Anybody trading in these shares? I just bought some @ 204.72

BBY were trading around 254p ish last week after going ex-divi (8.5p) so whilst not at the very bottom it's quite close, unless you go back to when they briefly touched the 228p ish mark. They have won many contracts and have a decent divi. Also see post 95 to have an idea of what I think about BBY. Good luck
2517

I see a trading statement is due next wednesday (9th)
2517

Interim Management Statement.

Trading

Overall, performance has been consistent with the outlook given at the time of the full-year results.
Our order book, supported by good wins in the international businesses and growth verticals, has been maintained at a level in excess of £15 billion and continues to give us good visibility.
We are seeing some signs of recovery in the US, supported by positive leading indicators for the fifth consecutive month, which we would expect to benefit order intake later in the year. As anticipated, the UK construction market remains challenging.

Operating performance

Professional Services

The Professional Services order book at the end of March was ahead of that at the year-end with new orders in the Middle East and steady progress in the Americas.
Revenue was in line with expectations with the slowdown in the UK being offset by good revenue growth in the Americas, particularly in the transportation and power industry verticals. The Australian business continued to develop its mining practice in line with our vertical strategy with wins such as the Cobbora Mine EPCM project and good operational delivery.
Performance stabilised in the UK owing largely to the initiatives the business implemented in 2011 to align costs with the lower volume of activity in the market. Overall, Professional Services is expected to make progress in the year.

BALFOUR BEATTY INCREASES FOCUS ON GROWING WASTE SECTOR AND ANNOUNCES NEW CONTRACT
Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, is increasing its exposure to the growing waste sector. The Group is announcing the award of a £34 million contract to construct buildings and infrastructure as part of a new UK Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) facility in Yorkshire and alongside its joint venture partner, Urbaser, has reached financial close for the £800 million Essex Waste Partnership's Residual Waste Treatment Contract.

Commenting on the contracts, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, explained; "these two projects, combined with our recent preferred bidder status for the Gloucestershire Residual Waste Project, strengthen our position in the growing waste sector in the UK. They demonstrate the flexibility of our investment business model as well as our ability to harness the skills within the Group to take advantage of opportunities in growth sectors."

The Essex project, a 30:70 joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Urbaser, is a 28-year PPP contract to design, build and operate a new sustainable waste treatment facility for Essex County Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The award of the preferred bidder position was announced in January.

Balfour Beatty will be involved in the design and construction of the facility and will invest 30% of the required equity, approximately £7 million, in the project. Subject to gaining planning permission and a permit to operate the facility, construction is due to commence in early 2013.

BBY is printing money like never before. It is in its best shape ever in terms of profit, orders, etc.

I've held these several times and they are definitely on my shopping list at some point soon.

A bit weak yesterday and today (so far) and off their recent high of 281p ish, managed to pick some up @ 258p ish prior to them going ex-divi (8.5p). They have stacks of cash and have a very good order book. GLA.
2517

BALFOUR BEATTY PLC SPONSORED LEVEL 1 ADR PROGRAMME

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, today announces that it will sponsor an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programme to improve access for investors in the United States.
Citi has been appointed depositary bank for the programme which starts trading today and replaces the current unsponsored ADR programmes. Balfour Beatty's ADRs trade on the OTCQX platform in the US over-the-counter market under the symbol BAFYY.
ADRs allow US investors to buy shares in foreign companies without the need for cross-border or cross-currency transactions. They are priced and pay any dividends in US dollars and can be traded like the shares of US-based companies.

ENDS

StockMarketWire.com
Gammon Construction - the Hong Kong infrastructure business which is 50% owned by Balfour Beatty - has won a contract to build a HK$2.18bn extension to one of the world's greenest science parks.

The Hong Kong Science Park is already a centre of excellence housing up to 350 firms involved in cutting-edge electronics, telecoms and IT.

Phase 3a/ 3b of the landmark development involves 105,000sq m development - equivalent to 400 tennis courts - and will showcase the latest green construction technologies and sustainable building design.

Future running costs will also be minimised by the incorporation of a water recycling system and solar power. The project will target the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum standard - a green rating system that is recognised globally, and presently the highest level of certification available.

There are only three other buildings in Hong Kong which are certified Platinum standard.

Doing really well, not far off my target of 320p (post 95)
2517

Trading Statement

Trading

There has not been any material change in trading conditions since our Q1 Interim Management Statement of 9 May 2012. The order book has remained stable at £15 billion, giving us good visibility for the remainder of the year, and overall Group trading performance continues to be consistent with our expectations.
We have continued to implement our PPP asset disposal programme, achieving a gain £10 million higher than originally expected from our planned disposals for the year. This will however, be offset in the Group's overall result by cost increases in a small number of contracts in the Utilities sector. As a result of this shortfall, Support Services profitability will be further skewed to the second half of the year.

Construction Services has remained robust overall in the face of challenging markets, with a weak performance in the Rail division, predominantly in Europe, largely offset by strong performance in our joint venture businesses.

Other matters

Our cost efficiency programmes remain on track.
The average net cash position has, as previously announced, reduced since Q1 due to the unwind of working capital as a result of the business cycle and continuing change in the mix of business. The second half is expected to see a working capital related cash inflow.

Outlook

Our order book remains strong despite the continuing uncertainty around governments' investment decisions and the absence of larger, more complex projects. We continue to take action to mitigate the impact these market conditions have on our business while positioning the Group to take advantage of the positive medium and long-term prospects for infrastructure markets. We remain confident that 2012 full-year performance will be in line with expectations.

ENDS

Wednesday

• Construction and services group Balfour Beatty (Other OTC: BAFBF.PK - news) is expected to post sales of £11.5bn for the first half of the year, against £11.04bn a year ago. Adjusted pre-tax profit will come in at £330m, down from £334m, according to Liberum Capital's Joe Brent. He warns there are "macro-economic pressures in a variety of businesses, and margins and cash flow are under pressure". But he thinks that a stable order book expected to be flat at £15.2bn and improving cash flow in the second half will offer investors comfort.

Half Yearly report

Half-year highlights

· First-half performance demonstrates the diversity, flexibility and resilience of our business

· Good progress on the implementation of the strategy in industry verticals and growth markets

· With £5bn of new orders in the first half, order book stable at £15.0bn (FY2011: £15.2bn)

· Revenue up 6% (+1% excluding the impact of acquisitions and currency)

· Margins up in Professional Services while pressure remains in Construction Services; cost increases in Support Services not expected to be repeated in the second half

· Cost efficiency programmes on track

· £52m gain from infrastructure investment disposals (HY2011: £14m)

· Underlying EPS up 28%

· Interim dividend increased by 6% to 5.6p

· Net cash at £34m impacted by working capital outflow

Solid looking co paying a decent divi, if I were looking to add I would wait for around 275p.
2517

Thanks Skinny.
Over 5% dividend is quite good. Given likely investment in rail or airport, BBY has much brighter future.

Surprised to see the fall today.

A few broker updates :-

Deutsche Bank Downgrades Hold Tp reduced to 320p from 323p

HB Markets Downgrades Hold no Tp given

Oriel Securities retains it's Buy Tp 365p

And yesterday :-

Investec Securities reiterates it's Sell Tp 210p

BALFOUR BEATTY APPOINTED PREFERRED BIDDER FOR
£110 MILLION STUDENT ACCOMMODATION PROJECT

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has been appointed preferred bidder for the University of Edinburgh's £110 million Holyrood Postgraduate Student Accommodation and Outreach Centre project.

The 50-year concession contract involves the design, build and maintenance of student accommodation facilities for the University of Edinburgh. The project will provide state-of-the-art accommodation facilities for 1,160 postgraduate students, as well as an outreach centre which will become the focal point for the University's community-based teaching activities and continuous professional development courses.
Energy for the facilities will be provided by the University's Combined Heat and Power Energy Centre.

Balfour Beatty will invest 100% of the required equity in the project, which is expected to reach financial close in spring 2013.

Student accommodation is the most profitable and secure investment. Guaranteed profit in any situation.

Contract Win

Balfour Beatty Selected for £288m Magnox Framework Contract

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has been selected as one of two companies on a £288 million framework for the delivery of construction, infrastructure and maintenance projects across all 10 sites operated by Magnox on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

The framework is expected to be worth up to £30 million per annum, initially for five years with options to extend up to a further five years.

This work will complement a broad portfolio of multi disciplined activities, including executing major projects, already being undertaken by Balfour Beatty at UK Licensed Nuclear Sites. Similarly, it underpins Balfour Beatty's drive to increase its involvement in power related markets.