I bought into these on January 3rd for the dividend. Probably boring to a lot on investors, but with a yield of 9.3%, they are worth a look for income seekers.

The Smiths News Group operates in distinct but complementary markets; newspaper and magazine wholesaling, Smiths News, book wholesaling, Bertrams and education supplies, The Consortium.

Smiths News is the UK’s leading newspaper and magazine wholesaler. The company distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of national publishers as well as a number of regional publishers. It serves approximately 30,000 retailers across England and Wales, supplying large general retailers as well as smaller independent newsagents.

Company Website

Financial Calendar

Recent Broker notes

BarChart Indicators

Recent Market news

Smiths News Fundamentals

12 month high today @118p

L&G (From 4% to 3%)

On close inspection its from 7,341,843 to 7,331,327 @10,500

Share price still moving up ahead of upcoming results. That chart is now a thing of beauty.

Yes - I sold far to early!

Preliminary Results

2012 HIGHLIGHTS:

· Performance ahead of market expectations with underlying profit before tax up 23%

· Significant momentum on diversification strategy

o Acquisition of The Consortium giving access to growing markets

o 28% of proforma(6) profits from outside of newspaper and magazine wholesaling

· Growth and progress across the business

o Secured £200m revenue per annum from the News International Contract to 2019

o Strong performance from international and digital books markets

· Excellent performance on cost savings and efficiencies

o £5m efficiencies delivered from Smiths News with a further £20m expected by 2015

o £2.5m year 1 synergies from integration of Dawson Holdings

· Continuing to enhance shareholder value

o EPS of 19.9p up 28%

o Full year dividend of 8.6p up 7.5%

N+1 Singer Upgrades to Buy TP 135p

Oriel Securities reiterates its Buy TP 200p

Liberum Capital Retains its Buy TP 155p

Some variety in the TPs there skinny. 155 or anything north would be nice :-)

Hi Lord Gnome - I never did get around to buying these back - I even hesitated this morning on the retrace at 136p!

It is very difficult to bite the bullet and buy back a share for more than you sold it, skinny. It is almost impossible to remove the emotion from the decision. I have done it and kicked myself for the profit I missed while I was out of the stock.
These are now LTBH for me - for the foreseeable future anyway. My running average yield is now 9.575%. I see a good few years of growth in profits, dividends - and share price!

It wasn't the 1st time and it certainly wont be the last - I will,buy back at some point - meanwhile enjoy your profits.

Superb chart since July.

Up 50%+ in just 4 months is a bit special by anyone's reckoning. I think we may mark time at around 150, but my target for next year is to see 180 at some point.

I'm out today. It was a really hard decision to make, as it's a great dividend payer, and seems to be on a fantastic momentum ride, but I've banked a 70% profit, and I'm happy with that :)

New high today @163p

Still some left in the tank, skinny.

sp taking a hit today?

Unfortunately, I had a limit order @150!

Interim Management Statement

The Group remains on track to deliver strong growth in underlying profit before tax for the year to 31 August 2013, in line with market consensus.

Total Group revenues increased 2.0% year on year, boosted by contribution from the acquisition of The Consortium in April 2012. The performance of each business unit is as follows;

· Smiths News total revenues declined by 1.9% and by 4.7% on a like for like basis.
Both newspaper and magazine performance is broadly in line with recent run rates and with expectations.

· Bertrams total revenues increased by 4.4% and by 1.5% on a like for like basis.
UK wholesale print revenues were broadly in line with last year, combined UK public and academic library revenues were marginally down, international revenues were up and digital revenues continued to grow strongly.

· The Consortium total revenues increased by 5.0% and by 5.1% on a like for like basis.

Education performed strongly.

· Media and Marketing total revenues declined by1.5% and increased by 0.5%on a like for like basis.

There has been no change in the underlying financial condition of the Group since the year ended 31 August 2012 and the Group continues to operate well within its bank facilities.

The Group will announce its interim results for the six months ending 28 February 2013 on 17 April 2013.

Looks like your buy was right on the money, Skinny.

Yes - a pity about the big gap between there and where I last sold!