JSEDirect with Simon Brown

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...

The budget and your investments Simon Shares Murray & Roberts (JSE code: MUR) mystery buyer is out, ATM Holding, Munich with now almost 25% stake in MUR. So now what, surely they don't want just 25%? Shoprite* (JSE code: SHP) merger is off and their results were excellent. I am a double happy shareholder. Adcock Ingram (JSE code: AIP) results show turn around happening but share price seems to be...

Simon Shares ZAR X and 4AX exchanges are coming. But do they have any listings we care about and are we able to trade them with our current brokers. Kumba Iron Ore (JSE code: KIO) very impressive and cost per tonne is well down from over $40 to $29, but no dividend. Brait* (JSE code: BAT) shows what a mess New Look as they slice R10billion of the NAV to R8.7billion, and the UK just released best u...

Simon Shares Now Sea Harvest coming to market mid March hot on the heels of Premier Fishing. Spar (JSE code: SPP) another weak retailer trading update, BuildIt very weak, local weak, Ireland alright but hurt but currency and Switzerland also poor. MTN (JSE code: MTN) reports they will have a headline loss for FY2016 after a 1204c HEPS in FY2015. Lots of reasons, mostly Nigeria. Two new Satrix ETFs...

Simon Shares African Phoenix (JSE code: AXL) is back and trading around 55c after a trading update suggesting around 3c HEPS for the first half. With a potential for maybe 8c-10c HEPS for the FY17 that's a PE of around 5x. Local markets gained 4.8% in January, this time last year after a horrid January everybody was saying 'as goes January so goes the year". Well they was wrong and what January do...

Abils back Simon Shares African Bank (Abil) returns to the JSE on Wednesday as African Phoenix Investments (JSE code: AXL). I never expected that, a busted bank survives, albeit this is not the banking assets, just insurance. Top40 index at highs for the year, ya I know it early days and as Stuart reminded me on Twitter the Springboks are also unbeaten for the year. Huge trading update from Kumba...

Too much stuff, sell it all Simon Shares Local retail sales updates thus far are poor. Standouts; Mr Price (JSE code: MRP) still getting their lunch handed to them, Shoprite* (JSE code: SHP) is a retail monster with rest of Africa booming. * I hold ungeared positions . Too much stuff I'm calling it life style creep when you wake up one morning and my large house is no longer big enough. We're sure...

The 2017 predictions show Every year the first JSE Direct of the year is our annual predictions show. Marc Ashton, GM at Moneyweb, Keith McLachlan, Small/Midcap fund manager at Alpha Wealth and Just One Lap founder Simon Brown  review their predictions from the previous year and make their top three predictions for 2017. They then also make a call on the Top40 and ZAR/US$ for the year. You can fin...

Position your portfolio for 2017 with Simon Brown Every year we conclude the JSE Power Hour series with a presentation by Just One Lap founder, Simon Brown . He gives his insights for the year ahead and how to position your portfolio accordingly. Last year the presentation was just days before then Minister Nene was fired and this year's event will be just days after the Standard and Poor's announ...

Reviewing my portfolio for 2016 Simon Shares Standard & Poor's left offshore debt as is (one notch above junk) and dropped the ZAR debt to two notches above junk and on a negative outlook. Standard & Poor's have to decide on junk or not by end 2017 or change the negative outlook to stable, so another anxious 2017 awaits us. Reviewing Simon's portfolio for 2016 Some great returns, some middling and...

Simon Shares Metrofile* (JSE code: MFL) seller in market, use it to pick up some at great price / yield. Sygnia (JSE code: SYG) results see diluted HEPS at 54.16c (vs. 60.40 previous year) and dividend at 52c. I like the business but it is very expensive for a low margin operation without performance fees. Moody's not so moody. Fitch full of surprises and Standard and Poor's lurking. * I hold unge...

Are we Brazilian? Are we Brazilian? Simon Shares Metrofile* (JSE code: MFL) 1million shares on offer at 500c. Subtle? Dis-Chem (JSE code: DCP), like everybody else I did not get in the private placement and I am not looking to buy in the open market. Santova* (JSE code: SNV) getting hit. I hold and continue to hold, not buying any more as I have plenty. Twelve month low is 320c on 25 November 2015...

Trump wins, now what? Trump wins, now what? (Image from Business Insider) Simon Shares Astoria (JSE code: ARA) backs down from its incentive scheme that could have seen up to 25% of new shares issued to directors. Shoprite (JSE code: SHP) = very good. Spar (JSE code: SPP) update = good. Massmart (JSE code: MSM) = poor. Truworths (JSE code: TRU) = horrid. Food doing alright, clothing really struggl...

I hate my life, teach me to trade I hate my life, teach me to tarde Simon Shares Dis-Chem, I will likely apply and stag them on listing. Whitey Basson quitting as Shoprite (JSE code: SHP) CEO at end of year. Buying Tongaat (JSE code: TON). Finance minister Gordhan charges dropped, good for junk threat? Trading Master Class - Trend lines video is online . Up coming events; JSE Power Hour: Thursday...

A letter for when you're dead Simon Shares Still on holiday. Up coming events; IG Trading Master Class: Tuesday at 6pm - Trend lines, break outs and Turtle trading . JSE Power Hour: Thursday at 5.30pm - Offshore investing. The how . A letter for when you're dead When we die hopefully we have a will that'll deal with our estate. But if we've been the one managing investments what happens to them? S...

Simon Shares Pick n Pay (JSE code: PIK) results. Everybody loves them but I am not wowed. Operating margin of 1.5% up from 1.3% is tiny. By comparison Shoprite (JSE code: SHP) is 5.6% and Spar (JSE code: SPP) is 2.8%. Like for like constant currency turnover grew 3.8% against selling price inflation of 5.5%, so still losing market share? New offshore ETFs from CoreShares. A S&P500 tracker and a Gl...