Its come along way since these were a pair of old boots,just bought today mid 280s,spent a few pounds in there of late,so why not!

Not pretty!

Barclays and Panmure (posts 61 & 62) have a great deal of egg on their faces, not to mention losses for their clients. However with 14p divi (ex divi 4th July) these look a short term buying opportunity to me @ around 245p. Any thoughts out there?
2517

George - just goes to show the use of broker notes.

These are on my list - TP @230 - as you say Ex dividend soon and a yield @8.95%.

I don't know what their geographic coverage is George, but if it's just the UK then despite the Olympics boost the recovery in SP after the Ex divi day drop could take quite a wile.. assuming it does recover that is. Might be a case of earned income gain but capital lose, short term at least. Just my two penny worth.

Thanks skinny, Stan, much appreciated. I have bought HFD @<246p with the view that there will be buying for the divi in which case a capital gain may result, but if not then the divi is well worth having, notwithstanding the fall in the sp on ex divi date. I'm still kicking myself over VOD they were 170p ish prior to going ex divi (6.47p, I think) they dropped to 164 and look at them since.
2517

Take your pick.

Morgan Stanley Downgrades Underweight Tp reduced from 285p to 125p.


Barclays Capital reiterates its Overweight Tp 385p

Kicked off nicely for me last week, with the downgrade from MS outweighing the overweight from BC, the sp has dropped a fair bit today.
2517

12 month low is 233.50p.

I know why it's dropped.........I, like 2517 bought in at 250 for the rise to div date....sorry chaps.,.

.

Just bought in @229.75p

skinny, you haven't bought enough, they're still going lower. BB time for you to buy more, (lots more) to average down.
2517

as you say if sp doesn't rise pre div, 14p pretty good and stay in. will see where bottom is for now.,.

BB, I was thinking of the same strategy for FGP, they go ex-divi 16.5p I believe, a week after HFD. I guess it's all down to timing and skinny's was far better than ours this time.
2517

thanks for the tip, and yes skinny is a canny player.,.

BB, that wasn't a tip, just a strategy that I was thinking about, with the drop in HFD I hope to get my timing better if I do decide to go ahead.
2517

just used it for short typing, i have also looked forward to that div date and saw it listed. didn't expect hfd to drop so close to div date......don't think any of us did. BB

Hmmm - worth a read - Halfords hit its lowest in three years on Monday on fears about deteriorating sales and a dividend cut.

HFD -- strategy was right, execution too soon
FGP -- strategy was right, execution too late.

Timing eh! That was Jimmy Jones wasn't it?
2517

Kicking myself too george but seeing as FGP has until the 11th before ex div have dipped toe in.....not very far. Hopefully a bit more to come next week.,.