Broker appears to be starting to like the company (Strong Buy)...

Spectris PLC

FORECASTS
2009 2010

Date Rec Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p) Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p)

Arbuthnot Securities
09-03-09 SBUY 100.00 63.68 24.50 118.00 74.13 25.90


Forward P/E of only just over 6 going into 2010.

It is at a 12 month low or thereabouts but seems to be bouncing off the bottom.

DYOR

2011 PRELIMINARY RESULTS
RNS
RNS Number : 5955X
Spectris PLC
17 February 2012





Friday 17 February 2012






2011 PRELIMINARY RESULTS



Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company, announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2011.





Key operational indicators (£m)



2011



2010


Change
Change at CER** Organic change at CER***
Sales
1,106.2
901.9
+23%
+22%
+15%

Adjusted operating profit*
201.5
142.1
+42%
+40%
+31%

Adjusted profit before tax*
191.6
132.3
+45%





Adjusted earnings per share*
124.1p
86.6p
+43%





Adjusted return on sales*
18.2%
15.8%
+2.4pp





Dividend
33.6p
28.0p
+20%





Statutory





Operating profit
175.8
127.9
+37%





Profit before tax
166.0
119.9
+38%





Basic earnings per share
108.7p
83.1p
+31%







* Adjusted figures exclude certain non-operational items, as defined in Note 2

** At constant exchange rates *** At constant exchange rates excluding acquisitions




Highlights

· Record sales and operating profit in all segments

· Operating margins grew by 2.4pp to 18.2%

· Strong growth in all key regions

· Healthy cash conversion of 89%

· Important acquisitions closed during the year provide additional growth and resilience

· Dividend up by 20%



Commenting on the results, John O'Higgins, Chief Executive, said:

"We are very pleased with our performance in 2011. The progress we made on all aspects of our strategy was fundamental to delivering these results.



Whilst the current macro-economic outlook remains uncertain, the Board is confident that, as a result of continued investment in new products and applications, together with the growth opportunities and resilience which our recent acquisitions provide, Spectris is strategically well positioned for the year ahead."

Spectris , the precision instrument maker, enjoyed a nice boost today, up 189p (12%) to 1,783p. The driver was an upbeat interim management statement that told us of a 12% sales increase in the quarter to 18 October. A lot of the progress came from acquisitions, but the firm recorded a 2% rise in like-for-like sales over the same period a year ago.

Net debt stands at £290 million, which is no big deal for a £1.8 billion company with annual revenue of more than £1 billion. The shares are now 50% up over the past twelve months.

:-))

SXS SPECTRIS, lovely technical set up, see chart below.

Moving up nicely.

Moving up nicely into my gap.