In the last edition of MoneyWeek (page 38) there is reference to this stock and the fact that a Fund manager has 2.84% of his funds in it. So far, what little I can glean of it indicates a setback at some point in the past BUT the prospects of a brighter future and this does NOT seem to be reflected in the price. Title od the stock is somewhat confusing in that it changed its name and the old title told you exactly what they did but the new one reflects nothing.Comments from all you wise old birds out there, please.

Hilldee

I have held shares in this company for some time. As you probably know it is an environmental consultancy. There was a recent Citywire report by Joanne Wallen which mentioned that Simon Knott (well-respected) fund manager of the Rights and Issues Investment Trust and Discretionary Disc Unit Trusts which invest in small companies for the medium term has a holding, which he has held since 1992 and he believes it has great prospects! Let's hope so.

Yesterday they said that AEGON had acquired 3m+ taking them to 6.15%

I was interested to see this thread as I've recently bought a smallish holding in this stock. The company itself requires quite a bit of research to get a decent understanding of the business + prospects but I'm satisfied with what I have managed to glean.
The stock is supported by a dividend that appears to be growing nicely (albeit from a low base) and prospects look good -with, as the company points out, plenty of scope for expansion in what is a fragmented area of expertise.
The recent share price fall is IMHO an overreaction to the announcement in the recent prelims that the company faced some costs related largely to hiring and keeping quality staff. One side of the coin says "costs" whilst the other says "good prospects with attendant costs" -you take your choice as to what you see.
I'm confident the stock has just about made a bottom (although a few pence more downwards wouldn't surprise me).
All the same, it is soothing to the brow to note that a few fund managers share a supportive view of RPS.

RPS Group, the natural resources and health and safety consultant, today said that full-year profit will be somewhat ahead of consensus after strong trading in all three segments. The company said that conversion of operating profit into cash continued at a high level and that the group's balance sheet at the year end remained strong with borrowings at a comfortable level.

RPS said that integration of the acquisitions made during the year is proceeding successfully and that the acquisition pipeline remains healthy. The company will release its full-year results to Dec 31 on March 5.

Based on Tuesday's closing share price of 263.5 pence the company was valued at 556 mln stg.

Shares in RPS, the natural resources and health and safety consultant, made headway rising 6 pence to 270 this morning as Altium reiterated its 'buy' stance and 356 pence target price in the wake of yesterday's trading update.

The broker has stepped up its EPS forecasts by 2 pct for 2007, 3 pct for 2008 and 1.6 pct for 2009 and would not rule out further upgrades for 2008 and beyond as the current year is starting strongly in most areas and further acquisitions are being pursued.

Good results, confidence in the future and a 15% increase in the dividend payout :-)

RPS Group today posted a 30% increase in full-year underlying profit. And the group said that it is confident to deliver a good result in 2008.

The company said that strong momentum of 2007 has continued into the start of 2008 and that the opportunities available to RPS are significant and wide ranging. 'We have a diverse, robust and resilient business and remain confident about continuing the growth of RPS,' the company said.

Full-year pretax profit, before amortisation of acquired intangible assets of 0.5m, reached 45m from 34.7m in 2006. Revenue rose 22% to 362.7m while fee income increased by 24% to 305.1m.

The company also raised its dividend by 15% to 3.18p.

RPS Group said it has bought WTW, a provider of technical services supporting oil and gas exploration projects, from six individual owners for 1.85 mln stg cash. The company said it paid 1.35m on completion of the deal with the balance 0.5m to be paid over the next two years, provided certain operational conditions are met. The business will be integrated into RPS Energy.

RPS Group said it experienced a strong trading performance at the end of 2007 which has continued into the first quarter of this year. The group added that it is 'confident' about its prospects in 2008.

The natural resources consultancy said all three of its business segments performed well over the tail end of last year and the beginning of the new year. RPS said its Q1 results 'substantially exceeded' its performance during the same period a year earlier, with the high level of demand for oil and gas helping to drive business.

RPS has made seven acquisitions worth 33.5m in the year to date, it said in a trading statement. The company confirmed it expects to make further purchases during the second half of the year. Last month RPS increased its bank facility from 70m to 100m, and extended it to 2013, in order to support its acquisition strategy. The company said, as of the end of March, its net bank debt stood at 52.2m.

'Strong trading in the first quarter of the year, in combination with the acquisitions we have made in the year to date, give the board confidence that 2008 will be another successful year for RPS,' RPS chairman Brook Land said in a statement.

'The opportunities available to us for both organic and acquisitive growth are significant and wide ranging. We have a diverse, robust and resilient business and remain confident about our prospects.'

I don't know anything about this company but the chart does seem to indicate it's a shorting opportunity. The pink trendline might be a bit flakey but the light grey un should provide resistance to any rally. Just a thought.

lol.

Now I know 100% for sure you're Hyleo.

Yep, I got this one wrong, but like I said, 'just a thought'

At the end of the day mitzy/hyleo/justi I post under one name and accept when I'm wrong, no-one is infallible. I can't believe you still have any money left to invest after all the times you have shorted stocks right at the bottom (BP fo instance).

You really should do as Cynic says and leave the board, you've always been a very dangerous muppet to the uninformed.

RPS Group looks for further growth2nd August 2012 09:40 | RPS Group PLC
RPS Group produced revenues of £276.1m for the six months ended 30 June 2012.

This is nearly £25m higher than the same period last year.

Profit before tax increased from £19.1m to £19.9m.

The company has renewed its bank facilities until 2016 on what is says are favourable terms.

The interim dividend has been increased by 15%.

Brook Land, Chairman, commenting on the results, said: "The Group has delivered an excellent performance in the first half and remains on track to deliver good growth in the full year. We continue to invest in markets less affected by economic turbulence, whilst managing our business carefully in markets where client expenditure remains affected by economic uncertainty. This strategy has positioned us well, with over two thirds of Group profit now being earned outside Europe.

"July 2012 marked the 25th anniversary of RPS's introduction to the public markets. Over this period our growth has only been disrupted by the deep recession of the early 1990's and the recent global financial crisis. Between those two events we delivered a long period of sustained growth. The Board is confident that, as economic conditions allow, the Group's business model should enable us to produce another period of good growth".

At 9:40am: (LON:RPS) RPS Group share price was +2.65p at 238.05p

RPS Group: Investec revises target price from 275p to 310p keeping a buy recommendation.

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27th Jan 2016
StockMarketWire.com
RPS GROUP said despite the turmoil in the oil and gas sector, its accounts indicate trading results for 2015 were within the range of market views.

This reflects the strength RPS derives from its diverse activities.

It said 2015 was characterised by a significant reduction in investment by our oil and gas clients.

Even after major cost reductions, the contribution from the company's Energy business reduced substantially.

After a period of modest recovery in the first half of the year, the oil price declined 40% in the second half. In consequence, market conditions deteriorated further in the final months of the year.

"Our other businesses, with the benefit of a number of high quality acquisitions, grew their profit in 2015," the company said in a statement.

"The repositioning of our AAP business away from the resources sector progressed well. Similar repositioning in BNE:NorthAmerica is at an earlier stage, but has started to work effectively. Our BNE:Europe business is taking good advantage of its improving markets.

"The oil price continued to fall sharply in the early weeks of 2016. With the likelihood of further significant reduction in investment by our clients, we have decided to reduce again the capacity of the Energy business.

"We are, as part of the audit process, reviewing the value of intangible assets held on the balance sheet in relation to acquisitions in the oil and gas sector.

"It currently seems likely this will result in a non cash impairment charge of up to about £20 million, which will be accounted for in the 2015 results. This reflects current market conditions, but does not affect the strong position of our Energy business in this long term market.

"In the current environment the risk of suffering bad debts, in respect of a small number of oil and gas clients, has increased.

"We are, therefore, reviewing the debtor exposure in the Energy business and may need to provide for doubtful debts up to about £7 million. Any charge needed would also be taken in respect of the 2015 results.

"Our operating cash flow and conversion of profit into cash in 2015 was, once again, strong. The ability of RPS to continue to generate good cash flow is testament to the robust nature of our business."