Apologies

This page is quite old hence its rather spartan appearance.

Why not check out our Latest Stories page for our newest articles or search our site for anything.

COMMENT

Three Shares For Mum

By David Kuo (TMFDragon)
March 22, 2006

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" ~ Milton Berle

Sunday is Mother's Day in Britain. It is sometimes known by its other name, Mothering Sunday, and always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. So in celebration of this special day, I've looked at three shares that mums may like.

And where better to start than at Flying Brands (LSE: FBDU), the home of the Internet florist Flying Flowers. Last year, the multi-brand, Internet retailer reported sales of £36m, which were little changed from the previous year. Profits were down about 10% at £5.3m, but this was due to problems at its Garden Direct division, which suffered from disappointing spring sales. Nevertheless, healthy cash flow at the debt-free, home shopping outlet allowed it to lift dividends to 8.5p per share. A dividend of 9p per share has been pencilled for this year, which implies a yield of 4.6%. Earnings per share are expected to rise 21% to 20p, which values the business at an undemanding 11 times earnings. Its shares currently stand at 208p.

For mums with an eye on rapid growth, Clapham House (LSE: CPH) looks an fascinating, up-and-coming restaurant group. Founded by David Page, formerly the boss at PizzaExpress, Clapham House floated onto the stock market in 2004. At the time it raised £14m to invest in a couple of high-growth restaurant chains such as The Real Greek and The Bombay Bicycle Club. Since then, it has also snapped up Gourmet Burger Kitchen, too. In November last year, Clapham House, which now operates 27 restaurants, posted its maiden interim profit. Earnings per share of 2.2p are expected this year, and forecast to treble to 6.2p in 2007. This values the shares 30 times earnings, which seems reasonable for a fast-growing business. Its shares currently change hands for 192p apiece.

Ah! And what better place to end than at the home of one of Britain's most famous mother: the Bisto mum. Apart from Bisto gravy granules, RHM's (LSE: RHM) pantry is stuffed full of other goodies that include Paxo, Saxa salt and Atora suet. Unfortunately, shares in RHM fell recently over concerns that Britons may be giving sugar-laden pastries and cakes the cold shoulder. But at 261p they are yielding 6.3%, which looks as tempting as its Mr. Kipling's cakes. Earnings per share are expected to come in at 23p this year, rising to 28p in 2007, which values the company at an undemanding 10 times profit.

As a passing thought, in some countries such as Hong Kong where I grew up, Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday in May. Now, having two Mother's Day was quite confusing for us children, but you never heard mothers complain. They whooped it up on both days -- and why not?