Grief, £1 a year ago (Dec 2010, and that was a discount!) _DYOR - and now a shadow of that.

- perhaps they should introduce the Exploding chocco - these contain a small amount of TNT and although it's only a small amount, it can practically blow your head off, so you are left speechless, at least until the sinues manage to flip your skull back and normality is restored.

Not sure that a Yield of 6% will last much longer . . . . is there oodles of debt?

News of inferior profits sent stock down 38% - give me some of those new sweetmeats.
EDIT (23Jan2012)...jump up 38% today....MM's playing Buys/Sells about evens.

PANMURE GORDON MORNING NOTE.....

Thorntons : Strong Q2 but no change to FY expectations
Recommendation – Buy
Analysts – Simon French +44 (0)151 243 0974 & Karl Burns +44 (0)151 243 0976

Thorntons has announced a strong Q2 reporting 6.3% sales growth for the 14 weeks to 11 January. FMCG sales increased 17.1%, an acceleration on the Q1 performance and Retail sales declined by 2.9%, less than in Q1. Within FMCG, UK Commercial sales rose by 21.1% reflecting excellent sales of seasonal specialities. Within Retail, LFL sales increased 3.5%, against a comparative of 1.3% and Consumer Direct (online) sales increased 27.0%. The group’s outlook remains unchanged and we expect no change to market expectations of £7.4m PBT although we think the risk to consensus remains on the upside, subject to ‘normal’ Easter trading. Reflecting this upside risk and reiterate our Buy recommendation

16 Jan 2014 Thorntons PLC THT N+1 Singer Buy 144.38 143.25 140.00 160.00 Reiterates

RESEARCH ALERT-Thorntons: Panmure raises target price to 150p

16 Jan 2014 - 08:54
Jan 16 (Reuters) - Thorntons PLC : * Panmure raises target price to 150p From 116p; rating buy For a summary of rating actions and price target changes on European companies: Reuters Eikon users, click on [RCH/EUROPE] Reuters 3000Xtra users, double-click [RCH/EUROPE] Thomson ONE users, type in RT/RCH/EUROPE ((nyc.equities.newsroom@reuters.com); (Reuters Messaging: saqib.ahmed.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) ((Bangalore Newsroom +91 80 6749 1130; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780))

Half Year results

Thorntons today announces its half-year results for the 28 weeks ended 11 January 2014.

Financial Highlights
· Revenues increased by 4.5% to £139.7 million (2013: £133.7 million)
· Profit before tax and exceptional items grew by 47.3% to £7.2 million (2013 restated*: £4.9 million)
· EBIT margin increased to 6.2% (2013 restated: 4.9%)
· Basic EPS 7.8 pence (2013 restated: 4.5 pence)
· Cash generated from operations £13.0 million (2013: £15.0 million)
· Exceptional costs totalled £1.0 million (2013: £0.7 million), consisting of impairment and onerous lease provision movements

Operational Highlights
· Sales in the FMCG division grew by 14.5% to £70.6 million (2013 restated: £61.6 million) and exceeded sales in the Retail division for the first time
o UK Commercial grew by 17.3% growth to £62.4 million (2013 restated: £53.2 million):
- Further broadening and deepening of distribution across UK Commercial customer base
- Success of Christmas seasonal specialities grew by 68%
- Good take up of early spring deliveries
o International sales grew to £4.5 million (2013: £4.1 million)

· Within the Retail division, a strong first half in Own Stores and good growth from online Consumer Direct channel resulted in 2.1% like-for-like growth (2013: -2.2%)
o On track to close approximately 40 stores during the financial year, with 15 stores closing during the period, towards our objective of creating a store portfolio of between 180 and 200 stores in the medium-term
o Consumer Direct sales increased by 23.4% to £4.1 million (2013: £3.3 million)
o Franchise sales increased to £5.1 million (2013: £5.0 million).

bought some at the end of the day at 151p
why?

The share price has settled for the last few days, today there was large volume, most larger size buys, this points to the retracement being finished and the start of a new uptrend.

Positive signal
1 -the lows of the last 4 days around 148p has not been seen today
2 - the Candlestick also was bullish at the close yesterday signaling a BUY the Candlestick was a Bullish Harami
3 - large volume
4 - Easter is on the way ( chocolate items for sell )


MAM Chart can not be trusted as no trade under 150p was done today but shows as 146p, below a better one

Slowly but surely is moving higher now 152p, on a day of a very down market

Should be good new for Thortons

UK retail sales up by 1.7%
Retail sales staged a bigger-than-expected bounce-back last month as shoppers returned to the high street after a weather-hit January, according to official figures.

Retail sales staged a bigger-than-expected bounce-back last month as shoppers returned to the high street after a weather-hit January, according to official figures.
Sorry, you must sign in before you can print full articles.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes rose 1.7% month on month in February, smashing forecasts for sales to edge 0.5% higher.

It comes after a disappointing January, with the ONS revealing that sales fell even more than first thought, down by 2% against an initial estimate for a 1.5% decline.

Even stripping out the often volatile changes from month to month, sales were 1.6% higher in the three months to the end of February compared with the previous three-month period - the highest since August last year.

Experts said the figures boosted hopes for another robust performance from the economy in the first quarter, easing fears that the extreme wet weather and flooding knocked the recovery off track.

Alan Clarke, director at Scotiabank, said the figures showed retail sales "are flying"

Chocos doing the job nicely a spike to 154p just now

what a day finishing well up and witht he "UT" at offer price 157p

looking forward to what tomorrow brings

Are these worth an Easter punt - Q3 Trading update 30/04/14 (E)

Trading Statement

THIRD QUARTER TRADING UPDATE & INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

Thorntons today reports on trading during its third quarter for the 15 weeks up to and including 26 April 2014. Both operating divisions reported good sales of Easter specialities.

Sales in the third quarter saw a reduction of 7.6% against the same period last year due to the combined effect of early spring deliveries in our second quarter, slower sales through February and March in our UK Commercial channel and the cumulative effect of planned store closures.

For the year to date, UK Commercial sales have increased by 8.6% and the Retail division has delivered positive like-for-like growth of 1.8%.

FMCG Division
· UK Commercial sales declined by 8.0%. A strong Easter performance, where sales of our seasonal specialities grew in excess of 20%, was offset by the impact of the early spring sales reported in the second quarter combined with slower sales in February and March and a performance at Valentine's Day and Mother's Day that fell below expectations.
· International sales increased by 3.4%, accounting for just under 3% of total revenue.

Retail Division
· Like-for-like sales increased by 1.2% driven by a consistent performance over the key spring seasons including Easter.
· Own store sales declined by 8.8% reflecting 38 store closures compared to the same period last year in line with its strategy. Ten stores closed in the period resulting in 271 Own Stores at the end of the quarter.
· Consumer Direct sales increased by 5.6%.
· Franchise sales increased by 5.7%.

Jonathan Hart, Thorntons' Chief Executive, commented:
"Set against the continuing backdrop of a competitive and challenging trading environment the key Easter season saw all our channels delivering sales growth. Customers responded positively to our Easter innovations and we anticipate further good growth in our Easter market share.

"Despite this third quarter result we are satisfied with the overall performance of the business for the year to date and we look forward to our UK Commercial channel returning to growth in our short final quarter. The Board remains confident that Thorntons will perform in line with market expectations for the full year* and we continue to be confident that our transformation is on track and our strategy is appropriate and working."

The finance director has bought 20,000 - Director Shareholding

Final Results

Financial

· Revenues increased by 0.6% to £222.4 million (2013: £221.1 million)
· Profit before tax and exceptional items increased by 60.4% to £7.5 million (2013*: £4.7 million)
· EBIT margin increased to 4.5% (2013*: 3.4%)
· Basic EPS 7.8p (2013*: 4.6p)
· Cash generated from operations £4.6 million (2013: £8.3 million)
· Net debt £32.9 million (2013: £27.5 million)

Operational

· Successfully delivered our strategy to rebalance the business, revitalise our brand and restore profitability
- FMCG division grew by 7.8% to £111.0 million (2013*: £103.0 million):
- Sales in UK Commercial, our largest channel, increased by 9.7% to £99.4 million (2013*: £90.6 million)
- International sales grew by 4.9% to £6.4 million (2013: 6.1 million). Prospects for our International channel continue to be encouraging, although it is still a small proportion of overall sales
- Private label sales fell by 17.5% to £5.2 million (2013: £6.3 million)
- Significant investment committed to our manufacturing facilities

· Retail division delivered 1.1% growth in like-for-like sales over the period (2013: 0.8% decline), our best performance for more than six years:
- Own Store sales were £94.9 million (2013*: £102.5 million) with a net 36 stores closed during the year in line with the strategy
- Consumer Direct sales increased by 14.3% to £6.4 million (2013*: £5.6 million)
- Franchise sales rose by 1.2% to £8.6 million (2013: £8.5 million)

THT THONTONS PLC ...looks no reason why it cant go on and replicate last years upward action going into XMAS Mothers Day and Easter.

Looking to take out resistance at 134p 148p 160p and previous top of 165p.

Recent increase in volume and MACD positive.

FUNDIES

Year Ending Revenue (£m) Pre-tax (£m) EPS P/E PEG EPS Grth. Div Yield

29-Jun-13 221.05 4.29 5.31p 17.4 0.2 +101% n/a 0.0%

Historical P/E of 17 to june 2013.

Thorntons PLC

FORECASTS

2015 2016
Date Rec Pre-tax (£) EPS (p) DPS (p) Pre-tax (£) EPS (p) DPS (p)
N+1 Singer
12-11-14 BUY 10.68 10.90 13.97 14.40
Investec Securities
07-11-14 BUY 9.40 9.68 11.80 12.15
Charles Stanley Securities [R]
15-01-14 BUY 9.80 10.45 13.20 13.98

GROWTH

2014 (A) 2015 (E) 2016 (E)
Norm. EPS 111.97% 11.13% 29.36%
DPS % % %

INVESTMENT RATIOS
2014 (A) 2015 (E) 2016 (E)
EBITDA £18.40m £20.62m £23.79m
EBIT £10.95m £m £m
Dividend Yield 0.00% % %
Dividend Cover x x x
PER 12.98x 11.68x 9.03x
PEG 0.12f 1.05f 0.31f
Net Asset Value PS 24.16p 38.70p 55.20p

First Quarter Interim Statement.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/thorntons-plc--tht-/rns/trading-statement/201410130700070494U/

Off to a strong open.

THT up over 5% on the day. XMAS run in?????????

21 Nov 2014 Thorntons PLC THT Investec Buy 121.38 121.50 175.00 168.00 Reiterates

THT Thorntons.Double Bottom developed. Been accumulating these as I think a repeat of last year could be on the cards.

perhaps i'm too snooty by half - a sentiment with which i'm sure stan, gf, fred and a few others would readily agree :-) - but thornton's chocolates really are very nasty indeed

with that in mind, i really do wonder if this company truly has a future

as with their chocolates, this is one i shall definitely not be buying

Lovely chocolates.

Flying off the shelves at M@S