After a disappointing start to its float, things are starting to pick up. Since the release of results in December, the shares have steadily increased from 147p to 161p.

The group has a strong and fast growing market share and should perform well.

Shares mag have now excluded JSP from their tips of the year portfolio and report that JSP will not be the last retailer to issue a profits warning.

Shares mag got there timing wrong they should be tipping it from this point not excluding it.

In fairness, for years Jessops was really a 1-hour photo processor - so having a high-street presence was a good idea - the problem with photography "now" is that everyone is taking digital snaps and there is little real processing left. With Dixons and others having a small space devoted to cameras, they can compete with Jessops since most Buyers buy on price alone. Digital cameras are still changing quickly, so it would make sense to have a web-site dedicated to the buying of cameras IMHO - that way Jessops can offer a better deal. The problem is what pays the rent?
Secondhand camera gear is Bad News and most punters only want fuzzy pics of their children - so the "Amateur Photographer" is a minority.

I have to say I thought the 1.50 IPO was a bit steep, and am not surprised it's fallen - but it was somewhat soon and that surprised most folk, I guess.

Regards

From ADVFN

Three brokers have forecasts out in the last week;

..................................2005..................................... 2006
Broker,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Date Rec Pre-tax EPS(p) DPS(p) Pre-tax EPS(p) DPS(p)
Panmure Gordon,,, 30-03-05 HOLD 14.78 9.77 2.80 17.55 11.60 3.20
Baird,,,,,,,,,,,, 04-04-05 NEUT 14.60 9.59 3.30 16.90 11.19 3.80
KBC Peel Hunt Ltd 04-04-05 HOLD 14.53 9.47 2.10 16.94 11.04 2.45

Presumably they've both had guidance from the company and time to do follow up research after the results.

Seem damn cheap if they are correct!

The RSI is also on the floor at almost 0 - and below 20 is often a good time to buy.

I'm not convinced, sorry guys. Digital-Retail is almost all price-driven and these cameras are commodities - (being brand names we all know) - so "what" is Jessops USP?
Why would you go there in preference to Dixons or some web-based supplier that specialises in photo-gear? I suspect you will look at price alone.

The JSP sp dropped to 100p and then Directors bough a few shares (not above my 50k "significant" level) and the sp has drifted a further 20% - investors know that Retail is missing out - and the new must-have isn't a digital camera - it's a camera-phone and these are largely sold by Networks Own shops (so the Punter has no real choice of on going costs).

It would be nice to think JSP can keep alive the traditions of photography - but I doubt they can be inventive enough to pull it off. Will the sp touch sub 60p? The FTSE isn't too strong and sadly, that affects all stocks. IMHO.

what level do these becoming interesting?

proptrade
Don't know may be 40p I got out at 99p at a small lose, but I have got my eye on them still.

Still got my 3 shillings and sixpence in there, even hopeful!
:>)

yup, bit of a falling knife right now.

Come straight to the point proptrade
;>)

(sorry in silly mood)

it is one of those afternoons...

:>)

Quite a range of thoughts on figures and possible sp levels - but no-on seems to be willing to look me in the eye and say what is JSP's USP - just why will future generations of buyers walk into the Jessop High-Street shops?
It's much the same problem Dixons has IMHO - the goods they sell are commodities and the shop offers little in respect of "Service" - it being usually better to deal with the manufacturer (or throw product away!) for all the "service " you get.(My perception).
I realise this is harsh, and I'd like JSP to succeed, however, it's not hope that will do it - it's having that "something" that makes people make that trip (when the easier option is to stay at home).
Furthermore, the whole nature of Digital cameras is that they rapidly become dead stock; when the next "must-have" feature comes out.
Personally I'm holding off (buying a digital camera), until the big Foveon chip comes out and then all my Nikon gear can be used with a "new" body. That's a way to "save" money as I already have the (lens) hardware. You need 12Mpix to equal 35mm negatives and big Foveon is expected (2006),to top 16Mpix, so should be equal to transparancies....yipee no dust.
/
So, where's their USP?

They dont have a USP.

Just got back in to photography,hope the pictures are excellent over christmas..

Had the pictures developed and guess what +8,its a nice feeling when the colours come up true.

Its worth having a punt on these after todays news.

They looka bargain to me especially when you consider the price they floated at just over 12 months ago.

Jessops enjoys strong Christmas

MoneyAM

Jessops, a specialist photographic retailer, said it enjoyed strong trading over the Christmas period.

THis was helped by higher digital camera sales.

Total sales for the five weeks to January 1st jumped 13.3%, while total like-for-like sales rose 9.4%.

For the 13 weeks to January 1st, total sales grew 8.2% and total like-for-like sales climbed 2.3%. However, first-quarter gross margins, although up on last year, were 'marginally below' its expectations.

A combination of exclusive camera deals and competitive pricing on market leading cameras were the key factors behind Jessops' strong sales performance, it said.

'Trading was particularly buoyant in the week either side of Christmas,' said CEO, Derek Hine. 'Despite this positive performance, it is still early days in our financial year and Christmas is not as significant for us as for some other retailers.

'With nine months trading still to come, we are mindful of last year's market conditions, although this strong start to the year does underpin confidence in our prospects for the year as a whole,' he added.

cheers GF.

This was my first proper trade in the world of buying shares back in January 2005.
I paid 1.58 back then so with todays good news maybe it won`t be long before i recoup my losses.
I have got to say i`m really surprised at how good the sales have been considering all the doom and gloom being broadcast about the retail sector.I think the company under played their prospects in the last trading statement which i think is a good thing and has given us a nice surprise a bit like Amstrad really.

dough
I hope you topped up at 75p

I wish,topping up doesn`t seem to work that well for me normally although i did use my xmas bonus to top up with some more Character Group so maybe my luck is changing.