Goes Ex. Divi on Wed (30p). yet the price has been going down, any holders have an incite as to why at all.

Regards

Stan .

Thanks Testex,

I see its creeping back some of that 30p divi (-26p now) tempted to get in but concerned they may drop it further ( remember NGT ) before Xmas. That still has not got back to its Ex.divi price of 408p.

Anyone else thinking the same thing?

Good man Testex,

I'm not comfortable for the reasons above so will stay out and watch for the moment.

Just eyeing this one up for a possible divi play again, 35p this year nearly 3%.

Not actualy Intending to stay In for the divi but just to get the expected capilal gain upto Ex.divi day...then out.

Anyone else doing the divi plays lately.

PS.Nearly forgot,Ex.day 19th Jan 05.

+21 so far hoping for more to come, no one else Into divi plays these days then?

Still paying a reasonable divi (52p) due to go ex on the 20th jan '10.

You in harry, I came across the same and got a few, will either hold if it continues up or take the div and run. If the charts anything to go by could be a good hold.

No. Think I may have missed the boat, but brokers seem to be talking up both IMT & BATS as good 2010 defensive/divi payers.

Harry seems to be climbimg nicely...divy tomorrow, will hold whilst in positive mood.

Also missed the boat on this one divi wise, but see what the drop is and the general performance tomorrow.

I hope the nice steady climb will continue.

So do I now, can't see why not.

still holding just below 20, am still in at mo on the hope will recover when divy sellers have gone through. Chart to me (complete novice) say it's got somemore to climb. imo...BB

True it has, but don't let that put you off.. safe as houses this one.

Last year sp fell ex-divi by about 6%, but that was in troubled times & a falling chart. 5% this time would take it down to the 25 DMA, so that is where I would expect support. (19.55 ish)

holding at the 19.90's at mo, small buyers back in so here's hoping.

Hold that nerve BB and you will be rewarded.

it came soooooooo close a moment ago when it dipped into 19.86p, my ffffinger hovered over the sell button...lol glad i didn't.

19.86p, don't you dare! if you can wait a day or two you will be quids in (baring a major market fall).. me too.

Sp. rise in these further enhanced by money flowing back in, IMT seen as a defensive if the market continues downward IMHO, we shall see.

might need someone to hold my hand stan, bit nerve racking. Cynic's too butch for that!! no feeling what so ever.......lol

BB, trust me.. I'm not a party politician -):

Jan 22 (Reuters) - Imperial Tobacco Group PLC:
MOODY'S CHANGES IMPERIAL TOBACCO'S OUTLOOK TO STABLE FROM NEGATIVE.

WELL DONE STAN

Thanks Steff, but what's the red line on the graph signify please?

25 DMA...stan.

Oh yes, moving averages I tend not to use them.

wondering if I ought to abandon ship with a little profit now or stay aboard and chance sinking below.....

Depends on your original strategy BB, if you have the divi "and" a profit (no matter how small) it might be job well done. If you think it might go up further in your own time frame then again you might hang on.. again it might go down and you might regret not locking in that profit with the divi... ifs buts and maybes, decisions decisions -):

quite right stan, you still waiting for 20.55p??

I was, but don't have a SP in mind now as I expected it to be up there by now. I suppose I am in a " think it will go higher but don't know how height or when mode" so am just going to watch and wait.. if all that makes sense -): have you decided what to do yet?

Green 200 DMA
Red 30 DMA


Nothing on the chart to suggest sp is starting to falter, imo. Worth hanging on, but setting a stop loss, imo, to make sure that profits are protected. Divi dates also important for this stock (Mid Jan, mid Jun)

Harry you can say "I told you so" I sold out this morning when it looked so like going below my buy price, thought a little profit is better than none. Bu**er me look at it now...... if I hadn't sold you can bet your life it would have dived. A well got the divy to look forward to.

BB.. Oh yee of little faith -):

Goes ex-divi tomorrow, 21st July '10.
Imperial Tobacco Group Plc (IMT) 24.3 GBP.

Am not confident the sp will continue to rise after div day as last time, could tie up funds too long.

Any of you dividend players trade PNN? Chart looks good and upcoming divi of 15.60.

Goes ex-divi 20th July '11 (28.1p)

Not getting caught this time harry, might be a long wait to get sp back to break even.,.

Well this lot are taking there time again to come back up.

RNS Number : 5678W

Imperial Tobacco Group PLC

01 February 2012

IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP PLC

INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

Ahead of the Annual General Meeting to be held later today Imperial Tobacco Group PLC confirms that the overall financial position and operational performance of the Group for the financial year to 30 September 2012 is in line with the Board's expectations.

Performance Overview

-- Underlying(*) sales momentum with good progress in emerging markets and EU gains
-- Underlying(*) stick equivalent volumes down 1 per cent, with tobacco net revenues up 3 per cent reflecting strengthening price/mix

-- Specific factors impacted reported stick equivalent volumes, down 7 per cent with tobacco net revenues down 1 per cent

Total tobacco supporting sales growth momentum

-- Good performance from key strategic brands; stick equivalent volumes up 3 per cent and net revenues up 10 per cent

-- Luxury Cuban cigar volumes up 14 per cent in emerging markets
-- Snus volumes up 76 per cent
(*) Excluding the impacts of Syria, Spain, USA and Ukraine referred to below

Summarising today's announcement Alison Cooper, Chief Executive, will say:

"Our continued focus on realising opportunities from our total tobacco portfolio supported by Innovation and price optimisation has delivered underlying tobacco net revenue growth of 3 per cent in the first quarter.

"Combined stick equivalent volumes of our key strategic brands Davidoff, Gauloises Blondes, West and JPS were up 3 per cent and net revenues up 10 per cent with our focus on consumer relevant innovation and new formats driving growth in these brands in cigarette in emerging markets and fine cut tobacco in the EU.

"Delivering the planned acceleration in our underlying sales momentum whilst continuing to realise cost and cash opportunities remain our priorities such that we are well placed to create further value for our shareholders this year."

Trading Update

The following relates to the three months to 31 December 2011 unless otherwise stated. Tobacco net revenues exclude the impact of foreign exchange.

Underlying stick equivalent volumes declined one per cent but reported stick equivalent volumes were down seven per cent, against a strong comparator. Three per cent of the decline was due to the ongoing impact of international sanction compliance in Syria and double digit market volume declines in Spain. A further three per cent of the decline relates to trade stock levels around a price increase in the USA and distributor destocking in Ukraine.

Tobacco net revenues declined by 1 per cent before adjusting for these factors having seen a material benefit from strengthening price/mix. Underlying tobacco net revenues increased 3 per cent.

Supporting our sales growth agenda, we have been optimising our revenue investments, reallocating the investment focus across our footprint to maximise our returns.

The cash we generate continues to be applied to capital investments behind our sales growth agenda, our buy back programme (amounting to GBP320m of shares from inception in May 2011 to the end of December 2011) and dividends, which we intend to grow ahead of the growth in adjusted earnings per share.

EU Markets

Consumers in the EU continue to seek value reflected in further gains in our value cigarette shares in a number of markets and strong fine cut tobacco growth in JPS and Route 66.

In the UK and Germany, innovative new products and gains in our value portfolio continue to support our strong positions in cigarette and fine cut tobacco.

In Spain, market stick equivalent double digit volume declines continued through the quarter, but we currently expect the rate of decline to slow in the remainder of the year. Our portfolio initiatives continue to support growth in our fine cut tobacco share and an improving trend in our cigarette share performance.

Across the EU we continue to focus on balancing market share and profitability and, having built significant fine cut tobacco positions particularly in Central Europe, have ceded share in some markets in order to further build our long term category margins through price optimisation.

Non-EU Markets

In non-EU markets, we delivered good growth in key emerging markets, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Africa and Middle East. Davidoff,West and JPS are driving growth in Asia-Pacific and Gauloises Blondes continues to make strong gains in Africa and Middle East.

In Eastern Europe, we delivered strong growth in new cigarette formats. Results were impacted primarily due to distributor destocking in Ukraine although we grew market share for the year to December.

In the USA, the market remains highly competitive with first quarter volumes impacted by trade buying patterns around our October price increase. The integration of our cigarette and mass market cigar businesses is progressing as planned.

We continue to capitalise on the considerable growth potential of our luxury Cuban cigar portfolio with excellent performances in Russia and China driving emerging market volumes up 14 per cent.

Logistics

In Logistics the operating environment remains challenging, particularly in Spain, and we continue to focus oncost management, business integration and development of new services to maximise profitability.

Prepare for lift off?

Doesn't look like it stan, think it'll be a long wait to get div money back.,.

To early in the day BB, Have another look.

Out with a few quid.. over to you BB.

..Japanese smoke signals push up Imperial

By Rachel Cooper | Telegraph – 2 hours 27 minutes ago

Having ticked up after a trading update earlier this week, Imperial Tobacco (LSE: IMT.L - news) rose another 5p to £23.08 as takeover speculation refused to be stubbed out.

The maker of Gauloises and Davidoff cigarettes has long been mooted as a potential target to be taken out, with a combination of British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco (Dusseldorf: JAT.DU - news) regarded as a possible suitor.

Nomura analysts had urged investors to hold their horses over a possible deal, suggesting in November (Stuttgart: A0Z24E - news) that it might be at least a year before the cigarette maker receives an approach, given uncertainty over when the Japanese government will sell its stake in Japan Tobacco.

But yesterday, analysts suggested that the upcoming resolution of the government stake sale means that Imperial’s prospects of being taken over are set to increasingly be a focus for the market.

Nomura previously thought that any deal could be delayed until the end of this year or into 2013. But with budgetary changes in Japan (EUREX: FMJP.EX - news) compelling the government to sell part of its 50pc stake in Japan Tobacco from April, Nomura thinks this will give the company more freedom over its business decisions. “We now see Japan Tobacco as potentially more confident to enact any plans in terms of major developments of its international presence,” said analysts, who upped their rating on Imperial (Berlin: IOD.BE - news) to “neutral” from “reduce

Smoking might be a mug's game, but investing in Imperial Tobacco certainly hasn't been. Since 2009, the shares have risen from £14 to today's £23, for a 64% gain, and that's been topped up with nice dividends into the bargain -- although the price has been higher, at £26, as recently as July.

Tuesday 30 October is expected to bring us more of the same when the company releases its latest full-year results. We already know from last week's trading statement that things are in line with expectations and that total revenues are going to be up around 4%.

We should see a dividend of around 4.5%, and that's expected to rise to 4.9% next year. At 11.5, the P/E looks undemanding, so the fall from this year's peak share price might well be a buying opportunity.

The one big set of full-time results next week comes from Imperial Tobacco , on Tuesday, and what an investment it has been. The share price has multiplied two and a half times over the past decade to reach 2,330p. But that was interrupted by a slump during the global recession and a recovery that hasn't quite regained pre-crash levels.

To compensate for that volatility, Imperial Tobacco has been paying a steady dividend of around the 4% mark. For the year ended September, the City has forecast a payout of around 4.6%, rising to 5% on 2013 forecasts. What are the chances of that coming good?

They look high, as September's trading update told us that performance is "in line with the Board's expectations", with net revenues expected

Out yesterday, Divi up 11% over the year http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4473669

Imperial Tobacco boosted its full-year dividend by a very nice 11% to 105.6p per share this week, giving shareholders a yield of 4.4% based on the current share price of 2,381p. And it's nicely covered as well, by earnings per share of 201p.

Imperial is one of the few companies that was pretty much unaffected by the banking crisis and the recession, and has steadily grown its earnings and dividend payouts year after year.

Ex-divi wed 16th Jan '13 (73.9p)

One of my biggest holdings, never fails to deliver the goods.

Interim Management Statement

Quality Growth through Total Tobacco

· Tobacco net revenue up over 2 per cent, with price mix improvement of 3.5 per cent
· Stick equivalent volumes down 1 per cent
· Q1 growth across total tobacco portfolio:
· +12 per cent net revenue and +10 per cent volume growth in key strategic brands
· +9 per cent net revenue and +9 per cent volume growth in fine cut tobacco
· +40 per cent net revenue and +33 per cent volume growth in snus
· Stable net revenue and +3 per cent volume growth in premium cigar

"One of my biggest holdings, never fails to deliver the goods." Famous last words eh dandu? -5% -): Still backy shares rarely stay down for to long.

Interim Management Statement

Overview

· Nine month performance confirms our full year expectations
· Significant progress made with next phase of strategic transition to optimise long-term growth potential:
· new sales divisions established, reinforcing the strategic role of each market;
· strategic review of cigarette and fine cut brands portfolio completed, now being built into execution plans;
· cost optimisation programme on track, with savings of at least £30m to be realised this year;
· new Group Marketing Director appointed
· Encouraging core portfolio performance in an environment of weak industry volumes:
· Underlying1 stick equivalent volume and revenue declines of 5 per cent and 1 per cent
· reported stick equivalent volume and revenue declines of 7 per cent and 3 per cent
· key strategic brands outperforming market trends: underlying1 volumes declined 1 per cent, with growth in total market share; reported volumes were down 4 per cent
· excellent fine cut tobacco performance and good growth in premium cigar and snus.
· notable progress in many key markets including Germany, Greece, Scandinavia, Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Algeria, Kazakhstan and Turkey.

Just seen who their Chief Executive is.. Alice Cooper -):

I thought he spent most of his time playing golf these days!

New Financial Director http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4667029

Barclays Capital Equal weight 2,211.00 - 2,600.00 Reiterates

Finals out today... But later I think with these.

Or maybe not!

Annual Financial Report

Preliminary Results for the 12 months ended 30 September 2013

Overview
· Significant transition progress: realigned footprint and optimised brand portfolio
· Robust performance: earnings per share up 6 per cent at constant currency
· Enhanced quality of growth, driven by Growth Brands and Growth Markets
o Growth Brands: share up (+30bps); net revenue up 2 per cent
o Growth Markets: share up (excluding Russia); net revenue +2%, profit +7%
o Returns Markets: robust profit performance
· Cost optimisation initiatives deliver £30 million; on track for £300 million pa by 2018
· Strong cash conversion: 86%
· Full year dividend per share +10% to 116.4p; total of £1.6bn returned to shareholders in year

Ex-divi wed 15th Jan 2014 (81.2p)

Imperial Tobacco shares lifted by deal to sell its e-cigarettes in Boots

Big tobacco has made another significant move into the e-cigarette market with news that Imperial Tobacco is to sell its Puritane product in Boots stores, lifting the company's share price.

Both BAT and Imperial had looked at one point as if they were being left behind in the e-cigarette market, which is dominated by independent businesses such as E Lites and Nicolites.

But BAT has just launched an advertising campaign for its Vype e-cigarettes, while the Imperial move means its products, made by its Fontem subsidiary, will be on sale on the high street from Monday.

The future of smoking has been in the spotlight recently, with UK health regulators saying all e-cigarettes have to be licensed as medicines by 2016, while US pharmacy chain CVS announced it would stop selling tobacco cigarettes.

The deal with Boots has lifted Imperial's shares by 17p to £23.77, and analyst Damian McNeela at Panmure Gordon said:

more...

Ex-divi on wed 16th July 2014 (38.8p)

Oriel Securities has maintained a 'buy' rating for Imperial Tobacco after the cigarette and tobacco manufacturer confirmed rumours that it is in talks with Reynolds American and Lorillard about the possible acquisition of certain assets or brands.

Final Results

Strengthening our Portfolio
· Underlying2 volumes of Growth Brands up 7%, driven by organic growth and brand migrations
· Underlying2 net revenue from Specialist Brands up 2%
· Growth and Specialist Brands delivered 54% of underlying2 tobacco net revenue, up 3 percentage points
· Stock optimisation programme completed; stock held by distributors reduced by over 9 billion SE

Developing our Footprint
· Strong performance in Growth Markets with underlying2 net revenue up 7%
· Returns Markets resilient, with adjusted operating profit up 1%
· US acquisition expected to significantly enhance competitive position and increase diversity of Group income

Cost Optimisation
· Cost optimisation programme delivered over £60m savings in the year; on track for £300m pa by 2018

Capital Discipline
· Overall level of adjusted net debt down by £1bn to £8.1bn; a reduction of 11%
· Strong progress with working capital initiatives; cash conversion up 5 percentage points to 91%
· £395 million generated from partial IPO of non-core business Logista, with proceeds used to reduce debt

Ex-divi 15th Jan 2015 (89.3p)

nothing in the press as to what caused this on friday. Near all time high and with such a strong US dollar I do wonder if there could be a bid looming from one of the bigger US players. Worth watching.

higher high coming I think. Looking for £34 on this wave so long ftse holds up.

Half Yearly Report

Strengthening our Portfolio
· Excellent results from Growth Brands with underlying volumes up 12 per cent and net revenue up 15 per cent
· Success of brand migration programme continues to support Growth Brand performance
· Continued gains from Specialist Brands with underlying net revenue up 2 per cent
· Growth and Specialist Brands up to 59 per cent of reported tobacco net revenue (2014: 52 per cent)

Developing our Footprint
· Regulatory approval for US acquisition still expected in spring 2015
· Momentum continues in Growth Markets with underlying net revenue up 1 per cent (up 4 per cent excluding Iraq)
· Positive progress in Returns Markets with adjusted operating profit up 1 per cent
· Improving price/mix after strong second quarter

Cost Optimisation
· Cost optimisation programme on track to deliver further incremental savings of £85 million in FY15

Capital Discipline
· Cash conversion up to 102 per cent; on track for circa 90 per cent for the full year
· Adjusted net debt down by £2bn to £9bn in last 12 months
· Another dividend increase of 10 per cent


more....

StockMarketWire.com
Imperial Tobacco Group reports continued progress on its strategic objectives and is on track for the full year. CEO Alison Cooper said described the just-completed quarter as a good one that built on the company's H1 progress.

"Our continued focus on improving the consistency and quality of our performance has delivered excellent results from our Growth Brands which continue to grow net revenue, volume and market share.

"We've strengthened our performance in Returns Markets and maintained positive momentum in Growth Markets. We completed the US acquisition towards the end of the quarter and I am pleased with the successful start we've made in implementing our commercial and integration plans for ITG Brands. This consistent delivery against our strategic agenda leaves us on track to deliver against full year expectations and to create further sustainable value for our shareholders."

An interim management statement for the nine months to the end of June says: "We're continuing to make good progress against our key strategic objectives. The consistent application of our strategy, supported by focused investment, is continuing to build momentum across the business.

"Our Growth Brands are outperforming the market and we continue to grow our Specialist Brands, which together represent an increasing proportion of our business. Our footprint provides both stability and opportunities for growth, with improving revenue in Returns Markets and continued top line momentum in many of our Growth Markets. Our expanded share in the US strengthens our footprint, further diversifying our earnings. We've continued to focus on cost and cash management with the removal of business complexity enhancing operational effectiveness.

"Underlying tobacco net revenue was flat but grew 1 per cent excluding the impact in Iraq. Price mix was higher during the quarter as expected, particularly in a number of our Returns Markets where we grew net revenue by 1 per cent. Growth Market net revenue was down 1 per cent, held back by Iraq which masked growth of 3 per cent in the rest of the Division, with performance highlights in Russia, Taiwan, Norway and in premium cigars. In Returns Markets North we grew net revenue by 2 per cent with growth in markets including Germany, Australia and Ukraine. In Returns Markets South net revenue declined by 2 per cent with market pressures in Morocco continuing.

"We have continued to increase the net revenue, volume and share of our Growth Brands, with brand migrations continuing to demonstrate consistently high consumer retention. Growth and Specialist Brands generated 59 per cent of total tobacco net revenue compared to 53 per cent in the same period last year. "Underlying volumes were down 6 per cent, impacted by the political and security situation in Iraq which continues to deteriorate. Excluding this impact, underlying volumes were down 4 per cent, slightly better than industry volumes in our footprint which were down 4.5 per cent."

Divi up 10% http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5144886

confess i don't hold any tobacco stocks, though for no moral reason
they're certainly good defensively and (i think) with decent yields too

whether one should by BATS or IMT or even both is probably personal choice

in the last year, IMT has easily out-performed BATS, but with BATS just touching 200 dma (southbound) that might be a reason to buy

Barclays Capital today reaffirms its equal weight investment rating on Imperial Tobacco Group PLC (LON:IMT) and raised its price target to 3600p (from 3500p).

Imperial Tobacco changes name to Imperial Brands

StockMarketWire.com

Imperial Tobacco Group has changed its registered name to Imperial Brands with immediate effect following approval by shareholders at the annual general meeting on 3 February. The company's ticker on the London Stock Exchange for its ordinary shares will change to IMB with effect from 8.00 a.m. on 8 February and its new web address www.imperialbrandsplc.com will also go live on 8 February.

The company's ADR ticker will change to IMBBY with effect from the start of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on 8 February.

At 2:05pm: (LON:IMT) Imperial Tobacco Group PLC share price was -42.75p at 3555.75p


Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

more fat walletS for the media boys who convinced management that changing the name (and all that then goes along with that) was a spiffing idea

Just set up a new one under IMB.