winningstreak
29 Apr 2015
Slippery slope... Things going the wrong way (for the moment at least), makes me feel thatThorntons is on a bit of a slippery slope when taking into account the huge current pension fund deficit.Sorry to be somewhat pessimistic.ws
The Pieman
14 Apr 2015
Bit of life? Lambrini Girls predictions were pretty spot on. Unsure what tea leaves (Granny's?) were used, but the 70p call was quite amazing. However, we seem to be seeing a bit of life...............certainly hope so.
II Editor
06 Apr 2015
NEW ARTICLE: Trends and Targets for 6/04/2015 "Thorntons PLC. (LSE:THT)Â As every grandparent knows, grandchildren and chocolate are a problem. Easter is a particular nuisance as chokky eggs are generally advertised six weeks in advance. Mrs Trends&Targets dutifully buys two eggs immediately. ..."[link]
janebolacha
01 Mar 2015
I found this statement by the CEO in the last trading Update astonishing:"Jonathan Hart, Thorntons' Chief Executive, commented:"The Retail division experienced strong like-for-like sales growth in the quarter with an outstanding Christmas season which highlights our shoppers' appreciation of our brand, product offering and in-store experience. Demand for our boxed chocolates, seasonal specialities and advent calendars was particularly high. "Alongside very positive results from our Retail division for the second year running, we were disappointed that the continued growth we anticipated in the UK Commercial channel of our FMCG division had not been delivered. The challenges we experienced within specific grocers accounted for the majority of the share decline. "Good growth in many of our grocery, convenience and high street accounts and a strong performance from our Retail division gives us confidence in shopper demand for our brand and products. We continue with our transformation towards an FMCG business and the investment in our people, systems and factory is ongoing. We have good plans for the spring seasons and the Board remains confident in its multi-channel strategy and ongoing transformation." Translation: Retail sales through our own shops are doing fine but FCMG sales have tanked and nobody shopping in supermarkets wants to buy our chocolates. That's why we are continuing to run down our Retail operation and turn ourselves into an FCMG business where we are competing with dozens of other brands on supermarket shelves and where the big retailers we depend on for shelf space are notoriously and increasingly rapacious.Why am I sceptical about this company and the quality of its management?.
Misty Creamybib
27 Feb 2015
Results When this share dropped to 90p I started watching it in a 'short portfolio'. Basically a list of shares I think are going in to wrong direction.Based on the forecasts available on digitallook the share does look reasonable but that of course carries the caveats...a) The forecasts are reasonably up to dateb) The business is delpoying a strategy which will steadily add value.Time and time again I have been caught with the falling knife so this time I want to see an improvement in the outlook. This may mean I miss the bottom but I have lost more money going in too early than gained by missing the first part of an up turn in share price.My rather baisc thought process is that a chocolatier should produce chocolates, make a profit and pay a dividend. There is no massive R&D budget to distract form this.. When I can smell a dividend I am in, until then I will wait to see if the valuation is a 'bear trap'.
popes11
26 Feb 2015
Monday Will be interesting to see how share price performs tomorrow as results come on monday.
popes11
25 Feb 2015
Re: Granny not well poor old granny . She will be tipping a little sherry into her tea as results draw closer.
popes11
25 Feb 2015
Re: sharp drop Results in March and probably nerves about what they hold given previous profit warning would be my guess. Current price still too high to spark my interest.
applegoofer1
25 Feb 2015
sharp drop has anyone got any idea as for the heavy correction? Easter is round the corner ,I would expect the opposite.
winningstreak
19 Jan 2015
Update Today's trading update amounts to a mixed bag of uncertainties in respectof profit-outlook. Granny is still asleep, but I am confident she'll share myview.IMHO,Ws
Blanketstacker
18 Jan 2015
Re: Tomorrow's update If a confectioner cannot rake it in at Chrimbo, when can they?
janebolacha
18 Jan 2015
Tomorrow's update What can we expect?%%% more off the SP tomorrow or, for once, a pleasant surprise?Thorntons on sale, "better than half price", that is, for shareholders, worse than half price:[link] one point of view on the tale of a chocolate factory:[link] this was Paul Scott's view on the December profits warning:"Thorntons (LON:THT)Share price: 91pNo. shares: 68.6mMarket Cap: £62.4mProfit warning - the company mentioned two main reasons for a profit shortfall - reduced demand from supermarkets, and disruption from the move to a centralised warehouse.549949dd30a20Screenshot_2014-12-23_at_10That's a disappointment, and it badly undermines the investing case for this share - which was that earnings were in a recovering trend. If that's no longer the case, then really it's difficult to see any reason to invest here - since the operating profit margin is thin, the Balance Sheet has too much debt, and a pension deficit, and there's no divi (although I seem to recall there was talk of reinstating a divi).Broker consensus was for 10.4p EPS this year (to 28 Jun 2015), but at a guess it looks to me as if perhaps c.8p might be closer to the mark. That would put the shares on a PER of just over 11, which isn't particularly cheap considering the Balance Sheet liabilities.My opinion - I don't share the Board's confidence in their strategy. Also, bungling a warehouse move just smacks of incompetence. Overall these shares are not of any interest to me - I'd only be interested on a very low PER, so maybe at 50p per share or below. It's just not a very good business, in my view.- See more at: [link] "DYOR.
winningstreak
16 Jan 2015
Off-topic (Granny) Granny asked me to look around for a decent dividend payerwith good future prospects. I did a search and came up with MACFARLANE (MACF), manufacturer of packaging, showing 4% dividend on rising profits.. I bought some myself and Granny is planning to do the same. She is feeling much better, taking renewed interest in stocks and shares again.Cheers,ws
winningstreak
13 Jan 2015
Re: Granny not well Lambrini Girl - I read out your message to Granny, she thinks you have been booted out by your boyfriend/partner, hence your extraordinary negative views. See your doctor and ask for a course of Prozac, suggests Granny.ws
lambrini girl
12 Jan 2015
Re: Granny not well nice to hear Granny improving(unlike this shareprice)...I think it would be better for her if u stopped pestering her for share tips...tell granny AMS goin to 83p...leave her alone and do your own research!!
