sp been rising 2010 and up 14% today on better than-expected results . . . the MMs must be expecting fools to rush in...yet Sells are massivly above Buys - will it end in tears, or are Dirs buying at these highs? All rather surprising as I'd expect Kitchen-sales are all done(when money was cheap up to 2008), and if you are trying to save money - you don't splash out on something you don't need.

I mean - howden does a kitchen "wear out"? - ho - ho!

it seems to me that howdens have a somewhat different market from magnet ..... magnet have showrooms so can show the homeowner (retail) how things look .... howdens save money by having simple design studios in their warehouses ..... they look to work more with builders/designers (trade) who will build a bespoke kitchen albeit for the lower/middle market .... for all that, i think howdens looks an excellent company who have worked out how to maximise profits by minimising costs (expensive showrooms)

Howden upgraded by Canaccord Genuity
22nd March 2013, 14:18

Canaccord Genuity has upgraded its recommendation on Howden Joinery [LON:HWDN] to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ in a note to clients today.

The City broker has increased its price target by 75 per cent to 305 pence per share (previously 175 pence).

Separately, Jefferies increased its price target to 200 pence a share from 160 pence and restated its ‘hold’ call on the stock in a research note issued on Wednesday, March 20th.

Shares in Howden Have increased in value by nearly 20 per cent in the past month.

Broker Forecasts consensus data shows that 60 per cent of brokers now have a ‘buy’ (or equivalent) rating on Howden while 10 per cent rate the shares as a ‘sell’.

At 2:16pm: Howden Joinery share price was up 4 pence at 233.3 pence.

MIDAS tips HOWDEN JOINERY

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/investing/article-2298116/MIDAS-SHARE-TIPS-Kitchen-firm-sets-sights-huge-expansion-drive.html

i wonder if HWDN is included in the HG+HC Index - WOS must surely be

==================

keep a note - figures due 26 april
look for t/o £887m (2011 - £854m) with commensurate increase in profit, though that may be pegged back in % terms by necessary capital and other expenditure

with WOS being walloped - it found sales for kitchens (and bathrooms) badly hit - it would have been reasonable for HWDN to have at least ticked lower ...... not so

No quality company.

Looking to test the highs again (triple top ?)

Trading Statement 2nd May.

Nice work if you can get it!

Notification of Transaction in Shares

Howden Joinery Group PLC (HWDN:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 248.16. Over this period, the share price is up 107.63%.

Howden Joinery Group PLC (HWDN:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 251.00. Over this period, the share price is up 101.79%.

Interim Management Statement

Howden Joinery Group Plc ('the Group') is today publishing its Interim Management Statement covering the year to date. Trading information is in relation to the first four periods of 2013 (to 20 April 2013).

The Board is pleased with performance so far this year, which has seen further solid trading in line with our expectations, whilst remaining cautious about the outlook for the rest of the year, given the prevailing economic environment.

Trading

In the first four periods (16 weeks) of 2013, Howden Joinery UK revenue was up 9.3% on the corresponding periods last year, increasing by 7.6% on a same depot basis. As previously, explained, sales in the first period of the year benefited from an additional week of trading. Excluding the first period, total revenue in the three periods since then increased by 4.1%, there being no distorting factors.

The gross profit margin performance is in line with market expectations for the full year 1.

Note 1: Currently, most analysts are believed to be expecting gross margin to be between 60.5% and 61.5%.

Business developments

We are currently planning to open around 20 to 30 new depots this year. With one new depot having been opened so far, Howden Joinery is now trading from 530 depots in the UK.

We are continually seeking opportunities to improve the performance of our business operations. To this end, we have reconfigured our transport operations to better reflect the geographical mix of our sales in the UK and improve service to our depots. This will result in an exceptional charge and cash cost in respect of continuing operations in the first half of 2013 of about £5m. These changes will deliver a number of important service and operational improvements.

There have been no material changes to the financial position of the Group in the period save as a result of the usual impact of the level of trading and those other matters disclosed herein.

Next scheduled announcement

The Group will release its 2013 Half Yearly Report on 25 July 2013.

JP Morgan Cazenove Overweight 245.70 245.70 211.00 251.00 Reiterates

i think i had a little dabble in/out around march/april, but certainly i bought back in at end april, since when they have been ticking away very nicely thank you :-)

L&G (From 4% to 3%)

Another one I sold too early , I'll get the hang of this one day.

Half Yearly report

· Howden Joinery UK depot revenue increased by 7.3% to £383.7m (up 5.5% on a same depot basis), rising by 4.3% if the first period of the year is excluded. Group revenue was £390.8m (2012: £364.6m);

· Gross profit margin was 61.5% (2012: 60.3%);

· Operating profit pre exceptional items rose to £45.1m (2012: £29.6m);

· Profit before tax and exceptional items increased to £43.2m (2012: £25.9m);

· Basic earnings per share pre exceptional items increased to 5.0p (2012: 3.2p);

· An exceptional operating cost of £4.5m was incurred, to reconfigure our transport operations (2012: nil) ;

· Net cash of £102.0m at 15 June 2013 (29 December 2012: £96.4m net cash, 9 June 2012: £37.4m net cash);

· Interim dividend of 1.0p per share declared (2012: 0.3p).

Business developments

· Investment in the future growth of the business continues:

- new products introduced across entire spectrum of offer;

- in line with our plans, eight new UK depots opened so far in 2013, bringing total to 537;

- two-year programme of investment in our two manufacturing sites completed;


· Further mitigation of legacy property liability, with termination of leases on four more legacy properties since the 2012 Preliminary Results and one lease expiring, bringing the total so far this year to seven and the total remaining to nine.

Current trading and outlook

· Depot sales in the first four weeks of the second half of 2013 have continued to show solid progress, with total sales up 7.6%.

· With our important 'period 11' still to come, anticipated cost increases and market conditions continuing to be uncertain, our expectations for the year are unchanged.

Numis Add 290.25 288.50 265.00 325.00 Retains

N+1 Singer Buy 282.70 282.70 275.00 310.00 Upgrades

BlackRock < 10%