36 Comments
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Cockney Rebel's avatar

I don't wear a watch, no desire to buy and expensive one and have my hand chopped off either. Though of late, i have come to appreciate the skill that goes into making these things. I get good feedback re watch sales and the US looks like a huge market that is under-served with Swiss Watches.

Retail in general, most grossly under estimated at the moment imo - I think a lot of trading updates, DNLM, CARD, CURY, NXT, MKS all been better than expected imo.

GRG, WRKS and CURY with news out this week. Let's see.

Cheers

Richrd

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DAVID STREDDER's avatar

Thanks for the Mello2025 mention…it will be an amazing couple of days. A record 47 companies are already signed up with lots of small cap favourites to meet and watch their presentations. Six great keynote speakers and two BASH panel sessions so lots to look forward to.

We like to encourage Mello virgins to come along and get a feel for what it is all about so if you have never been before use this code NewMello25 and your ticket will be just £30 and we know you will be back.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

David

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

I hope it's yet another cracking event David

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Seems by WJG website, WJG results are on 28th rather than the 21st as I was led to believe.

oh well, good things are worth waiting for.

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John Cutmore's avatar

WOSG - I work in watch industry and can tell you Rolex are still selling very well along with Patek.

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Thanks John. I think when WOSG actually meet or beat then the shares are off to the races, but we will see. They must know by now they need to under promise and over deliver surely?

Richard

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John Cutmore's avatar

They've been closing stores in UK. US subsidiary is now bigger than UK driving business direction. US retail market fragmented and no big country wide watch retailer so imagine will be WOSG aim. Lots of capex required to get there but believe they're buying up brands or starting too. BETA on this stock is high!

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Agree, that's the attraction, the Beta. Yes, US is where they can really become something imo.

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JAS's avatar

If you want to know what researching a share means, then this post is a great example.

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Thanks Jas

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John Arbuthnott's avatar

A great posting as always thank you so much for sharing, hope you are taking time to enjoy this great weather

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

thanks, yes, plenty of sun at the moment - long may it last.

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Clive's avatar

Interesting stuff, though at 60 and having never owned a watch I can't get with WOSG. Thoughts on the UK retail sector in general Richard?

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BriefedUp - Jon's avatar

Thanks as always Rich - Have a good one

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Cheers

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Nyamen Sedap Lazat's avatar

Any thoughts on ULTP- chart looks to be making a bowl to me?

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Yes, interesting, looks cheap. I am put off by the lack of director buying though and not too keen on Simon Showman director, who used to run it.

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John Cutmore's avatar

I bought these guys at 0.83 and thought was cheap then. Too scared to double down at 0.60p. Not a lot of free float as directors own a lot plus asset managers. Think a good bet on recovering consumer, excess China stock, growing European focus, cheap oil.

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John Dunne's avatar

Hi Richard,

I enjoy your weekly review. Always sound and well reasoned assessments of what your own and why you own it. I know Creightons well having held the shares previously and done fairly well before Bernard Johnson went on a hubristic spending spree. I bought a few recently in anticipation of the forthcoming results, prompted in part by director buying.

On the subject of 'bowls' M&C Saatchi (ticker SAA) might be worth a look. The shares have just started to tick up of their lows and started to form a very nice bowl. They have just issued an inline statement and are cheap on a PE basis, 8.25 falling to 7.3 for FY26. The star of the show is the 'Issues' division, where the company helps governments and corporates in dealing with various problems. Investors tend to associate Saatchi with advertising, but this is now a much smaller part of the business, hence perhaps the disinterest in the shares. The balance sheet is sound with debt under control.

Vin Murria holds close to 12% and tried to buy the company on the cheap for around 215p. It was also the subject of a cash and shares bid from Next15 sometime ago that values the company at around 247p. Richard Staveley at Rockwood also holds the shares. It accounts for over 5% of NAV of Rockwood Strategic IT.

I hold and bought sometime ago at around the current price. It seems to me that it has been left behind in the recent 'small cap/AIM' up trend. I hold but am biased as you might expect.

All the best.

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Thanks John. I did hold SAA, got put off in the end by some long term dilution issue that was there, can't remember exactly what it was now.

Stavely is pretty sharp tho, perhaps I will take another look.

Thank you.

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Chris's avatar

Hi Richard, not nit-picking, just letting you know that Wrks doesn't have any stores in garden centres. I'm pretty sure you meant shopping centres. No criticism.

PS I'm mega long Wrks and Wjg.(And started to nibble at Creightons)

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Hi Chris, they definitely do have at least one store in a garden centre as it's my nearest garden centre and it was definitely there this weekend ;-)

I didn't mean to post that actually, I edited it down, it did say 'some in secondary locations like garden centres' but got a bit lost in translation late Friday going through a rushed final edit, sorry.

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Chris's avatar

No need to apologise. Love reading your weekly thoughts (and your comments on X). I'm sure we will bump into eachother one day (i don't post much, occasionally on advfn).

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Thanks - hope the next few weeks are very kind to you shareholding(s)

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Jeremy's avatar

avap£ and rnk£ hitting my bowl screen. any thoughts?

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Not sure about AVAP but RNK definitely hit my alerts last week after the 30% rally off of the trading update. one more reason why I think punters are waking up to small caps.

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Jeremy's avatar

yeah I like rnk here. ever looked at evpl?

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Only a brief look, i would like to see dir buying but one to watch for me at the moment

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Chris Wood's avatar

Cheers Richard, have a great weekend 👍🏻

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

thanks, you too.

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Stephen Ornstin's avatar

Thanks Rebel-it’s been a good time recently despite the odd blip like Futr

Lio could be very interesting

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Cheers, agree.

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Revs8's avatar

Great read. Bought WJG earlier this week.

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Thanks. WJG looks and exciting stock potentially. i think they understand under-promising too and there's been a big 'kitchen sink' too. from the CEO. i also then the provisions are more than needed by some way. We will get to hear more next week.

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Revs8's avatar

I also hold BRCK (breaking out of a flag today). These companies that have managed the difficult times (and been oversold) will prosper as the market improves IMO.

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Cockney Rebel's avatar

Yes, most have got through the worst now, with Ni done. Can Labour dare have a go at business again in this parliament?

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