In line with my thoughts of recent, stay well away from momentum stocks at the moment. Go into boring but stocks that can be seen to generate an increase in earnings. Ive been with this a few weeks and think a few may have picked up on that. Now breaking out and looking for further earnings enhancing Acquisitions.

Its a top notch architect company and not over exposed to the housing market. Has top management and is derd cheap on fundies, more to come on that . Any views appreciated, good or bad but I feel we could be onto a winner here.

Just look at this report from a tip sheet, all things checked out and OK........

Lifted this from another board..........

SMC stacks up - STRONG BUY
Companies: SMC
27/09/2005

Architecture and design group SMC, which works on major office, retail and residential projects in the UK, Eire and Europe, joined AIM via a 4.6 million placing in June with ambitions to consolidate this fragmented industry. Founder and chief executive Stewart McColl hopes that by creating a larger outfit, his company will be able to win bigger projects producing higher margins.

McColl founded SMC in 1996 and has delivered appetising organic growth in recent years by offering national coverage. This has allowed the group access to substantial and more profitable construction projects across a range of sectors and locations. Clients now include British Land, Canary Wharf Group, Morgan Stanley and Wm Morrison, amongst others.

We have already got the 100 million projects, explains McColl, but there is another step-change in scale to come that will allow us access to projects worth 200 million, 300 million, 400 million and even 500 million. Increased scale pays off because larger projects are higher margin, with higher fee levels and longer timescales, helping SMC plan staff requirements more accurately.

Last November, ahead of the AIM float, SMC appointed ex-Wembley stalwart Sir Rodney Walker, who has brought recent AIM success stories like Goals Soccer Centres and Spice Holdings to market, as non-executive chairman. His presence and contacts have boosted the groups cachet and, following the AIM listing, McColl is also keen to boost scale through acquisitions.

Shortly after the float, SMC completed the two acquisitions mooted in the prospectus Corstorphine & Wright Hills Erwin, a Manchester
and Lancaster-based commercial architecture specialist, and Philip Lees & Associates, an outfit based in Leeds city centre, with a bumper proportion of revenues wrought from repeat business.

We are one of the few consolidators that I know of in this market, adds McColl, and now that we are on AIM, we are after acquisitions that are far more significant in size.

SMC recently cheered followers with an update on new deals. Among a plethora of 100 million-plus projects was work on new headquarters for Deeley Properties in Coventry, Sports Centres for Warwick County Council as well as developments for Pillar Properties and Canary Wharf.

Overseas work included manufacturing and office units in Slovenia, as well as a 290-bed InterContinental Hotel in Pakistan. There was also news of planning consent for a 50 million British Land office campus at Coventry.

2004 was exceedingly strong for SMC, with turnover lifted by 43 per cent to 8.1 million and pre-tax profits sparking up from 100,000 to 1.1 million. Gross margins were a healthy 50 per cent.

More recently, SMC unveiled extremely strong maiden interims to June, sending the shares sharply higher to 70.5p. These revealed a 255 per cent profits jump to 1.1 million on a 47 per cent leap in sales to 5.4 million. McColl was particularly pleased with the 260 per cent vault in earnings per share and a 140 per cent surge at the EBITDA level to 1.45 million, especially since we only had 20 days worth of revenues from the two acquisitions completed at float in the numbers.

He says subsidiaries are already enjoying larger scale project wins as part of the larger AIM group. 'We are looking at a few businesses that we might acquire, and as the business grows bigger, we'll be more equipped to handle PPP and PFI projects'.

Analysts envisage further profits improvement this year to 2.9 million, with sales climbing to 12.8 million. On those numbers, earnings of 7.1p leave the stock trading on an undemanding multiple of 9.9. We believe SMC offers high earnings visibility as well as tasty levels of repeat business, and we are strong buyers.ENDS.

Worth doing your own research if you are interested.


DYOR

cheers GF.

Agreed goldfinger, it really is about time these were above 2

capa

In the blue again this morning 2 cant be far off.

There has been some decent buying over the last few days. They must run out of stock soon, fireworks when they do I reckon.

capa

Buying continuing this morning.

Have added myself, first top up since the 90p's

capa

Yes all looks very positive here capa.

Could be something in the air here chaps - SP jumps up late on with nearly 700k sales - the last at 1.89 - could be a substantial buy order placed - maybe new info about to be released - who knows - keep your eyes on this one next few days
AM

Will do AM.

up another couple early on.

Yes the momentums behind this one at the moment.

Bought into these pre xmas at the 160'ish level so very happy with the rise and looking for well north of 200p on these

a very steady days - buys outnumber sells 20:1 on average daily volume but this stock is being picked up steadily - no official news due til April so interested in the old no smoke without fire theory as cant find anything substantive anywhere - confident that your optimism is well placed Max - my target April still 2.15 DYOR

AM

Hopefully the break of 190p could lead us quickly up to 200p despite the best efforts of Numis to keep it down

Talk Numis Max - interested - AM

Numis are clearly holding stock from the placing or are selling it for a fast profit for someone. Numis the housebroker also were holding this down pre the placing. I think once they have been cleared 200p plus will arrive quickly.

Looks ready for a tick up aswell.

Yep that makes sense MD i just feel that all the slow shaking could be because there is a buy order still to be fulfilled - if true then 2.00 will be with us fairly soon. IMHO

AM

Maybe but NUmis are the housebroker and they are willfully holding the price down and also knocking it down when they can

Here we go again spread closes - bid price moved back - shaky shaky

I don't think so AM. Numis are dumping stock for someone at set levels. They have sold far too much stock for a tree shake.

yep you could be right still plenty of small buys coming in, and just a couple of sells today - thanks

AM