Hays(HAS)

Sector:

Support Services

Index:

FTSE 250

Market Cap

£1,313.83m

Change Today

Price Down-0.25p

Share Price

95.50p

Friday tips round-up: Experian, Photo-Me, Craneware

Date: Friday 11 Jul 2008

LONDON (ShareCast) - Experian is seeing less mortgage approval work, but personal credit checking as well as overseas operations are going through the roof.

Even so, the stock is down from a year high of 631p, and with the general financial situation looking pretty bleak it is difficult to see how the shares can bounce back to those levels. Hold says the Independent.

Newspaper distributor Dawson operates in a sector that is feeling the pinch. The group is also losing £70m of business from News International from next year, although the frim insists an extension would have done nothing for margins. Investors should take confidence from the group's performance, but should remain wary. Hold says the Independent.

Photo-Me has been a basket case in the past 12 months. Thierry Barel, the new chief executive, insists he is the man to turn the group around but this is going to take some time to implement.Any new buyers need an awful lot more reassurance the group has been turned around. Sell says the Independent.

Recruitment group Hays’s expanded overseas business – up to 44% of fees from 16% five years ago – should provide a partial buffer to a slowing UK, especially given the steady shift in continental Europe towards using agencies to find staff. At less than seven times forward earnings, and yielding more than 7%, Hays looks cheap, but not cheap enough given the risk of downgrades. Sell says the Times.

A gloomy trading update from Marriott International, the US hotel operator, hit the shares of InterContinental Hotels Group. But there is also a positive read-through from Marriott’s strong growth outside the US. Hoteliers are in for a bumpy ride, but IHG has a more robust business model than most. Hold says the Times.

Hospital admin software group Craneware's allure is that it is one of two suppliers to a market driven by a legislative change that requires US states to ensure correct Medicare payments to healthcare providers by 2010. With most US hospitals still manually raising bills and settling invoices, that market is forecast to grow at around 30% a year for the foreseeable future. However, at 212½p, or 34 times forward earnings, prospective buyers should sit tight for now. Hold say the Times.

Yesterday's trading statement showed that while times are tough for the whole building sector, insulation materials supplier SIG has been unfairly lumped with peers for whom the position is far worse.n less than six times 2008 earnings, the shares trade well below historic valuations, and the yield of 7.5pc looks safe, given that the dividend is 2.5 times covered. It may be too early to call the bottom and cautious investors should refrain from buying in, but existing investors should hold on for the recovery, whenever it comes.Hold says the Telegraph.

Oil group Salamander Energy's production and profitability set to take off in 2009, and with strong support from the analyst community, the stock appears to be good value.Buy says the Telegraph.

Please note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.

Note 1: Prices and trades are provided by Digital Look Corporate Solutions and are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Note 2: RiskGrade figures are provided by RiskMetrics.

 

Hays Market Data

Currency UK Pounds
Share Price 95.50p Price Down
Change Today -0.25p
52 Week High 160.50p
52 Week Low 71.00p
Volume 6,267,899
Shares Issued 1,375.74m
Market Cap £1,313.83m
Beta 1.22
RiskGrade 234

Performance Indicators

Compare performance with the sector and the market.
Find out more
Key: vs Market vs Sector
Value
13.17% above the market average13.17% above the market average13.17% above the market average13.17% above the market average13.17% above the market average
11.22% below the sector average11.22% below the sector average11.22% below the sector average11.22% below the sector average11.22% below the sector average
Price Trend
16.61% below the market average16.61% below the market average16.61% below the market average16.61% below the market average16.61% below the market average
9.01% below the sector average9.01% below the sector average9.01% below the sector average9.01% below the sector average9.01% below the sector average
Income
68.36% above the market average68.36% above the market average68.36% above the market average68.36% above the market average68.36% above the market average
57.48% above the sector average57.48% above the sector average57.48% above the sector average57.48% above the sector average57.48% above the sector average
Growth
38.27% below the market average38.27% below the market average38.27% below the market average38.27% below the market average38.27% below the market average
54% below the sector average54% below the sector average54% below the sector average54% below the sector average54% below the sector average
Price Chg 6m
7.65% above the market average7.65% above the market average7.65% above the market average7.65% above the market average7.65% above the market average
11.71% above the sector average11.71% above the sector average11.71% above the sector average11.71% above the sector average11.71% above the sector average
P/E
20.88% above the market average20.88% above the market average20.88% above the market average20.88% above the market average20.88% above the market average
3.57% above the sector average3.57% above the sector average3.57% above the sector average3.57% above the sector average3.57% above the sector average
PEG
19.14% below the market average19.14% below the market average19.14% below the market average19.14% below the market average19.14% below the market average
34.96% below the sector average34.96% below the sector average34.96% below the sector average34.96% below the sector average34.96% below the sector average
Dividend Yield
36.91% above the market average36.91% above the market average36.91% above the market average36.91% above the market average36.91% above the market average
56.30% above the sector average56.30% above the sector average56.30% above the sector average56.30% above the sector average56.30% above the sector average
EPS Growth
1.80% above the market average1.80% above the market average1.80% above the market average1.80% above the market average1.80% above the market average
17.33% below the sector average17.33% below the sector average17.33% below the sector average17.33% below the sector average17.33% below the sector average
Operating Margin
15.08% above the market average15.08% above the market average15.08% above the market average15.08% above the market average15.08% above the market average
40.49% above the sector average40.49% above the sector average40.49% above the sector average40.49% above the sector average40.49% above the sector average

What The Brokers Say

Strong Buy 3
Buy 1
Neutral 3
Sell 2
Strong Sell 3
Total 12
neutral
Broker recommendations should not be taken as investment advice, and are provided by the authorised brokers listed on this page.

Hays Dividends

  Latest Previous
  Interim Final
Ex-Div 19-Mar-08 17-Oct-07
Paid 15-Apr-08 20-Nov-07
Amount 1.85p 3.40p

Trades for 29-Aug-2008

Time Volume / Share Price
16:36 8,362 @ 95.63p
16:35 1,027,582 @ 95.50p
16:29 163 @ 95.75p
16:29 356 @ 95.75p
16:29 5,905 @ 95.75p

Hays Key Personnel

Chair Robert A (Bob) Lawson
Finance Director Paul Venables
CEO Alistair R Cox

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