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Go Compare Fundamentals (GOCO)

From last week's IC:
"GOCO has demerged from ESUR and floated on London's main market. As we went to press, it had a market cap of £291m, a far cry from the £1.6bn valuation of peer MONY.
First the bad news - GOCO's annual turnover is half that of MONY. True GOCO's insurance business is nearly the same size, but but MONY is on track to earn about £165m from other sectors, compared to a paltry £8m for GOCO. Peel Hunt analysts also expect the company to have around £69m in net debt at the end of this year, more than double it's cash profits, compared with expected net cash of £44m at it's larger rival.
As management plans to repay debts and pay out dividends, GOCO's leverage could limit it's ability to invest in it's platform, as MONY is currently doing and to acquire disruptive startups in financial and insurance technology, one of it's medium term goals. It also relies on partners in non-insurance markets, constraining it's margins and giving it little control over their investments and quality of service.
However, investors shouldn't dismiss GOCO. It boasts a powerful brand, largely thanks to opera singing GIO Compario and the price comparison market has the support of competition regulators for lowering barriers to entry for new suppliers and making life easier for consumers. Rival comparethemarket.com parent company BGL Group, is also on track for an IPO early next year.
Independance from ESUR should allow GOCO to pursue the best strategy for the business rather than it's former owner and free from any perceived conflicts of interest.
Peel Hunt forecasts compound annual EPS growth of 15% between 2015 and 2018, compared with 6% for MONY.
"At 70p GOCO trades at 13x full year forecast earnings, a sharp discount to MONY at 19. There's also a prospective yield of 2.5% for 2017. The current valuation balances GOCO's robust growth prospects with it's smaller scale, spread and lack of experience as an independent company. HOLD."

Not as yet Jimmy - but its on my list! :-)

Cheers skinny , and thanks HARRY for the info .

Director/PDMR Shareholding

Gocompare.com Group plc was notified on 9 December 2016 that Zillah Byng-Thorne, Non-Executive Director, Gocompare.com Group plc, and a person discharging managerial responsibilities had purchased 84,322 ordinary shares at a price of £0.64125 per share on 9 December 2016.

FY trading update

Gocompare.com Group plc ("Gocompare.com" or the "Group") today issues the following trading update in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2016.

The Group has made good progress in 2016 with revenue of approximately £142.0m, which is 19% up on 2015 and in line with guidance. Adjusted operating profit1 is expected to be approximately £30m, which represents growth of 30% over 2015 and is at the top end of the guidance provided at the time of the publication of the demerger prospectus in October 2016. Cash generation has also been strong with leverage2 reducing from 2.8x at the time of the demerger to less than 2.0x at the year end.

Matthew Crummack, Chief Executive Officer of Gocompare.com, said:

"2016 has been a transformational year for Gocompare.com. We completed the demerger of Gocompare.com from esure Group plc and strengthened the team at the executive level. Furthermore, today's announcement highlights that the Group continues to deliver good trading results. We start 2017 from a position of confidence and look forward to delivering another year of strong growth".

Results for the financial year ended 31 December 2016 will be announced as planned on 2 March 2017.

TOSCAFUND ASSET MANAGEMENT has been steadily increasing its holding which is now above 17%.

Market seems to be awaiting confirmation:

Gocompare.com revenues up 19%

StockMarketWire.com

Price comparison site Gocompare.com Group reports good progress in 2016 with revenue of approximately £142.0m, which is 19% up on 2015 and in line with guidance.

Adjusted operating profit is expected to be approximately £30m, which represents growth of 30% over 2015 and is at the top end of the guidance provided at the time of the publication of the demerger prospectus in October 2016.

It says cash generation has also been strong with leverage reducing from 2.8x at the time of the demerger to less than 2.0x at the year end. Chief executive Matthew Crummack said: "2016 has been a transformational year for Gocompare.com. We completed the demerger of Gocompare.com from esure Group plc and strengthened the team at the executive level. Furthermore, today's announcement highlights that the Group continues to deliver good trading results. We start 2017 from a position of confidence and look forward to delivering another year of strong growth."

A new high @98.75p.

Preliminary results for YE 31 December 2016

Business highlights:

· Saved customers over £1bn in 2016, up more than 30% (2015: £759m)2
· Customer interactions up 26% to 32.0m (2015: 25.5m)3
· New Board and strengthened executive team in place
· Successfully completed demerger from esure Group plc and admitted to the main market of the London Stock Exchange on 3 November 2016 (LON:GOCO)
· £85m loan facility provided by a group of four banks, with £75m drawn down at the year end
· Strategy progressing well, with strengthening of tech, marketing and commercial teams
· Leverage4 of 1.7x - down from 2.8x at the time of demerger

Good interims/update this morning. Coming together nicely with a maiden div well.

It's not a spectacular share but steady and solid. I'm in from 95p earlier this year so I'm happy with the sp progress so far with more to come (imho).

GLA if there's anyone else invested here!

Peel Hunt Buy 114.00 120.00 120.00 Reiterates