Marchpole is one of those stocks which have had a really bad time. Boardroom battles, losses, price collapse, profit warnings up the ying yang.

Now all of those things seem to be sorted out, new management are getting to grips, new contracts and the price is on the up. So much so that Monday ought to see a 50/200 day MA golden cross.

DYOR of course, but I think I will be putting a few of these away at the open.

Socco

And there's that big buyer again. 150K buy has just gone through!

It's more appropriate to compare Marchpole with Burberry than Next, as they are also into the higher end of the market:

Burberry Group plc interim results
16/11/2004

Burberry Group plc reports interim results for its first half to 30 September 2004.
Financial Highlights
Total revenues increased 14% on an underlying* basis to 347 million
Retail revenues increased 12% underlying
Wholesale revenues increased 13% underlying
Licensing revenue increased 31% underlying
Gross profit margin expanded from 55.6% to 58.6%
EBITA** increased 18% (22% underlying) to 78.8m
EBITA margin expanded from 20.8% to 22.7%
Diluted EPS before goodwill amortisation and exceptional gain increased 20% to 10.8p
Interim dividend increased 33% to 2.0p per Ordinary Share

grevis

Felt I had to do a post as you appear to be aiming for the record in consecutive posts at 6! Sorry to spike your guns. Burberry figures good and demonstrate the move to quality. Next figures today poor at 2% up over previous Christmas and left with a lot of stock which is slow to move in the sales. Do you see MPH as impervious to internet sales - Next suffering with terrific growth in ASC, for instance, whilst their own on-line sales, though top in the market, is small percent of total.

Eric

Next got their stocking levels wrong which were higher than originally planned!!!

The group said that retail August 3rd to December 24th rose 12.1% year-on-year. Total like-for-like sales rose 0.5%, better than the flat level most were expecting. But clearance rates in its end-of-season sale were below its own expectations, it admitted, on stock levels that were higher than originally planned..........................Numis saying that any weakness would create buying opportunities in Ted Baker (down 8.5p to 474.5p) and Burberry (down 6p to 400p). Investors were also upbeat on the outcome for WH Smith, as its shares added 7.75p to 317.75p.........From UK-Analyst.com: January 5th 2004

Note ASC off recent 90p highs and down again today.Like to add Marchpole to that list of buying opportunities!


MPH-Expansion into Asia with new store openings planned in 2005.This month see`s the worldwide (exc USA)launch of the A/W collection of the Ungaro and Emanuel Ungaro ranges, Under the Agreement, Marchpole will be producing two men's collections per season.Good fundamentals,very successful in delivering year on year growth.Trading update soon and time to be buying and buying on weakness.Growth and company paying a dividend.Gets my vote.Markets down on sentiment today.Good buying opportunity.Resistance @ 30p.Holding.imho,dyor.

Marchpole sees continuing success at FY after strong H1 UPDATE
AFX


(adds current trading detail)

LONDON (AFX) - Marchpole Holdings PLC, which designs, produces and sells clothing and accessories for six world class brands including Yves Saint Laurent, Boateng and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, said its continuing success will be reflected in results for the full year.

The comments came alongside strong figures for the six months ended Oct 2 2004 which showed profit before tax up 216 pct to 2.5 mln stg from 0.8 mln on turnover up 97 pct to 15.7 mln stg from 8.0 mln.

Operating profit was up 194 pct to 2.6 mln stg.

The board also declared an interim dividend of 0.25 pence, compared with nil a year earlier.

YSL and Boateng combined Spring Summer 2005 order books are up 11 pct to 11.0 mln stg from 9.9 mln at same time last year. The JCC Spring Summer 2005 sales order book is at 2.5 mln stg.

Chief executive Greg Tufnell said the strong set of half year results; the successful launch and integration of Jean Charles de Castelbajac and the opening of the flagship store in Paris and the new licence agreement with Emanuel Ungaro show that Marchpole is succeeding in its strategy of developing current brands while extending the portfolio through acquisitions and licensing agreements.

The group's overall Autumn Winter 2004 order book currently stands at over 16.6 mln stg of which 86 pct has already been delivered to customers to date.

Excluding JCC there is a like for like improvement in the Autumn Winter 2004 order books of 28 pct for the YSL and Boateng brands compared to this time last year.

With these results, including the first season of JCC, and the new licence with Emanuel Ungaro in September the group is fulfilling its strategy of developing new brands and expanding the business -- a strategy which it intends to continue. The board said it is also currently in discussion with third parties to advance new opportunities both in terms of licensing and brand acquisitions.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

slm/

lex1000

Thanks for that. You're preaching to the coverted with me. I am playing a CFD which is going well and will probably add to it. Meets the 3:1 upside criteria.

Eric

Good morning all, good news I think!

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200501100700141637H.html

P

Sales appear to have fallen off, despite Xmas period (15.7M - 6mths, 21.8M - 9mths). Average for 6 mths is 2.62M/mth, for 9 mths 2.42M/mth, and last 3 mths down to 2.03M/mth.

Xmas just gone has been tough for all retailers. Still a healthy profit IMHO.

I don't see a reference to the profit to 9 mths in the RNS. Any idea?

Not yet. Wiil wait for the day to unfold and see if there are any more updates. Haven't got time at work to day to investigate unfortunately.

P

Excellent news for holders. Strong demand.Strong trading over the Christmas period!


Marchpole Holdings PLC
10 January 2005


For Immediate Release 10 January 2005



Marchpole Holdings plc
Q3 Trading Update

'31% increase' - 'Strong demand'


Marchpole Holdings plc, which designs, produces and sells high quality clothing
and accessories for six world class brands (Yves Saint Laurent, Boateng,
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac ('JCC'), Rossignol, Emanuel Ungaro and Ungaro) is
pleased to announce their third quarter trading results for the period ended 1
January 2005.

Strong demand for all brands has delivered sales of 6.2m (2003: 4.7m) 31%
ahead of prior year.

Cumulative sales for the nine months to 1 January 2005 are 21.8m (2003: 12.6m)
72% ahead of prior year.

Chief Executive, Greg Tufnell commented:

'We are very pleased with the quarterly and year to date performance of the
company, including our strong trading over the Christmas period. Our brands
continue to be well received by our customers and we continue to experience
excellent sell throughs.

'The Autumn Winter 2005 collections are now ready for sale, including the new
Emanuel Ungaro and Ungaro collections, and we remain confident about the
prospects for the full year and for the future.'



For further information contact:

Marchpole
Greg Tufnell - Chief Executive
Justin Hampshire - Finance Director
020 7908 7700

Shore Capital
Alex Borrelli
020 7408 4090

Buchanan Communications
Tim Thompson / Nicola Cronk
020 7466 5000



Notes to editors:


Marchpole announced in September 2004, strong interim results for the six
months ended 2 October 2004, with operating profit up 194% to 2.6 million
(2003: 0.9m) on increased turnover of 15.7 million (2003 : 8.0 million).



This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Premium paid 114,776 @ 32.5p!

Wait for the sellers to come in.............

P

Perhaps premium buyer @ 32.5p should have waited.Currently 30p/31.5p ask =31.31p

Great news for all holders! Lets hope for some more positive statements regarding the "storm in a tea cup" and the possible capture of the Feraud buisness...

Fraud business.......sounds a bit dodgy! LOL

P

edit.

from advfn

Cat - 10 Jan'05 - 08:57 - 5886 of 5890


MPH - BUY note just out from Peels.
Summary:
Q3 sales +31% on last year, Ytd sales +72% on last year. This is marginally ahead of our current sales estimate assumptions (Q3 sales +28%). No upgrade at this stage but with strong sales visibility (c4-6 months), scope for a FY upgrade still exists despite the impact of new contract set up costs. Also - expect further news of new licence wins going forward.

barryrog - 10 Jan'05 - 09:01 - 5889 of 5890


there may be a small amount of short term profit taking but this will be heading for 35p + before the full year.
with the co. already announcing high expectations and with the share still trading on a single digit forward p/e with over 30% growth it still rates as one of the most undervalued stocks around.
what other high street retailer can hope to get even near a 30% growth for the lead up to christmas.

Fraud? Marchbank is in talks to acquire the Louis Feraud brand! ROFL!

Technical signals moving positively. Fundamentals good. Parsonmead unnecessarily parsimonious - that the trouble with these clerics! The future is bright! The future is Marchbank!

Eric