's name and she wouldn't "let" me sell them. I probably wpuld have sold when they had doubled.

This share is now our largest holding ( after Aviva) .

In additrion to useful dividends they are also IHT free.

A double benefit.......................if only for our beneficiaries !!

Keep drinking the stuff. I don't.. By Paringa ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9671749&action=detail Wed, 23 May 2012 08:05:00 GMT Paringa tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9671205
The late trades the other day was profit taking - simple as that. The two £38k trades being a double print – nothing more.

I'm a long-term holder, as you are, and have been for years. Sitting on a healthy profit but reluctant to sell as the stock value keeps on rising and the dividends beat anything I can reap from a bank or an alternative investment.

As long as current earnings continue to beat previous years by double digits, I shall hold tight and enjoy the ride and I don't see any reason to do otherwise. Do you?
By telem ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9671205&action=detail Tue, 22 May 2012 23:43:00 GMT telem tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9666335
Is something going on?

Thoughts welcome. By Paringa ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9666335&action=detail Mon, 21 May 2012 16:59:00 GMT Paringa tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9401992
BUT... sales up 18%, profit and underlying EPS up 20%, dividends up 13%....

Divi cover already well above 2x, and net cash increasing from £15m to £20m, so why the restraint on dividends? Either they are expecting a sharp drop off in profit growth - which is not reflected in the statement - or they have near-term plans for the huge cash pile.

Fair enough if it's the latter - they have successfully bolted-on a number of small acquisitions in recent times - but can't be so easy to keep doing this. And if not, then there is a compelling argument for ramping up the DPS level and/or a substantial share buy-back. By Bill1703 ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9401992&action=detail Thu, 08 Mar 2012 08:35:00 GMT Bill1703 tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9374218 Today (2012-03-01 18:52:27)
http://bit.ly/xg21eP By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9374218&action=detail Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:43:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9336529 It's been an amazing year so far.....
Wed, Feb 22, 2012,7:36 pm
http://bit.ly/wffHAP By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9336529&action=detail Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:18:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9274772 http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/uae-takes-no-chances-with-vimto-recall By dollarking ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9274772&action=detail Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:49:00 GMT dollarking tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9131205 TOBY GREEN
SATURDAY
07 JANUARY 2012
http://ind.pn/wR64B1 By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9131205&action=detail Sat, 07 Jan 2012 10:12:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9128007 06/01/2012
GROWTH COMPANY
http://bit.ly/xg5o3r By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9128007&action=detail Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:53:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9126634 Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Daily PostJan 6
http://bit.ly/xceNH4 By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9126634&action=detail Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:54:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.9074088 Small caps:
By Keyur Patel
http://on.ft.com/ubkby0


High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/624369b0-2736-11e1-b7ec-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1ge0QMsBr

Nichols , the maker of soft drink Vimto, gained 1.6 per cent to 521p. Traders linked the interest to news on Wednesday that Coca-Cola would invest $5bn in the Middle East and North Africa over the next 10 years and had agreed to buy around half of the shares in Aujan Industries, one of the largest beverage companies in the Middle East. Aujun owns rights to produce and sell Vimto.
Shore Capital took the view that the deal provided a significant opportunity to grow Vimto in the long run. “Even if it did not look to acquire the Vimto brand, we expect the deal to provide further distribution opportunities. . .as a result of Coca-Cola’s investment,” it said.
By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=9074088&action=detail Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:16:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.8612419 04/08/2011 Ben Jaglom
http://www.growthcompany.co.uk/recommendations/1645883/nichols.thtml


Soft drinks group Nichols (NICL), the company behind the Vimto brand, has reported a 20.4% increase in pre-tax profits for the six months to June amid a rise in overseas sales.

The AIM-50 constituent reported pre-tax profits of £7.2m on sales up 14.4% to £50.5m. EPS increased by 23.8% to 14.62p while the interim dividend rose 12.3% to 9.1p. A net cash position of £14.4m was also declared.

The increases were driven by growth across its territories, with its UK business growing sales by 11% while international sales were up 13% due to a 14% rise in sales to Africa and an 11% rise in sales to the Middle East. Last year it was well publicised that Nichols had received considerable orders from the Middle East due to the popularity of its Vimto drink among Muslims fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, as it was said to provide an energy boost.

Nichols added that over the period it launched the Levi Roots brand of Caribbean fruit drinks, named after the Dragon's Den contestant and entrepreneur behind the 'Reggae Reggae' brand. It noted that, while there had been 'well-documented economic challenges affecting the consumer', margins had been maintained by 'a combination of price increases, cost efficiencies, new product development and international business growth'.

Following the results, analysts at house broker Brewin Dolphin increased their forecasts. The broker is pencilling in pre-tax profits of £16.6m (EPS: 33.6p) on turnover of £93.5m for the year to December 2011. Profits of £17.4m on sales of £98m are forecast for 2012.

Having almost tripled its 2009 price of 200p, Nichols has grown impressively over the past few years at a time when most of its sector peers have suffered due to the reduction in consumer spending. Growing at a considerable rate in the Middle East and bolstered by its popularity amongst Muslims fasting for Ramadan (which falls in the second half of the year), the company looks set to expand on its existing overseas footprint.

Tags: British beverages, British brands, Business in the Middle East, Levi Roots, Reggae Reggae brand, UK consumer cutbacks

Sector: Beverages

Companies: Nichols

Market cap: £211.9mPE Forecast: 17.1
Share price: 575p By SpikeyDT ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=8612419&action=detail Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:00:00 GMT SpikeyDT tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.8563952
Any reasons known ? By Paringa ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=8563952&action=detail Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:35:00 GMT Paringa tag:iii.co.uk,2003:tst.8327128
Have held them for over seven years .The only reason I did not cash in a long time ago is because my wife has fallen in love with the half yearly dividends and I am not brave enough to go against her will.

Her logic is that the grandchildren love Vimto!

Anyway the wife's logic has done me proud so far.

To heck with my "considered" opinion although there are some useful IHT advantages. By Paringa ]]> http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:NICL.L&display=discussion&id=8327128&action=detail Tue, 31 May 2011 13:03:00 GMT Paringa