One of the things we're looking at in Shares magazine is the FTSE 350 tables we carry. Are these useful or not? And if they are useful, are the stats we include the ones that readers want or would they prefer to see some other data?
At the moment, the data includes ebit, net profit, eps, pe ratio, dividend, NTA, gearing, return on equity and value over 1/3 yrs.
Any reader input would be welcome.

Jeremy Lacey, Editor

Yes, these tables are a useful reference point, or start point to investigate the fundamentals of a company. introducing the EPIC code has helped greatly. It would be quite helpful if each of the subsections were totalled for Value 1000 over 1/3 years, PE Ratios, Divi yield and ROE, just to give an indication of how each sector is doing and then how a share is doing within its sector (for a quick comparison). Personally I would find it useful if the following were added: 1) net cash 2)company's year end date(for 2 reasons - 1 how up to date is the info and 2 is the year end coming and hence changes likely).

Hope this is helpful

Hi Jeremy,

re- the tables. Any chance of showing an up to date Beta for each stock?, and perhaphs tables of some description for smaller companies?.

Plus any chance of adding a new mining section on its own to the shares mag now that this sector seems to be the one in fashion.

Maybe a page or two should also be dedicated to Ofex now that this market looks to be going places. ( well perhaps from April)

Just my thoughts. Please keep up the good work and have a merry christmas.

regards Goldfinger.

The tables are very useful but some of the data is unnecessary: whats the point of a value after 1,3 yrs? these arent unit trusts. Why have net profit & ebitda & EPS? anyone who wants to work out the net can do so. These figures should be in millions too as they look ridiculous when 9 digits long. Div yield and cover is sufficient, the actual payment is unnecessary. Some of the categories leave something to be desired, i.e. Centrica in the water category.

Thanks for the thoughts and suggestions everyone - if there are any more ideas they'll be most welcome. One hurdle I have to overcome with these tables is that the data is drawn from Datastream, which sometimes gives us a few rather suspicious numbers. It also means we don't have a lot of control over how the data is presented. This is something we may have to look at changing, which will mean starting the design of the tables again from scratch. Nice little job for me over the Christmas break.

All the best for Xmas and New Year - JL