We're a highly focused soft drinks business. Our brand portfolio includes Vimto , which is sold in over 70 countries, Levi Roots, Weight Watchers, Sunkist and Panda, which are sold in the UK. We have a leading market position in both the still and carbonate drinks categories and also in the soft drinks on dispense market.





http://www.nicholsplc.co.uk/

DC - can you edit out some of the superfluous lines of spaces etc.

Nichols beats expectations
Mon 07 Jan 2013

LONDON (SHARECAST) - Soft drinks maker Nichols, which owns the Vimto brand, said its full year figures would beat expectations, pushing its shares up in morning trading.

The firm said total sales for the year ended 31st December had increased by 9% to £108m, with export sales increasing by 8%.

It expects group profit and earnings per share to be significantly ahead of 2011 and ahead of market expectations.

"Despite another year of significant cost inflation and high levels of promotional activity, we expect, as a minimum, to maintain our operating margins," said Chairman John Nichols.

"This has been achieved by a combination of good cost control and ongoing productivity improvements."

It highlighted that the UK market, as measured by A.C. Nielsen, increased in value by 3.2% for the year to 8th December 2012 with underlying volume down 0.6%.

A superb chart from early 2009 DC.

Sorry about the rushed update this morning skinny , hung on to see the update before leaving for work.

Dc - you can post how you like - please don't apologise to me - it just makes it easier to read without all the white space.

Anyway - another good pick by yourself.

climbed hard since the end of Aug.

A buy in this weeks shares mag - Nichols still has plenty of fizz.

A bullish outlook statement alongside March's final,.ahead of what should prove a bullish out look statement. Supported by sustained investment behind brands including Vimto and robust export growth, Shares believes the earnings forecast upgrade cycle should continue
into 2013.

Last month’s (7 Jan) better-than-expected pre-close update confirmed calendar 2012 as another strong year for Nichols, whose other brands include Sunkist and Panda as well as more recent launches such as Weight Watchers and Levi Roots.

Nichols continues to outperform the UK soft drinks market, while the £317.4 million cap’s exports to international markets such as the Middle East and Africa, where consumers are increasingly able to afford branded beverages, offer one forecast upgrade catalyst. Others include the possibility of further licensing agreements in the UK, as well as earnings-enhancing acquisitions underpinned by a burgeoning cash pile.

Following last month’s bullish missive, Investec Securities’ Nicola Mallard increased her taxable profits estimate from £19.9 million to £20.3 million and nudged estimated earnings per shares (EPS) up from 39.5p to 40.3p. This year, the analyst sees profits and EPS putting on 7% to £21.7 million and 43.2p respectively.

Although a 2013 price/earnings (PE) ratio of 20 times is demanding, the premium rating is justified by Nichols’ sector-leading returns, overseas growth scope and the outside chance of a bid as the soft drinks industry consolidates.

http://www.barchart.com/opinions/stocks/NICL.LS

On Wednesday, Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) closed at 871.75, 2.05% below its 52-week high of 890.00, set on Nov 15, 2012.

Consensus recommendation
As of Feb 25, 2013, the consensus forecast amongst 4 polled investment analysts covering Nichols plc advises that the company will outperform the market. This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Dec 02, 2011. The previous consensus forecast advised investors to purchase equity in Nichols plc.
.

http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Tearsheets/Forecasts?s=NICL:LSE

The naked trader 27 Feb -


Nichols (LON:NICL) where I now sit on a fabulous profit is up again after telling the market it is ahead of expectations - it has tons of cash so I'd expect them to announce some kind of big dividend with results in March.

As of Mar 02, 2013, the consensus forecast amongst 4 polled investment analysts covering Nichols plc advises that the company will outperform the market. This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Dec 02, 2011. The previous consensus forecast advised investors to purchase equity in Nichols plc.

On Monday, Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) closed at 885.00, 0.56% below its 52-week high of 890.00, set on Nov 15, 2012.

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 896.14. Over this period, the share price is up 41.81%.

Final results 7 March

Nichols: Canaccord Genuity raises target price from 820p to 1000p and upgrades to buy. Panmure Gordon increases target price from 830p to 900p, while reiterating its hold recommendation.

Preliminary Results

Highlights:

· Group sales up 9% to £107.8m (2011: £98.9m)

· Profit before tax up 13% to £20.5m (2011: £18.1m)

· Earnings per share up 14% to 41.4p (2011: 36.3p)

· Proposed final dividend of 11.7p, total dividend for the year up 13% to 17.3p (2011:15.3p)

· Sales in the UK grew 9%, significantly ahead of the market growth rate

· International sales up 8% year on year




http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4550497

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 905.50. Over this period, the share price is up 39.74%.

Nichols: Investec raises target price from 800p to 890p and retains a hold recommendation.

A buy in this weeks IC - Weight watchers add fizz to Nichols.

Nichols share price hit new highs after another outstanding set of results. Home sales grew 9% against a 3% increase in UK soft drinks turnover overall, thanks to a double -digit rise in the number of outlets selling Vimto, along with successful new product launches. The top new performer was a line of no-calorie drinks for diet -brand weight watchers. Exports were another favourable factor, with sales up 22% in Africa and an impressive 24% in Europe. Overall, exports were 8% higher but were held back by flat income in the Middle East, partly due to the unfavourable timing of Ramadan. Good cost controls meant the fall in gross margins because of rising prices of raw materials -such as plastic , aluminium and sweeteners- was reversed at operating level. Broker Canaccord Genuity expects underlying pre-tax profits of £22.5m and EPS of 45.4p this year (from £22.5m and EPS of 40.9p in 2012)
One key to the years results will be how quicklyagreements to distribute products in North Africa via a large French distributor and in equatorial Africa via the Coca-Cola network ramp up. After another increase in net cash, acquisitions could be on the cards. On a prospective PE ratio of around 20 , nichol's don't appear cheap.But the rating is more than justified by the company's move into the UK's healthy drinks market - while export opportunities continue to abound.

Winner of the Best Food and Beverage PLC in the UK Stock Market awards 2013 in Shares mag this week.



As of Mar 15, 2013, the consensus forecast amongst 4 polled investment analysts covering Nichols plc advises that the company will outperform the market. This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Dec 02, 2011. The previous consensus forecast advised investors to purchase equity in Nichols plc.

Ex-dividend Wednesday 27 March 11.7p