It's been a good week for WSP with 2 good contracts awarded. Anyone follow these. Does seem to be on an upward climb. Technically has now broken up through strong resistance at 55p now at 74p and up 10p on the week (17%)

The directors have been purchasing this share on a regular basis over the last few months every time it drops for a bit.

The orginal drop late last year was caused by a warning about an exceptional amount which they were going to Write off (see interim report), and then the big drop just before the end of Jan because the warned the results (due out 14 Mar) would not be that great (what a surprise - as they include the poor results from the interim.) And this company pay very good dividends.

I think the share is extremely cheap - but I can see the price dropping just before it hits 1 for profit taking. (Maybe even earlier, as quite a few people are already sitting on a very nice profit already!)

Had this via Hemscot.......

This week the share which catches my eye is WSP, an engineering consultancy, which fell comprehensively out of bed last year as the market cottoned on to the fact that a stunning growth record had hit the buffers.

At the end of last year, WSP's shares had fallen to 35p as investors feared the worst. Importantly, however, that low came just two weeks after the company had announced that profits for the year to December 2002 would be not less than 12m, for earnings per share of at least 14.6p.

That made the 5p dividend look a safe bet to be maintained and the implied price-earnings ratio and dividend yield of under 3 and 14% respectively looked ludicrous. No surprise that the share price has subsequently almost doubled to 68.5p, helped this week by the announcement of a joint contract with Carillion (another share that looks much too cheap).

Battening down the hatches and waiting for the storm clouds to pass may be an understandable reaction, but while you're in your bunker others are making profits that would have looked respectable at the height of the tech boom.

Anyone who purchased this one a few months ago a nice profit. Personally I sold, but have bought back in as I think the future should be good - butits looking even better than I expected due to the following news out today:

LONDON (AFX) - WSP Group PLC said its forward order book stands at over 300 mln stg, after the company has won new contracts with a total value of 110 mln so far in 2003.

Chris Cole, WSP's chief executive, said the forward orders include many long-term contracts which have helped to improve forward visibility.

The international business services group said work has begun on the construction of a 42-storey tower extension to the New York headquarters of international media and publishing group The Hearst Corp. The design and management of all the engineering and environmental aspects is being carried out by WSP's US subsidiary companies Flack + Kurtz and Cantor Seinuk.

The tower is scheduled for completion in 2006.

WSP said the transport sector contracts won this year include the design contract for the M25 widening scheme and a five-year Area 12 Managing Agent Contractor (MAC) contract in partnership with Carillion PLC. Both contracts are on behalf of the Highways Agency.

WSP has also been awarded a major rail structures assessment contract for the Great Western region by Network Rail and a long-term framework contract with BAA PLC.

International contracts include the design and management of the construction of a landmark 34-storey building in Vietnam, a design consultancy contract by Stora Enso, and the appointment as lead consultant and technical adviser for the construction of a new motorway in Finland.

Other international awards include the UK government's contract to advise the Bangladesh Ministry of Communications on all aspects of planning, building and maintaining its national road network and infrastructure.

Year end was 30th June, so the result when out in a few months (?) should be interesting.

This share has been creeping down slowly again. With a divi return of just over 5% (5p on a buy price of 95p!) is could be worth getting just for the divi!

Got some last week, when I last posted.

Any one else who has a few tucked away for dividends - have you seen what has happened this today! My holding is up over 10% - the temptation to cash in is there - but I'm going to see if I can hold out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought this chart would interest a few people (that's if they take a look at this thread!)

I sold out at during the first week of August, hoping others would also do the same and the price drop. But didn't drop enough to cover the spread, and now going back up again!

For a share that doesn't do much (apart from pay a good dividend!) from a low of 36.5 at the end of last year to it's current buy of 119p is doing pretty well!

Took a peek at Fridays close - now 124p to buy!

I'ts breaking out again , not much resistance til 200p.

Thought I would reserect this thread!

I remember only a few month ago, when I was happy when it passed 1.20. Personally I sold out long ago, and took my profit, but after seing it drop back slightly after hitting 2.00 I tempted to get some for the long term.

Results (finals) due out first thing tommorrow!

Results looking good : http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200403080700092241W.html

I did get some for the long term, and the share promptly slipped back slightly, but yesterday it started back up and today I'm in profit.

This one goes ex div on April 7 at 3p a share.

Thought I'd find this thread, as this share is getting interesting again!

when moneymakesmoney started this thread in Feb 03, this share had broken 55p and was at 74p. Now its 230+ and still rising.

Anyone else taken a look at this share? (It also pays 2 dividends a year!)

Still hold some of these bought some time ago - a typical case of buy when the market is down, sit tight and wait: -

Anyone else following this company?

It looks like I'm the only one. Shame really - this seems to be my star buy from last year (as a long term investment) at the moment.

I have watched this one and regret not buying- any price predictions over the next 6 months. I hope there might be a pull back in May time for me to get onboard. cheers MP

I'm happy I'm in! Looks like its not going to pull back, but keep going up up and awayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ;-)


LONDON (AFX) - WSP Group PLC posted an increase in turnover and pretax profits in 2004 ahead of expectations and said its order book is at a record level, with more than 500 mln stg of secured orders for the year ahead.

'The quality of this order book in terms of prestigious projects and long term framework agreements ... underpins the sustainability of our future operations.

'I am therefore confident we will build on these good financial results to deliver continued growth, improved profit margins, strong cash flows and an increasing long-term order book,' said chairman David Turner.

For the year to the end of December 2004, WSP posted pretax profits up 71 pct at 9.6 mln stg on sales of 328.2 mln stg from 298.9 mln, and upped its final dividend to 3.2 pence per share from 3.0 pence.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

Moneyplus - its still going up! Directors have been purchasing a lot of shares
- hence todays large increase