We're a highly focused soft drinks business. Our brand portfolio includes Vimto , which is sold in over 70 countries, Levi Roots, Weight Watchers, Sunkist and Panda, which are sold in the UK. We have a leading market position in both the still and carbonate drinks categories and also in the soft drinks on dispense market.





http://www.nicholsplc.co.uk/

Broker Forecast - Berenberg issues a broker note on Nichols PLC
Berenberg today initiates coverage of Nichols PLC (LON:NICL) with a buy investment rating and price target of 1450p. Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Market Buzz

Berenberg initiates coverage of mid-cap drinks makers

Fri, 26 February 2015

(ShareCast News) - Berenberg initiated coverage on the four UK mid-cap soft drinks manufacturers, highlighting a preference for Britvic and Nichols.
"We feel this market is often overlooked by investors due to the lack of absolute growth in the end-markets. However, we believe these businesses score well on several elements relative to our broader UK mid-cap coverage."

The bank said they typically generate strong and stable margins driven by operating efficiencies, they can deploy capital on value-accretive M&A, and they have demonstrated a good level of success by UK and international expansion.

It started Britvic and Nichols with a 'buy' rating and 850p and 1,450p price targets, respectively.

The bank said its preference for these two was mainly due to a combination of a propensity for future EPS upgrades and reasonable valuations.

On Britvic, it said EPS momentum was stabilising and there are several areas that could surprise to the upside, such as margin uplift from supply chain investment, Fruit Shoot's move into the $2bn US multipack market, and the International division returning to profitability.

"We believe these upside risks are not reflected in the current 14.3x FY 2016E P/E multiple, which makes the stock the cheapest among soft drinks peers and in the broader consumer sector."

As far as Nichols is concerned, it said recent acquisitions of Feel Good and Noisy Drinks have helped drive strong EPS momentum. In addition, the company generates much higher margins and return on invested capital than most peers.

Berenberg started AG Barr and Fevertree with 'hold' ratings and 550p and 570p targets, respectively.

It said Fevertree was an exciting prospect and demonstrates many of the characteristics it looks for, but growth potential is more than reflected in the valuation.

On AG Barr, it said the group has a number of opportunities but it is too early to be confident of success, so the current valuation is justified.

Preliminary results

3 Mar Investec 1,440.00 Buy

Nichols steady

StockMarketWire.com

Nichols Plc said its FY group trading performance is in line with management expectations. It expects to deliver FY earnings in line with market expectations.

"Whilst trading conditions within the UK grocery market remain challenging, our UK revenues are benefiting from the incremental impact of both The Noisy Drinks Company Limited, of which we acquired the remaining equity in January 2016, and the Feel Good brand acquired in July 2015," the company said.

"This year we have launched Vimto Remix which adds new exciting flavours to the Vimto range. As with all of our new product introductions in recent years, Remix is only available in no added sugar options.

"Our focus has also been on preparing for the re-launch of the Feel Good brand, a range of premium adult juice drinks which have no added sugar and contain 100% natural ingredients. The re-launch will be introduced to the trade ahead of the summer trading season."

Interims Thursday 21 July

Interim results

16:50 26/07/2016
Broker Forecast - Numis issues a broker note on Nichols PLC

Numis today reaffirms its hold investment rating on Nichols PLC (LON:NICL) and raised its price target to 1380p (from 1342p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

On Thursday, Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) closed at 1,453.00, -2.42% below its 52-week high of 1,489.00, set on Jul 18, 2016.

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 1,535.00. Over this period, the share price is up 7.34%.

14 Dec
Whitman Howard
1,760.00
Buy

Director Deals - Nichols PLC (NICL)
BFN
John Gittins, Non Executive Director, bought 1,280 shares in the company on the 15th December 2016 at a price of 1558.00p. The Director now holds 1,280 shares representing 0.00% of the shares in issue.

Story provided by StockMarketWire.com
Director deals data provided by www.directorsholdings.com

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 1,650.00. Over this period, the share price is up 15.42%.

Trading statement Tues 10 Jan.

Trading Update
RNS
RNS Number : 7306T
Nichols PLC
10 January 2017
 
 
 
Date:
Embargoed until 07.00 Tuesday 10 January 2017
 
Contacts:
John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman
Marnie Millard, Group Chief Executive Officer
Tim Croston, Group Chief Financial Officer
Andrew Milne, Group Commercial Director
 
Nichols plc
Telephone:  01925 222222
Website:www.nicholsplc.co.uk
 
 
Alex Brennan/Nick Lyon
Richard Lindley
Hudson Sandler
N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser)
Telephone:020 7796 4133
Telephone:  0207 496 3000
Email: nichols@hspr.com
Website: www.n1singer.com
 
Nichols plc
Trading Update
 
Nichols plc ("the Group"), today issues the following trading update for the year ended 31 December 2016.
 
Group revenue for the year has increased by 7.3% totalling £117.3m (2015: £109.3m). The growth has come from both the UK and International business activities.
 
In the UK, sales have increased by 6.9% against the prior year to £90.7m (2015: £84.8m). This increase has been driven by sales of the Vimto brand, which were 5% ahead of the prior year, and the incremental revenues from the successful acquisition of The Noisy Drinks Co. Ltd. This performance is significantly ahead of the UK soft drinks market which grew by 0.8% in the year to 3 December 2016 (source: Nielsen).    
 
International sales grew by 8.8% to £26.6m, an increase of £2.2m versus 2015.
 
In summary, the Board is pleased with the 2016 Group sales performance and expects full year profit and earnings per share to be ahead of the prior year and in line with expectations.
 
The Group's Preliminary results will be announced on 2 March 2017.
 

10 Jan
N+1 Singer
N/A
Corporate
10 Jan
Whitman Howard
1,760.00
Buy
10 Jan
Shore Capital
N/A
Hold

12:20 11/01/2017
Broker Forecast - Numis issues a broker note on Nichols PLC
Numis today downgrades its investment rating on Nichols PLC (LON:NICL) to reduce (from hold) and cut its price target to 1368p (from 1380p). Story provided by StockMarketWire.com

Preliminary results

2 Mar
Shore Capital
N/A
Hold
2 Mar
Whitman Howard
1,760.00
Buy

12:40 08/03/2017
Broker Forecast - Numis issues a broker note on Nichols PLC
Numis today upgrades its investment rating on Nichols PLC (LON:NICL) to hold (from reduce) and set its price target at 1620p. Story provided by StockMarketWire.com