JSEDirect with Simon Brown

Simon Shares Shoprite* (JSE code: SHP) results were stellar, the best food retailer anywhere on this planet? Operating margin from 5.6% last year to 5.76% in the 2017 (more than double that of Pick n Pay), market share growing, rest of Africa rocking (albeit some currency pains). ADvTech (JSE code: ADH) results show tertiary booming but schools under a bit of pressure that they partly blame on "ri...

Simon Shares Curro (JSE code: COH) were mixed but mostly good. The lower priced schools struggled and the tertiary are still getting off the ground and will be unbundled in September. But for a stock on a PE of some 100x HEPS growth of just 22% is way to low. Anchor Group (JSE code: ACG) results were as expected from their trading update - a massive disappointment. Last March I was expecting HEPS...

Simon Shares New all time highs locally for the All Share Index, Indi25, Top40 and ALSI futures as latter traded one contract at 50,000 for first time ever. I love all time highs. Upcoming events; JSE Power Hour: Getting trading right with Trader Petri JSE Power Hour: Disruptions or Innovation We Get Mail Johan If everyone is making money from trading, who are they making the money off? The answer...

Simon Shares British American Tobacco (JSE code: BTI) is in trouble on two fronts. Firstly the US is looking at requiring nicotine be reduce to non-addictive levels. Then the UK is investigating the company bribing African governments to get favourable smoking legislation. I suspect many had though the legal issues for these companies were behind them. Bank results are showing surprisingly low dab...

Simon Shares PPC (JSE code: PPC) announced departure of CEO and share tanks. This company in serious board room trouble. Kumba (JSE code: KIO) results were decent, dividend was wild (ahead of actual HEPS) as they compensated shareholders for missed dividends! This is odd and asks the question about dividends going forward. Concern is average cash break-even price of US$43/tonne was up from US$29/t...

Simon Shares Finally, 5 weeks after moving my FTTH has been installed so I am going to Periscope each recording as it happens which is typically Wednesday afternoon. https://www.pscp.tv/SimonPB/ Retail trading updates coming in and as expected they are mostly bleak, but we are seeing the impact of the rains mostly returning. Netflix is a monster, over 100million customers world wide. Long4Life is...

Simon Shares Finally, 5 weeks after moving my FTTH has been installed so I am going to Periscope each recording as it happens which is typically Wednesday afternoon.  Calgro M3* (JSE code: CGR) update on their missing SENS. Feeling is that the impact is marginal and will hardly hurt earnings? Time will tell, I still don't like asymmetrical information. Oakbay (JSE code: ORL) is delisting from the...

Simon Shares New Satrix ETFs; S&P500, MSCI World Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Markets and at low 'target' TERs. A price war in the local ETF offerings? Wednesday was exactly ten years since the UK had an interest rate increase from the BoE? Calgro M3* (JSE code: CGR) issued a press release stating that they're cutting back on 'wet work' in the Western Cape due to drought. But no SENS...

Simon Shares Taste (JSE code: TAS) couldn't get the public to take up all of the 120million new shares, but a new shareholder of note did and it good news for the company. Naspers (JSE code: NPN) results talk of core HEPS. Now sure they tell us what 'core' means but as always I very skeptical of anything that is not IFRS. Wescoal (JSE code: WSL) results in part really hit it out the park with prod...

Simon Shares Woolies* (JSE code: WHL) share price is under pressure hitting 12 month lows on Monday. Recession is hurting them as high LSM consumers shop down and even Australia is struggling economically. The winner here will be Shoprite* (JSE code: SHP) as they cater for mid/low LSM consumers and will pick up Woolies shoppers. Index changes effective Monday 19th. Only changes from the main four...

Simon Shares Finally moving so at the pointy end of going small. Move date is next Wednesday which is also my recording day, so frankly not sure what the plan is re JSE Direct for next week. Will try make a plan, maybe a rebroadcast. PPC (JSE code: PPC), HEPS down 93% at 7c but this is all about the rest of Africa and a possible merger with AfriSam. Steinhoff (JSE code: SNH) results not bad, but s...

Simon Shares Famous Brands* (JSE code: FBR) results were decent enough with the UK acquisition only adding a small bit to the bottom line. I have been buying in the low R130's. An article on Moneyweb that strips out the top five expensive and heavy weighted stocks in the Top40 shows a historic PE of around 12.5x. In other words offering value and adding to my bullish thesis.  Spar (JSE code: SPP)...

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Simon Shares Blitz round of result comments; Richemont* (JSE code: CFR) Calgro M3* (JSE code: CGR) Lonmin (JSE code: LON) Astral (JSE code: ARL) Vodacom (JSE code: VOD) Balwin (JSE code: BWN) * I hold ungeared positions. Upcoming events; CoreShares investment disciplines & transactional website JSE Power Hour: Investing while junk JSE Power Hour: Ways that management can mislead investors CoreShar...

Simon Shares Shoprite* (JSE code: SHP) announced that former CEO Basson would be exercising a put option to company forcing it to buy back some R1.8billion of Shoprite shares. No problem, except did we know about this put structure? They say it was part of his December 2003 employment contract, but the annual reports of 2003/4/5 make no mention of it? Adcorp (JSE code: ADR), horror update. They ar...

Simon Shares You know Apple results were truly average when even the fan boys say it was just okay. But that pile of cash, over a quarter trillion US$! MTN update looks decent for South Africa and Nigeria. Still tough in both but at least revenue is improving. Locally April vehicle sales and PMI data both fell off a cliff. But with Easter in March last year we're not comparing apples with apples,...

Simon Shares Purple (JSE code: PPE) who own Easy Equities had a very rough set results and as they comment in the commentary they need a capital injection. What does tihs mean for the business and clients? @csavagegt247 @Richards_Karin @Caro1Graham @gary_dyk @EasyEquities Some more comforting news regarding EE's nominee First World Trader Nominees (FTW). Taken from their T&C's. pic.twitter.com/oXS...

Simon Shares UK snap election for 8 June and French first round presidential elections this Sunday. Pick n Pay (JSE code: PIK) results looking decent but stock remains expensive. Combined Motor Holdings (JSE code: CMH), amazing results in a tough space. Top management and solid balance sheet. World Bank cuts our 2017 growth target from their original 1.1% to 0.6%, after cabinet reshuffle and subse...

Simon Shares Our banks are now being downgraded by S&P and Fitch, this is to be expected. Tongaat*, I have been buying and now have full allocation. Still my preferred second tier portfolio pick. Taste selling jewelry and doubling down on international food brands with another rights issue coming. Japan, worth investing in? Upcoming events JSE Power Hour: Listed property instead or buy-to-let * I...

Down we go Standard and Poors downgraded our offshore foreign debt, not ZAR debt. This is about 10% of total SA debt. Technically we're not junk as that requires two agencies to rate us junk. But all said this is bad and expected and our portfolios should have been ready and waiting. It took countries like Uruguay, Croatia, Ireland etc. on average 7 years to regain their investment grade status af...

Simon Shares Capitec* (JSE code: CPI) through results got everybody talking about the "arrears coverage ratio" dropping to 208% vs. 223% previously and vs. 196% in 2015. This got all the attention last time as well, I not concerned and my 'aggressive' buy price is now around R719 . I have some USD expenses due in the next week or so and have taken a hedge using NEWUSD* just in case. Anchor Capital...

Simon Shares Capitec* (JSE code: CPI) through R800. This is why I don't try time exits on long-term investments. Things can get crazy. Pembury is listing their schools division and it will likely do well on listing but I am not convinced and am not applying for allocation. Has the Trump rally hit a wall? Most of the cash for my Sea Harvest allocation has reappeared in my brokerage account, suggest...

Simon Shares Anchor Capital (JSE code: ACG) been getting pounded, after almost 2000c in late 2015 now around 600c. HomeChoice International (JSE code: HIL) is an online machine at making money, but liquidity is zero. Four trades this months and a spread of 1400c / 3540c. So just avoid. Oil under pressure, good for fishing companies and motorists. Sasol* (JSE code: SOL) has some hedges at around $4...

Simon Shares Metrofile* (JSE code: MFL) results were modest but the dividend was up 18% at 13c and core operations also increased 18%. You can now buy shares in the South African Reserve Bank! But should you? Sea Harvest (JSE code: SHG) will be listing later this month. I will apply for allocation. Tongaat* (JSE code: TON) is coming under some selling pressure down to around R123.50. Upcoming even...

Simon Shares New tax year and I have already loaded another R33k into my tax-free account and will be buying as per our high risk model portfolio. The annual Buffett letter was published last weekend. Always good reading, I especially like his comments on buying assets with shares (and hence paying a fortune). He also updates on his bet on the VOO vs. hedge funds (spoiler, VOO wining by a mile). T...