I here a whisper that Ashtead may become the target of a takeover bid. Anybody have any further news on this? I've been holding this little gem for a while now. Got in at 11.25p and then sold 2/3rds of my stock at 18p to break even. Can't quite decide when to take my mega profit. 1 by Christmas? Here's hoping.

Doing very nicely:



Ashtead profits up

StockMarketWire.com

Ashtead Group reports a a strong first half results with underlying operating profits up 9% at �474.4m.

On a statutory basis, revenues were up 8% at �1,551.7m and pre-tax profits rose by 9% to �413.3m.

Highlights

- Group rental revenue up 13%1 - First half underlying pre-tax profit2 of �426m, up 9% at constant exchange rates - Group EBITDA margins at a record 49% (2015: 47%) - Group RoI of 18% (2015: 19%)



- Net debt to EBITDA leverage of 1.8 times (2015: 1.9 times) - Interim dividend raised 19% to 4.75p per share (2015: 4.0p) Chief executive Geoff Drabble said: "The Group delivered a strong quarter with reported rental revenue increasing 28% (13% at constant exchange rates) for the six months and underlying pre-tax profit of �426m. The underlying performance of the business continues to benefit from a clear and consistent strategy of organic growth supplemented by bolt-on acquisitions. In the six months, the reported results were positively impacted by weaker sterling (�53m) but this was partially offset by the impact of lower gains on fleet disposals (�14m) as we reduced our replacement capital expenditure.

"I am pleased with the continued improvement in our margins - Group EBITDA margin is now a record 49% (2015: 47%). These healthy margins and our strong balance sheet provide flexibility to continue to invest in our long-term structural growth opportunity and enhance returns to shareholders.

"We continue to grow responsibly, adhering to the capital allocation priorities we have outlined. We have therefore invested �683m by way of capital expenditure and a further �142m on bolt-on acquisitions. With the continuing opportunity for profitable growth, we have increased our full year capital expenditure guidance. In addition, we spent �48m under the share buyback programme and increased the interim dividend by 19%. All of this was achieved whilst maintaining leverage well within our stated range of 1.5 to 2.0 times net debt to EBITDA. "Both divisions continue to perform at the upper end of expectations. This, together with the benefit of significantly weaker sterling, means we expect full year results to be ahead of our expectations and the Board continues to look to the medium term with confidence."





Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

StockMarketWire.com
Ashtead Group reports a a strong first half results with underlying operating profits up 9% at £474.4m.

On a statutory basis, revenues were up 8% at £1,551.7m and pre-tax profits rose by 9% to £413.3m.

Highlights
- Group rental revenue up 13%1 - First half underlying pre-tax profit2 of £426m, up 9% at constant exchange rates - Group EBITDA margins at a record 49% (2015: 47%) - Group RoI of 18% (2015: 19%)

- Net debt to EBITDA leverage of 1.8 times (2015: 1.9 times) - Interim dividend raised 19% to 4.75p per share (2015: 4.0p) Chief executive Geoff Drabble said: "The Group delivered a strong quarter with reported rental revenue increasing 28% (13% at constant exchange rates) for the six months and underlying pre-tax profit of £426m. The underlying performance of the business continues to benefit from a clear and consistent strategy of organic growth supplemented by bolt-on acquisitions. In the six months, the reported results were positively impacted by weaker sterling (£53m) but this was partially offset by the impact of lower gains on fleet disposals (£14m) as we reduced our replacement capital expenditure.

"I am pleased with the continued improvement in our margins - Group EBITDA margin is now a record 49% (2015: 47%). These healthy margins and our strong balance sheet provide flexibility to continue to invest in our long-term structural growth opportunity and enhance returns to shareholders.

"We continue to grow responsibly, adhering to the capital allocation priorities we have outlined. We have therefore invested £683m by way of capital expenditure and a further £142m on bolt-on acquisitions. With the continuing opportunity for profitable growth, we have increased our full year capital expenditure guidance. In addition, we spent £48m under the share buyback programme and increased the interim dividend by 19%. All of this was achieved whilst maintaining leverage well within our stated range of 1.5 to 2.0 times net debt to EBITDA. "Both divisions continue to perform at the upper end of expectations. This, together with the benefit of significantly weaker sterling, means we expect full year results to be ahead of our expectations and the Board continues to look to the medium term with confidence."

~£4m by two directors DYOR - at £15 - looks like they've done well . . . but why Sell now, ahead of Trump's arrival....maybe they expect some turmoil...? Or they know it's time to get out . . . sp=£15 is mighty high IMHO... with a very small yield.

goldfinger (3E) and mel on advfn have been saying for a while that this was a winner, and so it has most definitely proved today

as most of you guys spend all your time on this BB hurling insults at each other about brexit and other nonsense, there seems little point in expounding further on why AHT looks to be on a strong roll

Manuel,

Eat your heart out.

Bought October 2013.

😀

well done fred
i only bought this morning, and that is on my small trading a/c
nevertheless, it's already showing a very healthy profit

btw. manuel is currently in madrid :-)

Oh really?..work related obviously.

indeed .... appearing as a witness for the defense tomorrow ..... trip all paid for by my client

plaintiff's case is bordering on the vexatious i reckon

I hope you are sipping coffee in the Plaza Mayor.

A beautiful city, but a B. to drive a lorry through.

long walk to plaza mayor from my hotel, though i did so this morning and thence to mercado san miguel for a couple of tapas and beers

walked back through retiro park ..... very nice but frightfully formal rather like the tuileries in paris

Ashtead underlying earnings up 18%

StockMarketWire.com

Ashtead Group has reported a strong first quarter with rental revenue increasing 25% to £828.8m and underlying pre-tax profit up by 30% to £238m.

Underlying EBITDA rose by 18% to £431.1m.

On a statutory basis, revenues were up 16% at £880.1m and pre-tax profits rose by 19% to £228.9m.

Chief executive Geoff Drabble said: "The reported results were impacted favourably by weaker sterling but, with 17% growth in group rental revenue at constant exchange rates, we have continuing good momentum.

"Our end markets remain strong and a wide range of metrics have shown consistent improvement.

"We continue to execute well on our strategy through a combination of organic growth and bolt-on acquisitions.

"We made significant investments in the quarter, spending £377m on capital expenditure and £116m on bolt-on acquisitions.

"Our strong margins ensured that, despite these levels of investment, we remain comfortably within our target range for net debt to EBITDA of 1.5 to 2 times.

"A successful refinancing has provided us with a low cost, long-term platform for further responsible growth.

"At the end of the quarter both businesses were performing well, in line with expectations and with positive momentum.

"Hurricane season has already generated significant activity which will require a major clean-up effort and then a multi-year rebuild programme. Currently, our efforts are focused on supporting our colleagues, neighbours and customers and we stand ready to provide further assistance.

"It is too early to attempt to quantify the impact of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma accurately on our business.

"However, it is evident that it will result in an increase in demand for our fleet and we will provide an update at the end of Q2.

"Looking forward, as a minimum, we expect that the impact will help to underpin the current market assumptions in our 2021 plan and therefore the Board continues to look to the medium term with confidence."





Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Looking very good for the future regarding the potential earnings from the hurricanes on paper Fred?

already hold these and AGK which should also be a significant beneficiary of the hurricane damage rebuilding

GREAT rns from this quarter has sent sp rocketing by 90p (4.5%)
glad i hold in sipp already and also bought a few to trade yesterday
a happy start to the day

=============

abbreviated .....

company to launch buyback program of at least GBP500m, up to GBP1b over next 18 months.
* 1H group rental revenue up 20% in constant currencies
* Underlying pretax profit GBP537m vs GBP426m
* Trading boosted by clean-up efforts following hurricanes

banked very nice profit on trading position ..... got a bit greedy so missed the top, but not fussed

tempted to buy back in
i think the fall has been heavily overdone ..... furthermore the chart indicates that a support level may have been hit - eg level itself and also just touching 50 ema (or dma = much the same)

==============

put money with mouth for a modest number on my trading a/c at 1904

TIDM: AHT

ASHTEAD GROUP PLC

NOTIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF DIRECTORS/PERSONS DISCHARGING MANAGERIAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND CONNECTED PERSONS

Ashtead Group plc (the "Company") announces the following changes in the
interests of directors in ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the share capital
of the Company ("shares"):

On 12 December 2017, Geoff Drabble, Chief Executive, sold 941,940 shares at a
price of 2054 pence per share. Geoff Drabble continues to hold 392,219 shares
representing 0.079% of the Company's issued share capital. In addition, Geoff
Drabble holds 367,565 awards over shares pursuant to the Company's Long Term
Incentive Scheme.

On 12 December 2017, Suzanne Wood, Financial Director, sold 145,000 shares at a
price of 2046 pence per share. Suzanne Wood continues to hold 63,805 shares
representing 0.012% of the Company's issued share capital. In addition, Suzanne
Wood holds 164,418 awards over shares pursuant to the Company's Long Term
Incentive Scheme.

On 12 December 2017, Brendan Horgan, Chief Executive of Sunbelt, sold 175,000
shares at a price of 2040 pence per share. Brendan Horgan continues to hold
318,874 shares representing 0.064% of the Company's issued share capital. In
addition, Brendan Horgan holds 230,129 awards over shares pursuant to the
Company's Long Term Incentive Scheme.

Contact:

Eric Watkins 020 7726 9700



END

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Ashtead group pretax profit jumps 26%
StockMarketWire.com
Ashtead Group reported underlying pre-tax profits of £205.1m during the third quarter, up 26% from £178.7m in the prior period.

Rental revenues rose to £845.5m from £729.2m - up 24% at constant currencies - and EBITDA increased to £408.8m, up 20% from £366.9m.

On a statutory basis, revenues rose to £916.1m from £804.5m and pre-tax profits of £194.3m were up from £171.2m.

Nine month underlying pre-tax profit rose to £742m from £604.6m, while revenues of £2,619.5m were up 21% from £2,173.8m.

Ashtead's chief executive, Geoff Drabble, said: 'The Group continues to perform well and delivered another strong quarter with reported rental revenue increasing 21% for the nine months and underlying pre-tax profit increasing by 24% at constant currency to £742m.'

'Our end markets remain strong and a wide range of metrics have shown consistent improvement. We continue to execute well on our strategy through a combination of organic growth and bolt-on acquisitions, investing £859m by way of capital expenditure and £315m on bolt-on acquisitions in the period.'

'With the continuing opportunity for profitable growth, we expect capital expenditure for the year to be towards the upper end of our guidance (c. £1.2bn). Looking forward to 2018/19, we anticipate a similar level of capital expenditure to this year as we execute on our strategic plan through to 2021.'

'All our divisions continue to perform well in supportive end markets. While currency continues to be a headwind, we expect this to be mitigated by the strong underlying performance in North America. Therefore, we anticipate full year results to be line with prior expectations.'

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What am I missing?