Some of you may recall ATK was a 10-bagger last year. After a recent fall it is going up again. Results come out 22 June and seem sure to be positive.

Hannibal

So it was Barclays was it? (Now with over 10% of the stock).

There is little fundamentals to drive this volatility. Probably a good time to buy on Pull backs!

A statement recently saying the company expect results to be ahead of expectations and then accelated growth. Interims on the 1st of dec, worth a look imho.

Looks like the good news is leaking out. Also bear in mind recent announcement of 50m profits at Metronet.

its a gud un! showing a nice pfofit at the moment and im stopping in.

The name of the game is Metronet. Negative (political?) comment from LUL is worrying the big boys. Metronet does not seem to have rebutted, so potentially there might be some big contract fines in the pipeline. Other than Metronet, Atkins rail arm seems to be suffering (job cuts noted recently in MD's statement). Other than these sectors the last financial statement said that the focus would be on profitability (and the word is that profits are up again...). A definite buying opportunity if it slips below 6 (compared with recent peak of 7.40).

If anyone read my last post and acted on it they could have made some money. I sold at 7.18 (for once, I jumped near the top of the market).

However, Atkins is sliding down again, as the euphoria about the Olympics opportunities dies down. I would guess 6.50 would be a good buying point again. Needs some positive Metronet news to drive the price up but the bombing campaign will have impacted the contractual situation in an uncertain way. It may make it harder to reach the refurb targets?

Atkins defies logic and gravity - about 11 today after results.
I hold from earlier woe-days so I receive a thumping yield (albeit on a tiny investment, at the time ).
Quite why anyone buys this stock at 11 beats me since the yield is poor; indeed with interest-rates likely to rise, you'd get more than double in the Bank!

However, they are a world-class act and despite some worries over MetroNet - I suspect if you want a job done well - Atkins is the 1st choice.

looks like overpriced company in current market

Maybe so, but the World is still building Infrastructure .. ...middle east, S.America. India - all likely to ask Atkins......sp is own on general market woes....would be nice if they upped the Dividend.
Then there's "Crossrail"

Looks like these are working their way back upto 10. Anyone following these here?

Rebought today. ATK now has a good yield and lots of good news in the pipeline, even if business has been a little quiet and the company has been cutting staff.

bit of a dodgy company from the past. they might get contracts but quantity aint quality

Marni,

That's not accurate.

Problem in the past was they they overextended themselves with acquisitions and then an new financial system failed to collect invoices promptly - all of which led to cash flow problems. Subsequently, Metronet failed (Atkins was one of 5 partners) - but this was a very ambitious contract. Generally they are sound.

Hannibal is right.
+ FWIW, these are engineers, not accountants - they get into large Long-Term projects, where there is no-one else to ask. I hold a few and benefited from their fall from grace 2004 (was it?), - but then many thought it was about to fold.
No doubt they'll have some connection with this new Rail-line to wherever. (another Dome/Olympic/Computer - fiasco IMHO). . . . . Still Governments want to spend money they don't have, as usual.

Engineering consultancy WS Atkins (ATK) -
A very strong balance sheet and a secure dividend. Most of the bad news looks priced into the share. The shares at 8.5 times forecast earnings for 2012-2013, are rated well below the support services average 10 times. There is always a possibility of bid action after UK peers Scott Wilson and WSP were snapped up . They look cheap.