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        <title>Vp Plc (LSE:VP.) Share Price, History, &amp; News | The Motley Fool UK</title>
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	<title>Vp Plc (LSE:VP.) Share Price, History, &amp; News | The Motley Fool UK</title>
	<link>https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/</link>
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            <item>
                                <title>Down 40%, should I buy this 6.5%-yielding business for my Stocks and Shares ISA?</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/11/10/down-40-should-i-buy-this-6-5-yielding-business-for-my-stocks-and-shares-isa/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 10 Nov 2024 07:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Zaven Boyrazian, CFA]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing For Beginners]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1414219</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This sold-off equipment rental firm could be a lucrative opportunity for my Stocks and Shares ISA if new management can steer it back on track.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/11/10/down-40-should-i-buy-this-6-5-yielding-business-for-my-stocks-and-shares-isa/">Down 40%, should I buy this 6.5%-yielding business for my Stocks and Shares ISA?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p>Despite strong stock market performance in 2024, I’m still hunting for discounts to add to my Stocks and Shares ISA. And across the <strong>London Stock Exchange</strong>, investors like me are seemingly spoilt for choice, especially in certain industries like construction.</p>



<p>One business that’s seemingly not getting a lot of love lately is <strong>Vp Plc</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE:VP.</a>). The specialist equipment rental firm&#8217;s one of many businesses that’s seen its market capitalisation shrink in light of higher borrowing costs. Delays in construction projects, along with a few managerial mistakes, have caused shareholders to suffer a 40% loss over the last three years.</p>


<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Vp Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:VP." data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>



<p>However, with a new CEO at the helm and improving macroeconomic conditions, today’s depressed valuation could be a lucrative opportunity to secure a 6.5% dividend yield.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vp-s-elephant-in-the-room">Vp’s elephant in the room</h2>



<p>A few months ago, Vp released its final results for fiscal 2024, which ended in March. From a revenue perspective, the company proved to be quite resilient. While the top line shrank 0.8%, from £371.5m to £368.7m, it faired better than some of its rivals during turbulent market conditions.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, it’s the bottom line that caused the most concern, which saw pre-tax profits plummet by 91%! The culprit is Vp’s Brandon Hire Station business. The firm previously acquired this enterprise back in 2017 for £41.6m. And from the get-go issues started to emerge with £5.8m of additional exceptional costs.</p>



<p>After years of being allowed to fester, the problems at Brandon finally spilt over, resulting in a £27.7m impairment charge that sent earnings plummeting. To be fair, this is a non-cash expense, so <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/understanding-company-accounts/the-cash-flow-statement/">cash flows</a> remain unaffected. But it goes to show that not all growth acquisitions pay off, and Vp definitely made a big error seven years ago.</p>



<p>Having said that, the newly minted CEO, Anna Bielby, seems to be taking the necessary steps to fix the problems. Brandon now has a revamped leadership team, and underperforming branches are being closed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-returning-to-growth">Returning to growth</h2>



<p>The long-term demand for equipment rental from the construction industry has steadily increased over the last decade. And it’s a trend that’s expected to continue moving forward, given it’s far more cost-effective for builders. Yet, the short-to-medium term outlook for Vp&#8217;s also starting to look more encouraging.</p>



<p>The new UK government&#8217;s Budget announced a series of infrastructure and construction investments that Vp intends to capitalise on. And while the homebuilding market&#8217;s currently fragile, a revamped planning permission process could change that in the coming years.</p>



<p>That means 88% of Vp’s current revenue stream looks like it’s about to receive some long-overdue growth tailwinds. And providing no more spanners are thrown into the works, the firm’s current forward <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/how-to-value-shares/pe-ratio/">price-to-earnings</a> ratio of 8.8 suggests a lot of upward share price potential for my Stocks and Shares ISA.</p>



<p>That’s why I’m keeping close tabs on this enterprise. Given its previous mistakes, I want to see more progress in earnings expansion before adding any shares. However, for investors comfortable with more risk, Vp shares may warrant a closer look.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/11/10/down-40-should-i-buy-this-6-5-yielding-business-for-my-stocks-and-shares-isa/">Down 40%, should I buy this 6.5%-yielding business for my Stocks and Shares ISA?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>Best British dividend stocks to consider buying in April</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/04/03/best-british-dividend-stocks-to-consider-buying-in-april/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:58:00 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[The Motley Fool Staff]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Top Stocks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Editor's Choice]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=1286937&#038;preview=true&#038;preview_id=1286937</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>We asked our writers to share their top dividend stock for April, including an 'Ice' pick first recommended in 2014!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/04/03/best-british-dividend-stocks-to-consider-buying-in-april/">Best British dividend stocks to consider buying in April</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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<p id="block-74cea29c-5397-427b-bf5a-4ed7e4b387ad">Every month, we ask our freelance writers to share their top ideas for <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/types-of-stocks/investing-in-high-dividend-stocks-in-the-uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dividend stocks</a> to buy with you &#8212; here’s what they said for April!</p>



<p id="block-94e91e7a-e7e4-49b8-af55-e702b4cb9ad3">[Just beginning your investing journey? Check out our guide on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing-basics/getting-started-in-investing/how-to-invest-in-stocks-a-beginners-guide-for-getting-started/">how to start investing in the UK</a>.]</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hsbc">HSBC</h2>



<p>What it does: HSBC is an international bank with historical links to Asia. Today, it operates in over 60 countries.</p>



<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="HSBC Holdings Price" data-ticker="LSE:HSBA" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>




<p>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/author/ckeough/">Charlie Keough</a>. My top pick for April is&nbsp;<strong>HSBC&nbsp;</strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-hsba/">LSE: HSBA</a>). After increasing its dividend last year from 31 cents per share to 61 cents, it now has a meaty yield of 7.6%. To go alongside that, it recently announced a new $2bn share buyback scheme set to be completed in the first quarter of this year.</p>



<p>I’m also confident that its dividend can keep growing. Granted, its exposure to Asia may be a detriment to its operations in the near term, especially given the current property crisis in China.</p>



<p>However, the region is predicted for major growth in the years ahead as Asian nation&#8217;s middle classes keep growing and demand for banking services rises. This should boost HSBC’s profits, which will hopefully see the business keep boosting rewards for shareholders.</p>



<p>The months ahead may be rocky but I’m in it for the long haul. I’m already a shareholder and trading on 6.6 times trailing earnings, I think the stock looks cheap. I plan on buying more shares.</p>



<p><em>Charlie Keough owns shares in HSBC</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ig-group-holdings">IG Group Holdings</h2>



<p>What it does: IG Group Holdings plc is a global financial technology company that provides its clients with online trading platforms.</p>



<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="IG Group Holdings Price" data-ticker="LSE:IGG" data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>




<p>By <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/author/psummers/">Paul Summers</a>: I continue to be positive about<strong> IG Group</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-igg/">LSE: IGG</a>) from an income perspective.</p>



<p>The FTSE 250 member boasts a chunky forecast yield of 6.4% at the time of writing. That’s almost double what I’d get from owning a fund that merely tracks the index.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Thanks to decent trading, I reckon there’s a very high chance that investors will receive this money. IG recently revealed that total revenue had been higher in Q3 compared to Q2. This was despite markets being incredibly calm (the company benefits most when the sea gets choppy).</p>



<p>There are still risks here, of course. The industry in which the company operates is regularly a target for regulators. IG must also contend with increasing competition.</p>



<p>But with shares changing hands for only 8 times forecast earnings, I think a lot of this is already in the price.</p>



<p><em>Paul Summers has no position in IG Group Holdings</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-urban-logistics-reit">Urban Logistics REIT</h2>



<p>What it does: Urban Logistics REIT lets out properties to companies specialising in the ‘last mile’ of the supply chain.</p>







<p>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/author/artilleur/">Royston Wild</a>. Property stock&nbsp;<strong>Urban Logistics REIT&nbsp;</strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-shed/">LSE:SHED</a>) has been one of the&nbsp;<strong>FTSE 250</strong>’s biggest fallers in the past month. But with inflation still plummeting, now could be the time to buy.</p>



<p>February’s latest reading showed consumer price inflation fall to a better-than-expected 3.4% in March. This has boosted hopes of Bank of England rate cuts in the next two-three months that would, in turn, benefit the net asset values (NAVs) of real estate investment trusts (REIT) like this.</p>



<p>I think this particular trust has exceptional growth potential due to its focus on the final stage of the delivery process. Demand here greatly exceeds supply, an imbalance that looks set to endure as e-commerce grows and a paucity of new developments continues.</p>



<p>I’m also a fan of the excellent all-round value of Urban Logistics REIT today. At 115.6p per share, it trades at a considerable discount to its NAV per share of 162.7p.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, its forward dividend yield sits at a healthy 6.6%.</p>



<p><em>Royston Wild does not own shares in Urban Logistics REIT.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">VP</h2>



<p>What it does: VP is a specialist equipment hire group operating in markets such as water, railways and housebuilding.</p>



<div class="tmf-chart-singleseries" data-title="Vp Plc Price" data-ticker="LSE:VP." data-range="5y" data-start-date="" data-end-date="" data-comparison-value=""></div>




<p>By <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/author/sopavest/">Roland Head</a>. I’ve long viewed <strong>VP </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP.</a>) as one of the best quality companies in its sector. A focus on specialist equipment means the firm avoids competing solely on price and maintains more attractive profit margins than some rivals.</p>



<p>VP is exposed to some of the cyclical slowdown in construction and housebuilding – a key risk. But the firm’s infrastructure customers provide a more stable and predictable pipeline of demand that helps to underpin profits.</p>



<p>The 70-year-old company’s most recent accounts showed revenue and profits broadly flat for the six months to 30 September 2023. These results supported a 4.5% increase in the interim dividend, maintaining an impressive 30-year record without a cut (except in 2020).</p>



<p>Chairman Jeremy Pilkington controls 50% of the company’s shares, providing an owner’s eye. With the stock trading close to 10-year lows and offering a dividend yield of almost 7%, I view VP shares as a buy.</p>



<p><em>Roland Head does not own shares in VP.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2024/04/03/best-british-dividend-stocks-to-consider-buying-in-april/">Best British dividend stocks to consider buying in April</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>A small-cap stock to buy now</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2021/06/08/a-small-cap-stock-to-buy-now/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:20:35 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Godbold]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Company Comment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=225233</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This company's finances are improving and the outlook's positive. Here's why I'd buy this small-cap stock and hold it as the recovery continues</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2021/06/08/a-small-cap-stock-to-buy-now/">A small-cap stock to buy now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s been a couple of years since I last covered equipment rental company and small-cap stock <strong>VP</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>). Back then, <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/06/04/should-i-pile-into-this-share-up-10-on-todays-results/">I decided not to buy</a> the stock because of concerns about the company&#8217;s high level of borrowings. However, I&#8217;d buy shares in VP now.</p>
<h2>Why I&#8217;d buy this small-cap stock now</h2>
<p>Today&#8217;s <a href="https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/vp_plc/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?newsid=1481844&amp;cid=1228">full-year results report</a> sets out strong progress with debt reduction. The company used incoming cash flow in the period to pay off a big chunk of its borrowings. And on 31 March, net debt had fallen by around 24% compared to a year earlier, to just under £122m.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s still a thumping pile of other people&#8217;s money, but I reckon VP will continue to work at paying it down. However, one of the risks with the stock is the underlying cyclicality of operations. If there&#8217;s another general economic downturn, big borrowings could become a problem. That&#8217;s why I like to see cyclical firms getting into a strong financial position when trading is booming. And, right now, the outlook for the business is bullish.</p>
<p>If VP keeps paying off debt year after year until it&#8217;s gone, it can then direct its cash flow straight to reinvesting in equipment. When, and if, that happens, the business will probably be in great shape. And the good news is the financial record shows an improving trend now.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s also been a conclusion to the Competition and Markets Authority&#8217;s long-running investigation. The bottom line is VP must pay a penalty of £11.2m after a breach of competition law involving three <em>&#8220;major&#8221; </em>suppliers of groundworks hire equipment.</p>
<p>VP reckons it <em>&#8220;fundamentally&#8221;</em> disagrees with the CMA&#8217;s conclusions but the directors have decided not to fight the findings. In that way, the company and its shareholders will be spared further costs and uncertainty. I reckon that&#8217;s a good decision because the process has been dragging on for around four years.</p>
<h2>Trading well and a positive outlook</h2>
<p>The business is trading well. And looking ahead, the directors reckon the market backdrop for VP is <em>&#8220;positive&#8221;</em>.  Major infrastructure sectors, such as water, rail and transmission are <em>&#8220;primed for escalating growth in the coming year.&#8221;   </em></p>
<p>I think the recovery we&#8217;ve been seeing in the building and construction sectors is encouraging. And there&#8217;s a potential tailwind for VP from the government&#8217;s drive to <em>&#8220;build back better&#8221;</em> following the pandemic. It&#8217;s hard for me to imagine anything other than booming demand for rental equipment in the years ahead. Although I could be wrong in that assessment and lose money with VP&#8217;s shares.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, chief executive Neil Stothard said in today&#8217;s report the management team is <em>&#8220;excited&#8221;</em> about the prospects for the business in the coming year. And I&#8217;d embrace the cyclical and other risks and buy the small-cap stock now as part of a diversified portfolio.</p>
<p>With the share price near 865p, the forward-looking earnings multiple is around 13 for the current trading year to March 2022. And the anticipated dividend yield is about 3.7%. I reckon that valuation looks undemanding.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2021/06/08/a-small-cap-stock-to-buy-now/">A small-cap stock to buy now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>Cheap shares: I think this quality FTSE stock is poised for recovery</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2020/06/10/cheap-shares-i-think-this-quality-ftse-stock-is-poised-for-recovery/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2020 09:01:26 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Godbold]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Live: Coronavirus Market Crash Coverage]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=152021</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to cheap shares, not many FTSE 100 income investments deliver capital gains on the scale that this company has. I’d buy the stock right now.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2020/06/10/cheap-shares-i-think-this-quality-ftse-stock-is-poised-for-recovery/">Cheap shares: I think this quality FTSE stock is poised for recovery</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to cheap shares, I like the look of equipment rental specialist <strong>VP</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>). The company released its <a href="https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/vp_plc/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=1228&amp;newsid=1395858">full-year results report</a> today, showing revenue and earnings down by single-digit percentages.</p>
<p>However, the <strong>FTSE SmallCap</strong> company has <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/06/04/should-i-pile-into-this-share-up-10-on-todays-results/">a long record of annual growth</a> in revenue, earnings, cash flow and shareholder dividends. And the stock has been recovering from the recent crash in the markets.</p>
<h2>This cheap share’s record is outstanding</h2>
<p>Normally, VP sports a decent yield. But the directors have deferred the decision about paying a full-year dividend pending clarity on our emergence from lockdowns. For context, last year the firm earned 97% of its operating profit from UK operations with the rest coming from abroad.</p>
<p>Chairman Jeremy Pilkington said in the report the figures for the year to 31 March are <em>“satisfactory.”</em> He referred to <em>“modest”</em> gains in margin and profit before tax. And the performance through the year came against a <em>“highly uncertain”</em> economic backdrop, which included the Brexit process and the general election of 2019.</p>
<p>And I agree the performance looks steady. VP has been a good bet for investors. Ten years ago, the shares stood at 177p. Today, they change hands for about 800p, even after dropping back during the coronavirus crisis. That’s a serious capital gain if you held over the decade, with generous income from the dividend on top.</p>
<p>To me, gains like that are one of the main reasons for entertaining small-cap shares. Almost all the way over the past decade you could have justified buying shares in VP on valuation grounds, or as a dividend-led income play. Just like you might select a <strong>FTSE 100</strong> company for its income. But how many FTSE 100 income investments go on to deliver capital gains on the scale of what VP has achieved? Not many.</p>
<h2>Recovery well under way</h2>
<p>Chief executive Neil Stothard explained in the report the company kept open <em>“many”</em> of its operating locations to support critical sectors through the lockdown. However, the directors closed some sites and furloughed around half the UK employees. But things are improving and the company has reopened outlets with employees coming off furlough <em>“as demand has recovered.”</em></p>
<p>The senior management team has taken a 20% haircut in salary until the end of June. And many staff are working a four-day week until demand builds up to pre-Covid levels. Looking ahead, Stothard expects <em>“a slow, incremental recovery over the coming months.”</em></p>
<p>And I think that anticipated recovery in operations is the investment opportunity now. This is a solid business with growth potential and a long record of effective execution. However, the stock is still more than 25% down from its level in February, before the coronavirus crisis.</p>
<p>I reckon there’s a decent chance that the VP business will continue to expand over the next decade, just as it did over the previous one. So I see the current situation as a decent-looking entry point for a long-term hold.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2020/06/10/cheap-shares-i-think-this-quality-ftse-stock-is-poised-for-recovery/">Cheap shares: I think this quality FTSE stock is poised for recovery</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>Should I pile into this share, up 10% on today’s results?</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/06/04/should-i-pile-into-this-share-up-10-on-todays-results/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2019 10:38:27 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Kevin Godbold]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vp]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=128411</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Strong growth, a positive outlook, a high yield and a relief rally. Would I buy?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/06/04/should-i-pile-into-this-share-up-10-on-todays-results/">Should I pile into this share, up 10% on today’s results?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Equipment rental specialist <strong>VP </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>) jumped more than 10% higher in early trading today on the release of the firm’s full-year results report.</p>
<p>I often pay attention to rapid share-price rises, especially when a stock has previously been weak, as in the case of VP. The sudden movement can mark a reversal or improvement in a company’s fortunes, and can also indicate an opportune moment to think about investing in a company’s shares.</p>
<h2>Reduced uncertainty and a relief rally</h2>
<p>VP had fallen almost 45% since the summer of 2018 and it plunged 33% between April and May 2019 alone. The catalyst appears to have been the release of news that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had provisionally found suspected anti-competitive conduct relating to the supply of groundworks products for hire in the UK. VP is active in that area with its Groundforce business and is, of course, co-operating fully with the investigation.</p>
<p>In today’s report, chairman Jeremy Pilkington explained that the CMA had reached a provisional determination that VP and two other companies, had <em>“acted in a manner deemed to be uncompetitive in the market for certain elements of temporary groundworks.”</em>  The firm is reviewing the alleged breaches and Pilkington expects it to be in a position to respond to the CMA <em>“shortly.” </em></p>
<p>Meanwhile, today we learn that a £4.5m exceptional cost provision has been made in the accounts relating to the issue, which the firm describes as <em>“the arithmetic midpoint of a range of possible outcome of between £0 to £9m calculated based upon previous cases.” </em> There is no admission of culpability at this stage, but I reckon quantifying the potential financial loss goes a long way towards removing the uncertainty. Indeed, we could be seeing something of a relief rally in the shares today.</p>
<h2>Growth on track and something to fret about</h2>
<p>The figures are good. Revenue came in 26% higher compared to the year before and adjusted earnings per share rose 12%. The directors expressed their ongoing confidence in the outlook by lifting the total dividend by 16%. Apart from the CMA investigation into part of the firm’s operations, things have been going well. On top of organic growth, VP acquired Sandhurst Limited for just under £3.3m on 10 May to bolt on to existing operations, suggesting that the growth agenda remains on track.</p>
<p>Looking forward, chief executive Neil Stothard said in the report that he thinks the firm’s main markets in the UK will continue to be supportive, albeit with <em>“slightly slower” </em>growth than previously because of <em>“political and economic uncertainty.”</em> Around 97% of the adjusted operating profit came from the UK during the year with the rest from international operations, so the home market dominates the accounts.</p>
<p>The valuation looks undemanding at first glance with a forward-looking earnings multiple of around eight for the trading year to March 2020 and a dividend yield of 3.9% covered more than three times by anticipated earnings. However, VP carries <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2018/06/05/2-super-dividend-growth-stocks-id-buy-with-2000-today/">big borrowings </a>with net debt running almost five times the level of operating profits. I think that’s too high and could become problematic in any future cyclical downturn. So I’m not piling into the shares on this occasion.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/06/04/should-i-pile-into-this-share-up-10-on-todays-results/">Should I pile into this share, up 10% on today’s results?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>This stock has shed 30% of its value! Could it spring back to life in June?</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/05/26/this-stock-has-shed-30-of-its-value-could-it-spring-back-to-life-in-june/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 26 May 2019 07:30:37 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Royston Wild]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vp]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=127934</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>This share has been in freefall over the past six weeks. Royston Wild explains why it may be about to make a stunning comeback.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/05/26/this-stock-has-shed-30-of-its-value-could-it-spring-back-to-life-in-june/">This stock has shed 30% of its value! Could it spring back to life in June?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I won’t pretend <strong>VP</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>) isn’t without its risks. The specialist equipment rental group&#8217;s share price has dropped considerably over the past six weeks amid news the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating <em>“anti-competitive conduct as regards the supply of groundworks products in the UK.&#8221; </em>It&#8217;s a review which could have severe ramifications on the small-cap’s excavation support system&#8217;s business Groundforce.</p>
<p>It could be argued, though, the 30%-plus stock price fall since mid-April, a drop which leaves VP dealing on a cheap forward P/E ratio of 7.1 times, more than bakes in the uncertainty created by the CMA probe.</p>
<p>I certainly believe this low rating could also prove the basis for a price spike when full-year results are unpacked on June 4. Several weeks ago, the company advised it “<em>has made further progress both within the UK and the International divisions</em>” since November’s interims and that, as a consequence, numbers for the financial year ended March “<em>will be well ahead</em>” of the prior year. Comments suggesting this momentum has continued could give market appetite for the stock a huge dose of rocket fuel.</p>
<h2><strong>Stunning value, BIG</strong> dividends</h2>
<p>VP also has a long record of earnings growth and so it’s not surprising City analysts are expecting the bottom line to continue swelling &#8212; rises of 8% and 11% are forecast for fiscal 2020 and 2021, respectively.</p>
<p>And this isn’t a great surprise, given the company’s resilience in tricky trading conditions and <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/01/08/2-unknown-but-amazing-and-cheap-dividend-stocks-id-buy-for-2019/">its commitment to M&amp;A action.</a> In the past fortnight, it sealed the £3.3m acquisition of Sandhurst Limited, a supplier of specialist excavator attachments to a wide variety of industries.</p>
<p>In line with these bubbly profits estimates, dividends are expected to continue rising at quite a pace.  As I type, payouts of 32.1p and 34p per share are predicted for this year and next, up from the anticipated 30.2p reward for the year just passed. Consequently, forward yields of 4.6% and 4.8% can be enjoyed.</p>
<h2><strong>Safe as houses</strong></h2>
<p>What’s more, there’s plenty of reasons to expect the business to make good on these predicted dividends. First of all, these estimates are covered by anticipated earnings of between 3.1 times and 3.3 times through to the close of next year, comfortably above the accepted safety watermark of 2 times.</p>
<p>Net cash flows from operating activities at the business swelled 20% year-on-year as of September, to £29.7m, a result which encouraged it to lift the interim dividend 21% to 8.2p per share.</p>
<p>Such is the strength of VP’s balance sheet that it can continue raising dividends at a rate of knots while pursuing its bold M&amp;A policy. </p>
<p>There’s a lot to like about VP, I believe. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see fresh financials scheduled for the first week of June prompt a fresh spurt in buying activity.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/05/26/this-stock-has-shed-30-of-its-value-could-it-spring-back-to-life-in-june/">This stock has shed 30% of its value! Could it spring back to life in June?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>Why I&#8217;d dump buy-to-let and buy this FTSE 100 dividend stock today</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/04/08/why-id-dump-buy-to-let-and-buy-this-ftse-100-dividend-stock-today/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2019 11:17:12 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Melrose Industries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vp]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=125582</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Profits could soar at this FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) firm if management delivers on promises.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/04/08/why-id-dump-buy-to-let-and-buy-this-ftse-100-dividend-stock-today/">Why I&#8217;d dump buy-to-let and buy this FTSE 100 dividend stock today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Property investing has the potential to enable individuals to build significant long-term wealth. But, as with all investments, the secret to big success is buying cheap and selling high.</p>
<p>Many buy-to-let investors have done well over the last 20-30 years, during which time UK house prices have risen massively. But I think this opportunity may have passed, at least for now.</p>
<p>According to mortgage lender Nationwide, house prices in London and the South East are now falling from record highs. Buy-to-let landlords are also facing a cocktail of rising costs, including changes to mortgage tax relief and <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/04/01/landlords-beware-new-charges-for-buy-to-let-come-in-today/">new energy efficiency requirements</a>. I think there are better opportunities elsewhere.</p>
<h2>The ultimate turnaround?</h2>
<p>If you’re attracted by the wealth-building potential of property investment, I think FTSE 100 engineering group <strong>Melrose Industries </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-mro/">LSE: MRO</a>) is worth considering.</p>
<p>Melrose buys troubled industrial groups, turns them around, and sells them on. Its management has an impressive track record. According to the firm, £1 invested in 2005 would have been worth £18 by March 2018.</p>
<p>Last year, the group made headlines with a hostile takeover of aerospace and automotive group GKN. It&#8217;s too soon to say whether Melrose management will be able to repeat previous successes. But progress so far seems positive. The group&#8217;s 2018 results were said to be ahead of expectations and showed a reduction in leverage along with promising signs of cash generation.</p>
<h2>Profits could soar</h2>
<p>Melrose is targeting a medium-term operating profit margin of 11% for the GKN business. The equivalent figure in 2017, prior to the group&#8217;s takeover, was just 6.4%.</p>
<p>Melrose says that GKN suffered from problems including poor integration of acquisitions, a complicated management structure and a lack of clear strategy and discipline on spending. By fixing such issues and resolving loss-making contracts, the firm believes it can hit these profit targets with only minimal sales growth.</p>
<p>Melrose stock looks fairly priced to me, on 14 times 2019 forecast profits, and with a 2.5% dividend yield. I think the downside risk is limited at this level. I&#8217;d rate the shares as a buy at under 200p.</p>
<h2>A better way to play property?</h2>
<p>Another way to play the UK property and construction market is by investing in firms which provide the tools and equipment needed for building. One of my top picks in this sector is equipment hire firm <strong>VP </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>).</p>
<p>In a trading update today, the company said that its main UK business was performing well, with <em>&#8220;stable demand&#8221;</em> from infrastructure, construction and housebuilding customers. This seems to suggest the UK economy is in reasonable health, despite Brexit concerns.</p>
<p>The firm also owns an international business, which operates in the oil and gas industry, and owns a test and measurement business based in Australia. Although smaller, I suppose these operations could help to offset the cyclical risk of a UK downturn.</p>
<p>Happily, <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/01/08/2-unknown-but-amazing-and-cheap-dividend-stocks-id-buy-for-2019/">there&#8217;s no sign of a slowdown yet</a>. Analysts&#8217; forecasts indicate that the group&#8217;s earnings are expected to rise by 14% to 93.5p per share this year. This puts VP on a 2019 forecast price/earnings ratio of 10.5, with a dividend yield of 3.0%.</p>
<p>This valuation may seem modest, but I&#8217;m concerned we may be at a late stage in the economic cycle. On that basis, I&#8217;d rate the shares as a hold at current levels.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/04/08/why-id-dump-buy-to-let-and-buy-this-ftse-100-dividend-stock-today/">Why I&#8217;d dump buy-to-let and buy this FTSE 100 dividend stock today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>2 unknown but amazing (and cheap!) dividend stocks I&#8217;d buy for 2019</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/01/08/2-unknown-but-amazing-and-cheap-dividend-stocks-id-buy-for-2019/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 2019 13:44:29 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Royston Wild]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gateley Holdings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vp]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=121264</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Royston Wild looks at two little-known dividend heroes that could make you richer.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/01/08/2-unknown-but-amazing-and-cheap-dividend-stocks-id-buy-for-2019/">2 unknown but amazing (and cheap!) dividend stocks I&#8217;d buy for 2019</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The stock market washout that kicked in during the fourth quarter has left a landscape ripe with bona-fide bargains. I’ve taken time in recent days to look at some cheap shares <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/01/07/have-3000-to-spend-2-unknown-but-amazing-dividend-stocks-id-buy-for-20-years/">with particularly great dividend profiles</a> from outside Britain’s main indices, and I’m at it again here.</p>
<p>You may not have heard of <strong>Gateley Holdings</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-gtly/">LSE: GTLY</a>) or <strong>VP </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>) so here&#8217;s why they&#8217;re worthy of your investment cash.</p>
<h2><strong>More great news</strong></h2>
<p>Gateley is a share I’m particularly excited about. Since it listed on AIM four years ago, it’s been rapidly growing its headcount across the UK and the Middle East to capitalise on the soaring demand for legal services. This has helped to power earnings &#8212; and thus dividends &#8212; higher over the period.</p>
<p>I’m pleased to say that its strong bottom-line momentum is yet to show signs of running out of steam. Indeed, the release of more excellent trading details on Tuesday illustrated that energy. Revenues soared 20.1% in the six months to October to £46.4m, a period which also saw organic sales rise by 10.2%. Pre-tax profit also jumped 18.6% to £5m.</p>
<p>What’s more, with cash conversion at the firm improving by 2.1% year-on-year to 87.4%, the business elected to hike the interim dividend by an eye-popping 18.2%, to 2.6p per share.</p>
<p>The headcount at Gateley’s core legal operations has risen by almost 50% since its IPO in 2015, underpinning the relentless profit growth of recent years. Looking away from the steady expansion at its bread-and-butter divisions, the company’s foray into other professional services, like tax and accountancy matters, adds another layer of growth potential for the years ahead.</p>
<p>In the meantime, City analysts forecast an earnings increases of 11% for the year to April 2019 and 9% for fiscal 2020. And these projections underpin dividend predictions of 7.8p and 8.4p per share for these respective years, up from 7p last year, yielding a jumbo 5.6% and 6%.</p>
<p>Despite the recent share price bump, Gateley still trades on a low, low forward P/E ratio of 11.4 times. I believe that this rating is far too cheap given the company’s breakneck top-line momentum.</p>
<h2><strong>Another income star</strong></h2>
<p>Like Gateley, VP has also been splashing the cash to expand its geographical and operational base. The benefits of this programme were laid bare in November’s latest financial statement.</p>
<p>Following the acquisition of Brandon Hire last year, both revenues and profits boomed between April and September &#8212; by 42% and 22%, respectively. As a consequence, the half-time dividend was hiked by more than a fifth year-on-year to 8.2p per share.</p>
<p>An expected 10% earnings hike for the full year to this March results in a prediction for a 30.3p total dividend, yielding a chubby 3.1% and suggesting a meaty upgrade from last year’s 26p reward. And the yield moves to 3.3% for fiscal 2020 as a predicted 7% profits rise by City analysts leads to an anticipated 32p dividend.</p>
<p>The rental equipment company has proved immune to the wider implications of Brexit so far. Yet this resilience is not reflected in its low valuation, in my opinion, with a forward P/E multiple of 10.2 times. Like Gateley, I reckon VP is a great budget buy right now, particularly for those seeking excellent dividend growth.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2019/01/08/2-unknown-but-amazing-and-cheap-dividend-stocks-id-buy-for-2019/">2 unknown but amazing (and cheap!) dividend stocks I&#8217;d buy for 2019</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>2 super dividend growth stocks I&#8217;d buy with £2,000 today</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2018/06/05/2-super-dividend-growth-stocks-id-buy-with-2000-today/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 05 Jun 2018 12:58:11 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morgan Sindall Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vp]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=113424</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Roland Head reveals two mid-cap stocks he believes could beat the market in 2018.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2018/06/05/2-super-dividend-growth-stocks-id-buy-with-2000-today/">2 super dividend growth stocks I&#8217;d buy with £2,000 today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today I&#8217;m looking at two mid-cap dividend growth stocks that I believe could provide a profitable mix of income and capital gains for investors. Up first is specialist equipment hire firm <strong>VP </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>).</p>
<p>VP&#8217;s share price is up by more than 5% at 990p at the time of writing, following a strong set of results. Sales at this £400m company rose by 22% to £303.6m last year, while adjusted pre-tax profit climbed 16% to £40.6m.</p>
<p>Adjusted earnings per share rose by 18% to 81.8p. The dividend was also increased by 18%. This lifted the total payout to 26p per share, while <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2018/04/29/2-dividend-stocks-that-are-perfect-for-retirement/">maintaining a conservative three times dividend cover</a>.</p>
<p>These figures put the stock on a trailing P/E of 12.1 with a yield of 2.6%. That looks a reasonable valuation to me, but do today&#8217;s figures support an optimistic outlook?</p>
<h3>Too much debt?</h3>
<p>VP paid £68.8m in cash and debt to acquire rival Brandon Hire Group in November. Management plans to combine Brandon with VP&#8217;s Hire Station business to deliver economies of scale.</p>
<p>In total, the firm spent just over £80m on four acquisitions last year and invested a further £64.9m in its rental fleet. This spending resulted in year-end net debt of £179.2m, up from £98.9m one year earlier.</p>
<p>This level of borrowing represents 74% of the value of the firm&#8217;s fixed assets, such as property and its rental fleet. I&#8217;d normally look for debt to stay below about 50% of fixed assets, to leave room for depreciation and the risk of a market slowdown.</p>
<p>However, the group generated a return on capital employed of 14.8% last year and an operating margin of 11%. Both figures are roughly double those of rival <strong>Speedy Hire</strong>. These higher returns reflect the group&#8217;s specialist focus and suggest to me that this borrowing should be manageable for a short period.</p>
<h3>I&#8217;d still buy</h3>
<p>Analysts expect VP to deliver earnings growth of about 15% in 2018/19, as Brandon contributes a full year&#8217;s earnings.</p>
<p>This puts the stock on a forecast P/E of 10 with a prospective yield of 3.1%. Despite my reservations about debt, I&#8217;d be happy to keep buying at this level.</p>
<h3>My top pick</h3>
<p>Although I rate VP highly, <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2018/03/23/2-hidden-dividend-growth-stocks-that-could-help-you-retire-an-isa-millionaire/">my top pick in this sector</a> is construction and regeneration specialist <strong>Morgan Sindall Group </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-mgns/">LSE: MGNS</a>). There are three reasons for this.</p>
<p>This group has regularly beaten expectations over the last couple of years, and this trend looks set to continue in 2018. Broker consensus earnings forecasts for 2018 have risen from 106p per share in June last year to 138p per share today.</p>
<p>This well-run firm is also operating without debt. A trading update in May confirmed that average daily net cash for the current year is expected to be at least £70m.</p>
<p>The final attraction for me is that the firm is run by part-founder John Morgan, who has a 10.1% shareholding. Having skin in the game means that Mr Morgan&#8217;s interests should be well aligned with those of his investors.</p>
<h3>I&#8217;d buy</h3>
<p>Analysts expect the firm&#8217;s adjusted earnings to climb around 15% to 139p per share this year. This puts the stock on a forecast P/E of 10.8, with a prospective yield of 3.3%.</p>
<p>Although Morgan Sindall would be exposed to a slowdown in the UK construction sector, my view is that the group&#8217;s owner-management and strong financial performance make it a buy at today&#8217;s prices.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2018/06/05/2-super-dividend-growth-stocks-id-buy-with-2000-today/">2 super dividend growth stocks I&#8217;d buy with £2,000 today</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                <title>2 dividend stocks that are perfect for retirement</title>
                <link>https://www.fool.co.uk/2018/04/29/2-dividend-stocks-that-are-perfect-for-retirement/</link>
                                <pubDate>Sun, 29 Apr 2018 10:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Royston Wild]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[summit germany]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vp]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.fool.co.uk/?p=112393</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These two dividend dynamos could make you a packet for retirement. Take a look!</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2018/04/29/2-dividend-stocks-that-are-perfect-for-retirement/">2 dividend stocks that are perfect for retirement</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Robust conditions in the Teutonic economic powerhouse convince me that <strong>Summit Germany</strong> (LSE: SMTG) has what it takes to pay fatty dividends long into the future.</p>
<p>In 2018 the company is predicted to record another 5% earnings rise, laying the foundation for further payout growth. A dividend of 4.9 euro cents per share is currently forecast, up from 4.02 cents in 2017 and resulting in a decent 4.2% yield.</p>
<p>And with earnings expected to slip 3% higher next year a 5 cent dividend is being tipped, thus nudging the yield to 4.3%.</p>
<p>An added bonus is that Summit Germany can be picked up on a forward P/E multiple of 13 times. This is shockingly cheap in my opinion given the progress the company is making to capitalise on the strong German real estate market &#8212; pre-tax profit more than doubled last year to €128.7m. It&#8217;s also cheap due to the shortage of residential and commercial developments that should keep earnings on an upward slope well into the future.</p>
<h3><strong>Rental royalty</strong></h3>
<p>Yields over at <strong>VP </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.fool.co.uk/tickers/lse-vp/">LSE: VP</a>) may not outstrip those of the broader market. But the rate at which the business is lifting dividends should put the company well and truly on the radar for those seeking brilliant ways to fund their retirement.</p>
<p>Supported by a chubby record of double-digit percentage earnings growth, the specialist equipment rental group has been able to lift the annual payout by 80% in the five years to fiscal 2017. And when it reports for the period to March 2018, it is expected to put in a similar profits performance, meaning the dividend is also predicted to move to 25.2p per share from 22p the year before.</p>
<p>City analysts are expecting profits to keep piling higher in the medium term at least, with rises of 19% and 9% forecast for fiscal 2019 and 2020 respectively. Accordingly dividends are expected to maintain their northward march also, so figures of 29.3p for this year and 31p for next year are being bandied about by the boffins.</p>
<p>These projections yield 3.3% and 3.5% respectively. However, chunky yields and the prospect of additional dividend hikes down the line are not the only cause for celebration as current payout projections also look pretty safe. Indeed, they are covered between 3.2 times and 3.3 times through to the close of fiscal 2020, sitting comfortably inside the accepted safety terrain of 2 times or above.</p>
<p>The patchy outlook for the UK construction market means that VP isn’t without its degree of risk. However, I would consider an ultra-low forward P/E ratio of 9.5 times to be reflective of this.</p>
<p>Besides, I believe investors can take confidence from the company’s resilience in spite of these trying conditions. It noted in April that it “<em>has experienced consistent demand from its key infrastructure, construction and housebuilding markets</em>.” <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2018/03/01/2-top-value-stocks-id-buy-in-march/">And the impact of recent acquisition activity</a> reinforces my belief that profits, and thus dividends, should keep on rising.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk/2018/04/29/2-dividend-stocks-that-are-perfect-for-retirement/">2 dividend stocks that are perfect for retirement</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.fool.co.uk">The Motley Fool UK</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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