preliminary results due 23rd May.

Final Results.

Overall trading for the Group in 2011/12 in line with our expectations; net
cash inflow of £119.2m

* First Student - now well set on path to recovery; plan delivering in line
with targets, stabilised operating margin in H2

* First Transit - continued good returns from low capital requirements and
established credentials

* Greyhound - business is now transformed, strong growth with operating
profit more than doubled over last 2 years

* UK Rail - solid performance; entering transition period for UK rail, only
operator shortlisted for all four of the current competitions

* UK Bus - steady performance during year; expect margins in 2012/13 to be
significantly affected by deteriorating economic conditions particularly in
the North of England and Scotland and reduced funding to the industry;
executing comprehensive plan to reposition the portfolio and restore
performance

* Dividend increase of 7.0% in line with current policy

Ex-divi wed 11th July '12 (16.05p)

Ex dividend tomorrow and down on an up day - doesn't bode well! Yield (at today's price) is 11.52%

I was convinced these would rise ahead of the divi, had a spurt to the 230p area just recently but all downhill since then, bit like HFD.
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The Stagecoach RNS won't have helped and it could be a bit of a blood bath tomorrow.

another fine mess!!

Extended auction - doesn't bode well.

Was having a serious look at this for the divi. Sooooooo glad I didn't dabble!

HARRYCAT, I had been doing the same, although I came unstuck with HFD I think it's still a strategy to consider. If you bought FGP yesterday at or near their closing price then you would be 1p or 2p to the good (atm) divi is 16.05p sp is down 14p ish. After a share goes ex divi and the sp drops, the PE reduces to a point where the share may be seen to be attractive again and buyers return, thus pushing the sp to the level they were prior to going ex div. Well that's the theory anyway.
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George - I think the perception here is that the dividend is likely to be cut.

I understand the theory, George, but on many an occasion recently there hasn't been a post ex-divi bounce (short term) and it is easy to be stuck with a capital loss even though you have got the divi.
Skinny, I am not sure many people would be buying post ex-divi ready for the next divi? I usually look about 1 month ahead and try and buy stock before the final surge to divi date, hence the BT.A & BG. posts, but the problem there is that august tends to be a dire month for stocks, so may have to sit on the shares for a month or so in order to sell at a profit and get the divi. Very tricky, imo and some stocks defy logic, like EXPN where I got the divi and the sp is still going up!

Harry - I think that (a cut) has been the perception for a while - hence I guess, the reason the share fell up to going ex dividend - which is why I didn't buy.

skinny, I agree the future divi looks suspect.

HC, that is the problem, knowing or being lucky enough to find the shares where the sp claws back the drop after going ex divi, or that continue to rise despite having gone ex divi.
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VOD & NG have both recovered the pre ex price quickly this time around and are both near or at 12 month highs.

Come on back baby.....up you come......225pwould be nice

up nearly 3% again today, come on you know you want too.,.

AGM Statement and Q1 IMS

At the current sp 215p ish, FGP are now a penny or two above the price prior to them going ex-divi, so could sell now without loss and have the 16.05p divi to come. Simples. So why didn't I do it.
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