paul1945
13 Nov 2017
Fall any reason for big drop please
gretel
01 Nov 2017
Peel Hunt increase target price to 275p Peel Hunt have today increased their target price to 275p (from 245p) and say Buy:[link]
velocipede
12 Oct 2017
Re: New recent highs now Thanks for the updates, Gretel. I bought this and Sophos and won't be touching them for quite some time, hopefully. Can only see it going one way in the longer term, and it's nice to have a share you don't have to keep watching every five minutes.
gretel
12 Oct 2017
New recent highs now Lovely stuff. I can't see any more recent news flow than as per my last post, so this looks like solid institutional buying driving the price up.
gretel
03 Oct 2017
Two impressive news releases I like these two pieces of news not posted here yet - showing NCC's ambitions for growth in both the governmental and automotive sectors:[link] hires three Bank of England cyber experts to beef up assurance businessJohn Leyden 15 Sep 2017 at 10:28Three of the Bank of England’s cyber specialists have joined NCC Group to lead a newly established threat assurance unit at the UK-based security consultancy firm.In their new roles within NCC’s new Centre for Evolved Next-generation Threat Assurance (CENTA), Phillip Larbey, Anthony Long and Fiona Paterson will be advising governments, regulators and regulated institutions on cyber resilience and best practice. Larbey, former head of sector for the Bank of England’s cyber functions, has been appointed as associate director of NCC Group and managing principal of CENTA.... ....Ben Jepson, director for risk management and governance at NCC Group, said: “Governments and regulators are some of the most at-risk and highly regulated institutions, and we created CENTA to offer a dedicated advisory practice to help enhance their resilience to cyber threats. Phillip, Anthony and Fiona each bring with them unrivalled expertise and a broad network of contacts, which will be invaluable in achieving our mission of raising security standards worldwide.”[link] Group opens automotive facility and headhunts top talentHeadquartered in Manchester, with 35 offices across the world, NCC Group employs more than 2,000 people.Global cyber security and risk mitigation expert NCC Group has opened its first dedicated automotive cyber security assessment, research and training facility.The new facility in Greater Manchester provides the company’s specialist automotive team with a dedicated space to carry out its cutting-edge research, perform training and complete practical security assessments on client vehicles.Current security concerns in the automotive sector range from vulnerabilities in telematics and infotainment systems, to V2X technologies and autonomous sensors.Andy Davis, transport assurance practice director at NCC Group, said: “Consumer demand for the newest functionality often results in manufacturers developing new features without proper consideration for the potential security implications.“Furthermore, where vehicles are constructed using a variety of components from different manufacturers, the number of vulnerabilities grows significantly.”
gretel
22 Sep 2017
Peel Hunt : Buy with 245p target Peel Hunt say Buy with a 245p target:[link] tipped on Motley Fool:"Over the past few years, several high-profile cyber attacks have disrupted operations at major companies, sending the demand for cybersecurity expertise and products skyrocketing. Global cybersecurity and risk mitigation expert NCC (LSE: NCC) seems to have missed this opportunity. As demand for cybersecurity expertise has spiked, NCC has seen the value of its shares fall by 40% year-to-date following two profit warnings.To try and stem the bleeding, management commissioned a strategic review, and it looks as if these actions are starting to pay off. Indeed, today the company published a trading update covering the three-month period from 1 June to 31 August ahead of its Annual General Meeting showing a 5.6% increase in continuing revenue to £62.7m. Management also reports that “implementation of the Strategic Plan is gathering momentum with a number of new initiatives underway.” The disposal of several non-core businesses is also progressing well.NCC is trying to turn itself around in the perfect environment. The size of its end market is multiplying, providing a tailwind to group growth. And I believe that this tailwind, coupled with management’s actions to restructure NCC’s offering, should lead to returns for investors in the months and years ahead. City analysts are already projecting a recovery next year with earnings per share growth of 13% pencilled in for the fiscal year ending 31 May 2018, followed by growth of 16% for the following year — a dramatic turnaround from last year’s decline of 43%."[link]
stocklobster
21 Sep 2017
Re: Positive trading statement Certainly wouldnt describe it as a disaster but i dont think it's terribly positive. Revenue tells us nothing about profitability and personally i would always rather see growth in organic areas rather than being to reliant on acquisitions. SL
gretel
21 Sep 2017
Positive trading statement A nice, solid trading statement with no surprises, which is just what the market wants to see.News flow soon hopefully re the sales of the Web Performance and Software Testing businesses. Good to see Fox-IT looking better and a more focused business model moving away from low margin 3rd party sales.The outlook comments re "buoyant" markets are enough to keep momentum going:"We have made a solid start to the new financial year. Results are in line with the Board's expectations and the implementation of the Strategic Plan is gathering momentum with a number of new initiatives underway. These are being closely managed and monitored to ensure we achieve the target benefits."Our underlying markets remain buoyant. We continue to deliver growth while also re-positioning the business to focus on areas that leverage our key strengths and increase margins, through growth in higher value added services."
onewayticket
19 Sep 2017
Re: Over Another slow time winner out the owt stable.One where you put the money in and relaxA bit further to rise yet though would be my predictionOwn due diligence
gretel
14 Sep 2017
RNS: Kames Capital buy over 3% Kames Capital are a new major shareholder as they've gone above 3%, with a holding of 8.78m shares:[link] crossed this threshold on Monday, so I wonder if they've been continung to buy since then and thus pushing up the price.
gretel
24 Aug 2017
Schroders buying and above 5% Per this RNS just out, looks like Schroders are a new major shareholder, going above 5% with 14.33m shares:[link]
onewayticket
10 Aug 2017
Over £2 Spy a trend and follow your gut instinct on it.NCC was oversold in a market clamouring for cyber security.Chuffed. Own due diligence
paul1945
24 Jul 2017
Brokers Canaccord + target 265 Bereberg - target 155 !
gretel
24 Jul 2017
Share of the week on i.i.i [link] of the Week: On the long road to recoveryDavid Brenchley | Fri, 21st July 2017 - 16
3 Sometimes, the road to recovery can seem an insurmountable challenge. You'd certainly think that would be the case after a quick glance at the share price chart of NCC (NCC).A profits warning back in late October hammered the cyber security expert and the stock slumped 38% in 24 hours. It had been trading at an all-time high of 377p just 16 days previously.The following February it was hit again when a third-quarter trading update showed cash profit would be down by 20% and the group had initiated a strategic review of its poorly performing assurance division.All told, NCC lost three-quarters of its value in four months, diving to a six-year low 88p.Since then, it's been busy getting its act together. The episode cost chief executive Rob Cotton the job he'd held for 17 years. The search for his replacement continues, with chief financial officer Brian Tenner taking the helm in the interim and Chris Stone, chairman at AIM-listed CityFibre (CITY), joining as executive chairman.And NCC shares have bounced back, filling the gap-down last February and very visible on the chart. They closed last week at 167p, ahead of hotly anticipated final results and update on the strategic review due Tuesday.And NCC didn't disappoint, with shares up 9% on the day and 18% for the week to 196p. Clearly challenges remain, but broker Jefferies says Tenner and Stone have "quickly cleaned house" and "set a credible course for recovery".Unsurprisingly, the numbers did not make for pretty reading, but they were in line with revised guidance: group revenue rose 17% year-on-year at £244.5 million, with operating profit down a third to £27.5 million.However, lower-than-expected net debt of £43.7 million – down from £48.8 million – was a pleasant surprise and the dividend was maintained at 4.65p per share.The strategic review threw up some positives, too – markets and customer views of NCC's services are good, while its Escrow division "remains an attractive business and stabilises the group". It will sell its web performance and software testing businesses and write down £62 million worth of intangible assets, as well as improving internal organisation."Our strategic review has identified the business's unique opportunity," said Stone. "But we need to change how we organise ourselves and improve our internal business processes."When we have successfully managed our way through this transitional period, improved our organisation and how we go to market, we see significant upside opportunities and material value creation."While N+1 Singer analyst Oliver Knott reckons the current share price is "up with events", Jefferies' Ken Rumph remains positive, albeit with a target price reduced by 7% to 252p.NCC shares aren't cheap, and clearly on a recovery rating - a revised earnings per share forecast for 2018 of 7.1p puts them on a forward price/earnings (PE) ratio of 27.7 times.That said, NCC's inherent strengths and its 2.3% yield should support shares, while the new management team's master plan is put into action.Rumph admits the recovery story is "far from a no-brainer" and notes many investors will prefer to "wait and see". Management certainly isn't, though. Five directors, including Stone and Tenner, picked up a total of 227,543 shares at around the 180p mark.At a combined total of over £400,000 spent between them, that suggests their confidence in the business is high. It's already a very profitable trade."
maroon bells
21 Jul 2017
Was lucky enough to buy on last dip @98 so very happy today with my first double of the year!I think we may hit resistance at 220-230 but happy to hold for now.
