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        <title>Iomart News | The Twelfth Magpie</title>
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                                <title>This growth stock has beaten the Purplebricks share price by 45% in 2018</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/12/05/this-growth-stock-has-beaten-the-purplebricks-share-price-by-45-in-2018/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 05 Dec 2018 09:22:20 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Purplebricks]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=120161</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Losses are mounting at Purplebricks Group plc (LON:PURP). Roland Head asks if there's an opportunity for investors, or should he look elsewhere?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/12/05/this-growth-stock-has-beaten-the-purplebricks-share-price-by-45-in-2018/">This growth stock has beaten the Purplebricks share price by 45% in 2018</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The <strong>Purplebricks Group </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-purp/">LSE: PURP</a>) share price has fallen by 58% so far this year. Today I want to take a fresh look at this fast-growing online estate agent.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m also going to take a look at a different kind of internet stock. The company concerned has 10-bagged over the last 10 years and is ahead of Purplebricks by 45% so far in 2018.</p>
<h2>Should we ignore mounting losses?</h2>
<p>My colleague Graham Chester reviewed Purplebricks&#8217; half-year trading update recently. I agree with <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/11/07/could-the-180p-purplebricks-share-price-be-set-to-fly-back-over-500p/">his view</a> that we don&#8217;t yet have enough information to know whether the firm will hit its growth targets this year.</p>
<p>What I do know is that the near-term outlook for the firm seems to be worsening. One year ago, analysts expected the firm to report earnings of 2.3p per share on sales of £169m in 2018/19. Today, forecasts indicate a <em>loss</em> of 10.8p per share on sales of £173m.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s a similar story in 2019/20. Forecasts for earnings of 10.4p per share have been replaced with an expected <em>loss</em> of 4.6p per share.</p>
<p>One reason for these downgrades is that the group&#8217;s international expansion has been ramped up. In the short term, this means that profits from the UK business are being swallowed up by operations overseas.</p>
<h2>Is PURP a genuine disrupter?</h2>
<p>If the group&#8217;s global expansion is successful, this business could become a genuine disrupter, like <strong>Amazon</strong>.</p>
<p>Personally, I don&#8217;t think this is likely. Purplebricks&#8217; business model seems more like evolution than revolution to me. Its sales and property listings still depend on a small army of estate agents (630 in the UK). The only difference I can see is that they don&#8217;t have offices.</p>
<p>Although the firm&#8217;s fixed-fee model is different to a traditional commission rate, I believe mainstream agents will be able to adapt their pricing to become more competitive if they need to.</p>
<p>Purplebricks may well cause estate agents&#8217; profit margins to fall. But I don&#8217;t think it&#8217;s a truly disruptive business. For this reason, I view the shares as expensive and risky.</p>
<h2>One internet stock I admire</h2>
<p>Picking the right internet businesses to back isn&#8217;t easy. The gap between success and failure is often quite small.</p>
<p>However, one tech stock that has delivered <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/03/29/2-hidden-dividend-plus-growth-stocks-id-buy-with-2000-today/">growing profits and dividends</a> over many years is web hosting and cloud services provider <strong>Iomart Group </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>). The share price of this AIM-listed firm has risen by 990% over the last 10 years, from 32p to 350p.</p>
<p>More recently, sales have risen from £56m in 2014 to £98m last year. Adjusted pre-tax profit has risen from £14.6m in 2014 to £24m in 2018.  </p>
<p>Tuesday&#8217;s half-year results suggest this progress is continuing. Sales rose by 8% to £50.9m during the six months to 30 September, while adjusted pre-tax profit rose by 7% to £12.4m. Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of 2.45p per share, an 8% increase on the same period last year.</p>
<h2>Why I&#8217;d buy</h2>
<p>Iomart has generated a return on capital employed of 15% over the last 12 months. That means that for each £1,000 invested in the business, it generated an operating profit of £150.</p>
<p>This is consistent with previous years. It tells me that this is a good quality business that&#8217;s generated real returns for shareholders.</p>
<p>The stock currently trades on 17 times forecast earnings with a 2.2% yield. That&#8217;s not cheap, but I think it&#8217;s worth considering as a long-term buy.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/12/05/this-growth-stock-has-beaten-the-purplebricks-share-price-by-45-in-2018/">This growth stock has beaten the Purplebricks share price by 45% in 2018</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. <a href="https://boards.fool.com/profile/sopavest/info.aspx">Roland Head</a> has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Amazon. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of Iomart Group. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Forget a cash ISA! The Standard Life Aberdeen share price could help you to retire wealthy</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/10/01/forget-a-cash-isa-the-standard-life-aberdeen-share-price-could-help-you-to-retire-wealthy/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 01 Oct 2018 10:25:31 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Standard Life Aberdeen]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=117357</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Standard Life Aberdeen plc (LON: SLA) appears to offer impressive long-term growth potential.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/10/01/forget-a-cash-isa-the-standard-life-aberdeen-share-price-could-help-you-to-retire-wealthy/">Forget a cash ISA! The Standard Life Aberdeen share price could help you to retire wealthy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While the performance of <strong>Standard Life Aberdeen</strong> (LSE: SLA) has been <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/09/17/how-low-can-the-standard-life-share-price-go/">disappointing</a> in recent months, the company’s long-term investment potential appears to be sound. Greater efficiency and resilience following its merger could reduce risk, with growth potential in a number of key markets offering high returns over the long run.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s not the only share that could be worth buying instead of saving through a cash ISA. Reporting on Monday was a growth stock that seems to be undervalued given its financial outlook.</p>
<h3><strong>Improving outlook</strong></h3>
<p>The company in question is cloud computing specialist <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>). It reported a pre-close trading statement for the six months to 30 September 2018, with the performance of the business being strong during the period. It has delivered profitability which is in line with expectations, with revenue and trading profit expected to be well ahead of the previous year.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the company believes that cloud computing offers further growth potential. With a move to the cloud being more complex than ever, its skills and network could provide increasing value across the industry. Its broad customer base could help it to capitalise on the growth potential within cloud computing, while a significant sales pipeline could catalyse its financial performance.</p>
<p>With Iomart forecast to post a rise in earnings of 9% in the current year, followed by further growth of 12% next year, it seems to have a bright future. Despite this, it trades on a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1.9. This suggests that it may offer investment potential after a strong first half of the year.</p>
<h3><strong>Low valuation</strong></h3>
<p>As mentioned, Standard Life Aberdeen could offer long-term investment potential. It has a relatively low valuation at the present time, which suggests there is a margin of safety on offer. It is due to post a rise in earnings of 9% next year, which puts it on a PEG ratio of 1.6. For a FTSE 100 company operating in what remains a growing market, this suggests that investors remain cautious about its outlook.</p>
<p>Of course, the company is undergoing a period of change at the present time. It is seeking to restructure through asset disposals, while also delivering on the synergies which formed a key part of its recent merger. While this could create some weakness in its financial performance in the near term, ultimately it may lead to a stronger business over the coming years.</p>
<p>With a dividend yield of over 7.5%, it easily beats the return on the FTSE 100, which has a yield of around 4%. It is also ahead of inflation of 2.7%, while a cash ISA&#8217;s return of around 1% seems insignificant in comparison. As such, and with the potential for high capital returns in the long run, now could be the perfect time to buy Standard Life Aberdeen. Its risk/reward ratio appears to be highly enticing.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/10/01/forget-a-cash-isa-the-standard-life-aberdeen-share-price-could-help-you-to-retire-wealthy/">Forget a cash ISA! The Standard Life Aberdeen share price could help you to retire wealthy</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/19/how-much-second-income-could-i-make-from-10k-in-the-stock-market/">How much second income could I make from £10k in the stock market?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/14/has-this-ftse-100-dividend-stock-finally-turned-a-corner/">Has this FTSE 100 dividend stock finally turned a corner?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/09/how-much-do-i-have-to-invest-in-this-newly-promoted-ftse-gem-to-target-7927-a-year-in-passive-income/">How much do I have to invest in this newly-promoted FTSE gem to target £7,927 a year in passive income?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/04/aberdeen-shares-are-back-in-the-ftse-100-is-this-turnaround-stock-just-getting-started/">Aberdeen shares are back in the FTSE 100 — is this turnaround stock just getting started?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> owns shares of Standard Life Aberdeen. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of Iomart Group. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Standard Life Aberdeen. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Is Hurricane Energy’s share price the bargain of 2018?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/06/12/is-hurricane-energys-share-price-the-bargain-of-2018/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 12 Jun 2018 11:15:55 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hurricane Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=113667</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Does Hurricane Energy plc (LON: HUR) offer a wide margin of safety at the present time?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/06/12/is-hurricane-energys-share-price-the-bargain-of-2018/">Is Hurricane Energy’s share price the bargain of 2018?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the UK stock market trading close to a record high, many investors may feel there are unlikely be bargains anywhere in the index. While this may be true in some cases, with investor sentiment pushing some stocks to new highs, the reality is that some shares continue to offer wide margins of safety for new investors.</p>
<p>One example is <strong>Hurricane Energy</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-hur/">LSE: HUR</a>). The oil and gas explorer is set to commence first production next year and investors may not yet have priced in its future potential. However, it’s not the only smaller company that could be worthy of a closer look. Reporting on Tuesday was a business which seems to offer growth at a very reasonable price.</p>
<h3><strong>Changing outlook</strong></h3>
<p>The last year has been a hugely positive period for oil and gas companies. Investor sentiment had been weak for a number of years, with a low oil price causing profitability across the industry to come under pressure. Projects were mothballed and capital expenditure was cut as operators across the industry sought to improve their financial standing. As a result, relatively small exploration companies operating in the sector experienced a difficult period.</p>
<p>Now though, a rising oil price has meant that oil and gas stocks are becoming more popular among investors. This partly helps to explain the share price rise of Hurricane Energy over the last year, with its stock price rising by 16%.</p>
<p>However, the outlook for the business is also improving. Plans to progress with its Lancaster Early Production System (EPS) are moving along, with first production expected to be achieved within the next 12 months. This is due to turn the company from being loss-making into a profitable entity. And since it trades on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 15 for next year, it appears as though the stock market may not have factored in its full growth potential.</p>
<p>Certainly, there are risks ahead. The oil price could fall, while there could be delays to the delivery of its strategy. But with a wide margin of safety, it could also offer high rewards in the long run.</p>
<h3><strong>Growth potential</strong></h3>
<p>Of course, there are other stocks that offer improving financial outlooks at reasonable prices. One such company is cloud computing specialist <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>), which reported positive full year results on Tuesday. Revenue increased by 9% to £97.7m, while adjusted profit before tax increased 7% to £24m.</p>
<p>The acquisitions made by the company during the year could provide it with further growth catalysts over the medium term. And with Iomart upbeat about its future potential to engage in further M&amp;A activity, the <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/03/29/2-hidden-dividend-plus-growth-stocks-id-buy-with-2000-today/">company’s prospects</a> appear to be positive.</p>
<p>With the stock expected to report a rise in its bottom line of 13% in the current financial year, its price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1.7 appears to offer good value for money. The cloud computing space seems to have strong potential, with the company offering significant capital growth prospects over the long term. As such, it could be worth a closer look at the present time.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/06/12/is-hurricane-energys-share-price-the-bargain-of-2018/">Is Hurricane Energy’s share price the bargain of 2018?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of Iomart Group. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Is EMIS plc a falling knife to catch after today&#8217;s 20% slump?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/01/18/is-emis-plc-a-falling-knife-to-catch-after-todays-20-slump/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 18 Jan 2018 12:05:09 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EMIS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=107925</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Could EMIS plc (LON: EMIS) deliver a strong recovery?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/01/18/is-emis-plc-a-falling-knife-to-catch-after-todays-20-slump/">Is EMIS plc a falling knife to catch after today&#8217;s 20% slump?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Connected healthcare and services provider <strong>EMIS</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-emis/">LSE: EMIS</a>) has fallen by as much as 20% today after it announced the results of a review of customer and product support processes.</p>
<p>The review has identified a failure to meet certain service levels and reporting levels with NHS Digital. It relates to the company&#8217;s web product for GPs in England, with the findings having been fully disclosed to NHS Digital.</p>
<p>The financial impact of the issue is still unclear, as it has only just come to light. However, the company estimates that it could be in the upper single-digits of millions of pounds. With the firm having made a pre-tax profit of £25m in 2016, this is a sizeable amount for the business.</p>
<h3><strong>Improving trading</strong></h3>
<p>As well as the results of its review, EMIS also released a trading update for the 2017 financial year on Thursday. The company&#8217;s performance has been in line with expectations, excluding the potential losses from the aforementioned review. Full-year revenue was slightly ahead of the comparative period as it benefitted from growing recurring revenue, strong market shares and good momentum in its order books and pipelines.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the internal reorganisation programme has been completed, with a renewed focus on improving day to day operational management. With the company having a balance sheet which includes £14m of net cash, it appears to be in <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/09/01/these-top-dividend-growth-stocks-could-help-you-secure-financial-independence/">sound financial shape</a> for the long run.</p>
<h3><strong>Recovery potential</strong></h3>
<p>With EMIS trading on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.3 even after today&#8217;s share price fall, its valuation appears to be high. Certainly, the business has growth potential, but this may be scaled back over the near term by the outcome of the review. As such, it may not be able to sustain its current valuation over the coming months, since investors may reduce their growth expectations for the business. This means that now may not be the right time to buy it for the long term.</p>
<h3><strong>Improving outlook</strong></h3>
<p>Also operating in the software and computer services industry is <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>). The cloud specialist has a solid track record of earnings growth, with its bottom line rising at an annualised rate of 15% during the last five years. More growth is set to be delivered over the next couple of years, with the company&#8217;s bottom line due to rise by 13% next year, and by 9% in the following year.</p>
<p>With Iomart trading on a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 1.4, it seems to offer excellent <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/01/04/these-2-tech-stocks-could-make-you-amazingly-rich-in-2018/">value for money</a>. The company appears to be making encouraging progress with its strategy and when its consistent growth prospects are factored in, there could be scope for a higher rating over the medium term.</p>
<p>With dividends per share forecast to grow by 28% during the next two years, the stock has a forward yield of around 2.2%. This is from a dividend which is expected to be covered 2.6 times by profit. As such, more growth in shareholder payouts could be ahead.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/01/18/is-emis-plc-a-falling-knife-to-catch-after-todays-20-slump/">Is EMIS plc a falling knife to catch after today&#8217;s 20% slump?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Peter Stephens has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Emis Group. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>2 top small-cap shares I&#8217;d buy in December</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/12/05/2-top-small-cap-shares-id-buy-in-december/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:42:24 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Bilaal Mohamed]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Costain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Caps]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=105885</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Bilaal Mohamed thinks now could be a good time to add these small-cap growth stocks to your portfolio.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/12/05/2-top-small-cap-shares-id-buy-in-december/">2 top small-cap shares I&#8217;d buy in December</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Cloud computing specialist <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>) declared a maiden interim dividend of 2.25p per share this morning as it reported another good period of trading in the first half of its financial year. By mid-morning the technology firm’s shares were up almost 3% on the news.</p>
<h3>Reach for the cloud</h3>
<p>The Glasgow-based group has rapidly grown into one of Europe’s leading cloud computing companies, having become one of the most widely respected and most trusted providers of business-critical cloud and managed hosting services. In a nutshell, these services enable customers to reduce the cost, complexity and risks associated with maintaining their own web and online applications.</p>
<p>The majority of the group’s sales are generated by its Cloud Services segment, which has continued to perform well, delivering an overall revenue growth rate of 13%, helped along by contributions from Christie Data which it acquired in August 2016, and the more recent purchases of Dediserve and Simple Servers in May and July of this year. Last month the group also acquired Salford-based eCommerce specialist Sonassi for £16.5m.</p>
<p>Iomart’s smaller segment, Easyspace, also performed well delivering a more modest 2.3% rise in revenues to £6.7m, all of which was organic. Easyspace provides a range of products to the small and micro business community including an ever wider range of domain names, shared hosting, emails and dedicated servers. Total group revenues for the six months to 30 September came in 12% higher than in FY2016/17 at £47m, with adjusted pre-tax profits rising 9% to £11.6m.</p>
<h3>Proven track record</h3>
<p>Despite its rapid growth, Iomart is still a relatively small software company when compared to the likes of industry giants Sage and Micro Focus International, but the AIM-listed business is profitable, cash generative and well placed to capitalise on the growing cloud computing market through a proven successful strategy of both organic and acquisitive growth.</p>
<p> Iomart’s shares are up by a third already this year and trade on a pricey earnings multiple of 20, but I reckon this isn’t too demanding for a technology company with a proven track record of solid growth.</p>
<h3>Long-term relationships</h3>
<p>Another small-cap stock that looks great value right now is engineering group <strong>Costain</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-cost/">LSE: COST</a>). The Maidenhead-based firm deploys technology-based solutions to meet urgent national needs across the UK’s energy, water, and transportation infrastructures.</p>
<p>Costain’s strong market position, reputation for innovation, and wide range of integrated services has enabled it to secure over £600m of new contract awards and extensions to existing contracts so far this year. Consequently, the group’s order book now stands at a whopping £3.7bn, 90% of which comprises repeat business, proving again that building long-term relationships can be highly lucrative for any contract-based business.</p>
<p> Costain’s <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2017/09/16/2-top-stocks-under-5/">rapid growth</a> has led to the shares doubling in value over the past five years, but despite this, they still trade on a fairly modest price-to-earnings ratio of 13. I think they’re worthy of a higher rating.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/12/05/2-top-small-cap-shares-id-buy-in-december/">2 top small-cap shares I&#8217;d buy in December</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/02/1000-buys-531-shares-in-this-uk-defence-and-nuclear-stock-thats-tipped-to-soar/">£1,000 buys 531 shares in this UK defence and nuclear stock that’s tipped to soar</a></li></ul><p><em>Bilaal Mohamed has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>2 hot tech stocks I&#8217;d buy in September</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/09/05/2-hot-tech-stocks-id-buy-in-september/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 05 Sep 2017 15:10:38 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Bilaal Mohamed]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AIM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Craneware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Caps]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=101706</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Bilaal Mohamed reckons now could be a good time to buy these exciting growth stocks.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/09/05/2-hot-tech-stocks-id-buy-in-september/">2 hot tech stocks I&#8217;d buy in September</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This month marks the 10th anniversary of <strong>Craneware</strong>’s (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-crw/">LSE: CRW</a>) stock market flotation, and in that time the specialist software provider has seen a tenfold increase in its market value. Rapid growth has meant the Scottish firm is now the leading provider of revenue integrity solutions that improve financial performance in the US hospital and health system markets.</p>
<h3>Healthcare burden</h3>
<p>This morning the Edinburgh-based technology firm unveiled its annual results for the year ended 30 June, revealing record levels of revenue and profitability. Revenues were up 16% on the previous financial year to $57.8m, with pre-tax profits rising 22% to $15.9m.</p>
<p>The US is the largest healthcare market in the world, and consistently continues to fall short in its quest for value for the healthcare dollars spent. A greater number of people need access to the healthcare system, with a greater proportion of the population reaching the end of their working lives. All the while, the cost of delivering healthcare is increasing, and putting an unsustainable burden on the country and its citizens.</p>
<h3>First to market</h3>
<p>Therefore, revenue integrity solutions are becoming increasingly important, and Craneware is among the first to market with solutions addressing the move to value-based care, while also continuing to innovate. The group’s products currently serve one in every four registered hospitals in the US, so I think there’s clearly plenty of scope for further expansion.</p>
<p>With its shares trading at 31 times forward earnings, the AIM-listed technology firm commands a premium rating. However, I believe that management’s strategy to expand its product suite as well as build on its established market-leading position means the business should easily grow into that lofty valuation over the coming years.</p>
<h3>Dotcom bubble</h3>
<p>Despite Craneware’s promising long-term outlook, there will be plenty of investors out there that will shun the software firm purely on the basis of its high earnings multiple. Investors can have long memories, especially when things turn sour, and the dotcom bubble and subsequent crash will have left deep scars. But the investing universe is very large, and I’ve unearthed another AIM-listed technology firm from north of the border that’s not only profitable, but also trades on a far less demanding valuation.</p>
<p>Valued at around £340m, <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>) is roughly the same size as Craneware in terms of market capitalisation, and has an equally impressive track record when it comes to growth. Since 2013 the Glasgow-based web hosting and cloud computing specialist has seen its pre-tax profits soar from just £4.37m to £14.65m, with the group’s revenues more than tripling to £90m over the same period.</p>
<p>Iomart continues to deliver an ever broader range of cloud solutions, and in FY2017, revenues and profits again hit record levels. Our friends in the City expect this theme to continue, with consensus estimates suggesting a further 16% rise in the group’s underlying earnings by FY2019, leaving the shares trading on a very reasonable P/E rating of 16. For a profitable small-cap technology firm with a solid track record, I think that’s cheap.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/09/05/2-hot-tech-stocks-id-buy-in-september/">2 hot tech stocks I&#8217;d buy in September</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em>Bilaal Mohamed has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Craneware. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Can these promising growth shares maintain their momentum?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/06/13/can-these-promising-growth-shares-maintain-their-momentum/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:14:44 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Jack Tang]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Results]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Caps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Telecom Plus]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=98580</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Do these two growth stocks have further upside potential?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/06/13/can-these-promising-growth-shares-maintain-their-momentum/">Can these promising growth shares maintain their momentum?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Shares in multi-utility supplier <b>Telecom Plus</b> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-tep/">LSE: TEP</a>) slumped by as much as 13% this morning following the release of its results for the year to 31 March. Due to falling energy prices and slowing customer growth, revenue fell by 0.6% versus the previous year. And while the company delivered another year of growing profits, Telecom Plus is set to face strong headwinds.</p>
<h3 class="western">Aggressive competition</h3>
<p>Notably, the company faces growing competitive pressures in the retail energy market, as many of its larger competitors have recently launched aggressively-priced introductory deals in order to protect market share. Things are looking better in the telecoms market, as it is seeing an increase in revenues because of higher prices and its customers taking up more services, in particular fibre broadband.</p>
<p>Thanks to adjusted pre-tax profit growth of 7%, the company remains committed to its progressive dividend policy. It raised dividends by 4.3% to 48p per share, which gives it a current yield of 3.9% for the full-year.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the company said it expects to deliver further growth as it rolls out new services and strengthens its competitive market position by leveraging its personal approach to looking after its members. Management has also been encouraged by the results from the soft launch of its home insurance product. It is confident that the addition of insurance would boost cross-selling opportunities and also, in itself, become a significant source of revenues as its steps up marketing for the new product.</p>
<p>“<em>In the meantime, we expect to continue growing our customer base over the coming year, with a target increase of 5-10% in the number of services we supply, and a further increase in our dividend,</em>” said chief executive Andrew Lindsay.</p>
<p>Still, Telecom Plus shares are pricey at 21.2 times forward earnings. And although I reckon the company still has more growth ahead of it, I&#8217;m avoiding the stock until valuations come down a bit more.</p>
<h3 class="western">Double-digit growth</h3>
<p>Also reporting today was cloud computing company <b>Iomart</b> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>). Revenue for the year to 31 March increased by 17% to £89.6m, while adjusted pre-tax profits rose by 11% to £22.4m.</p>
<p>The Glasgow-based group delivered another year of double-digit revenue and adjusted earnings growth. However, this failed to satisfy investors as shares in Iomart had fallen 5% to 322p at the time of publication.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s good to see the company&#8217;s Easyspace segment return to organic growth last year, as registrations had declined a little last year, and were a drag on its overall performance in 2015/16. Cashflow from operations was also significantly higher, with an increase of 22% to £37.8m, and this enabled management to raise its dividend payout for this year by 90% to 6p per share.</p>
<p>Looking forward, City analysts expect Iomart to increase its bottom line by 8% over the next two years, which would represent a modest slowdown in growth. Still, its shares seem reasonably priced, with Iomart trading at 17.8 times forward earnings this year, and 16.5 times its expected earnings in 2018/19.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/06/13/can-these-promising-growth-shares-maintain-their-momentum/">Can these promising growth shares maintain their momentum?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/15/this-income-stocks-yielding-an-amazing-9-5/">This income stock&#8217;s yielding an amazing 9.5%!</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/14/with-a-6-9-yield-is-this-one-of-the-best-uk-dividend-stocks-to-buy-right-now/">With a 6.9% yield, is this one of the best UK dividend stocks to buy right now?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/09/a-7-8-forecast-dividend-yield-1-income-share-i-wish-i-could-buy-today/">A 7.8% forecast dividend yield! 1 income share I wish I could buy today!</a></li></ul><p><em>Jack Tang has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>2 small-cap stocks that could deliver unbelievable earnings growth</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/04/24/2-small-cap-stocks-that-could-deliver-unbelievable-earnings-growth/</link>
                                <pubDate>Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:04:14 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nasstar]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=96657</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These two smaller companies may be on the cusp of improved returns.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/04/24/2-small-cap-stocks-that-could-deliver-unbelievable-earnings-growth/">2 small-cap stocks that could deliver unbelievable earnings growth</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Buying smaller companies can be fraught with risk. By their very nature, they lack the size and scale advantages of their larger peers. Therefore, their earnings profiles may be more susceptible to the loss of a major contract or an economic downturn. However, as well as higher risk, they can also offer impressive potential for rewards. With that in mind, here are two companies which could be worth a closer look right now.</p>
<h3><strong>Improving performance</strong></h3>
<p>Reporting on Monday was provider of hosted managed and cloud computing services, <strong>Nasstar </strong>(LSE: NASA). Its trading for the full year was in line with expectations, with the company delivering a robust performance within its core division. This helped to offset the previously-disclosed underperformance of VESK-acquired assets.</p>
<p>For example, revenue increased by 36%, with the monthly recurring revenue run rate increasing 54%. The company was able to deliver a gross margin of 69% despite the effects of a weaker pound. This helped to push adjusted profit before tax up 13%, with a final dividend of 0.052p per share representing a 16% increase on the prior year.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, Nasstar is forecast to record a rise in its bottom line of 50% in the current year. Clearly, this is on an adjusted basis, with the company remaining loss-making on a reported basis in 2016. However, with a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of just 0.3, it seems to offer a wide margin of safety. This could help to protect its investors against any headwinds which may come to light. Therefore, while a relatively risky investment opportunity, it could also prove to be a profitable one.</p>
<h3><strong>Solid growth potential</strong></h3>
<p>Also offering upside potential in the long run is secure managed hosting and cloud services provider <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>). In the last five years it has delivered a relatively impressive earnings growth profile, with its bottom line rising in four of the five years. Furthermore, its bottom line has grown at an annualised rate of almost 16% during the period, which indicates that its strategy has been sound.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, more growth is on the horizon. Iomart is expected to report a rise in its bottom line of 11% this year, followed by further growth of 8% next year. It trades on a PEG ratio of 1.9, which seems to be a fair price to pay given its consistent track record of profit growth.</p>
<p>For a smaller technology company, Iomart’s dividend appeal remains surprisingly high. It currently yields 1.9% from a dividend which is covered over three times by profit. This suggests that a higher dividend could be warranted in future, while also providing sufficient capital for reinvestment in the business.</p>
<p>With the cloud computing industry offering significant growth in the long term, Iomart seems to be well positioned to deliver high growth over a sustained period. As such, now could be an opportune moment to buy it.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/04/24/2-small-cap-stocks-that-could-deliver-unbelievable-earnings-growth/">2 small-cap stocks that could deliver unbelievable earnings growth</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>3 stocks to buy and hold forever: Unilever plc, Iomart Group plc and Zytronic plc</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/06/28/3-stocks-to-buy-and-hold-forever-unilever-plc-iomart-group-plc-and-zytronic-plc/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 28 Jun 2016 07:01:35 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unilever]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=83539</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These 3 shares have huge long term potential: Unilever plc (LON: ULVR), Iomart Group plc (LON: IOM) and Zytronic plc (LON: ZYT)</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/06/28/3-stocks-to-buy-and-hold-forever-unilever-plc-iomart-group-plc-and-zytronic-plc/">3 stocks to buy and hold forever: Unilever plc, Iomart Group plc and Zytronic plc</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img width="640" height="360" src="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Unilever-sign.jpg" class="attachment-rss-thumbnail size-rss-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Unilever sign" style="float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" /><p>Part of the challenge of being an investor is holding on to high quality companies for the long term. If they perform well, there is always a temptation to sell them. If they don&#8217;t perform well, there is a temptation to do just the same – even if the company in question is doing all of the right things, but is being hurt by short term external factors.</p>
<p>The skill, then, is in picking the best stocks and giving them the time to come good.</p>
<h3>A very bright future</h3>
<p>One company which appears to fall into this category is <strong>Unilever </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-ulvr/">LSE: ULVR</a>). The consumer goods company has a very bright long term future owing mainly to its exposure to the emerging world. In fact, Unilever generates the majority of its sales from developing economies and with wages set to rise rapidly over the coming years, demand for Unilever&#8217;s products is likely to increase considerably.</p>
<p>Certainly, Unilever&#8217;s share price has performed well in recent years and its shareholders may be tempted to sell at the present time. However, this could be the worst time to do just that since all of the investment which Unilever has made in marketing its products in the emerging world looks set to bear fruit over the next 5+ years. As such, Unilever appears to be a stock to buy and hold forever.</p>
<h3>Stunning track record</h3>
<p>Also offering excellent long term growth potential is <strong>Zytronic</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-zyt/">LSE: ZYT</a>). Its track record is stunning, with the touchscreen glass manufacturer recording an annualised growth rate in earnings of almost 11% during the last five years. And with demand for touchscreen products likely to rise over the long run, as their use becomes more widespread across a number of different industries and applications, Zytronic&#8217;s outlook is highly positive.</p>
<p>In fact, over the next two financial years Zytronic is expected to continue to record positive earnings growth numbers. And with its shares yielding around 4.2%, they seem to offer excellent income prospects. That&#8217;s especially the case since Zytronic currently pays out just 50% of profit as a dividend, which indicates that shareholder payouts could move sharply higher over the medium to long term.</p>
<h3>Rising demand</h3>
<p>Meanwhile,<strong> Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>) also seems to be another stock to buy and hold forever. That&#8217;s at least partly because the cloud computing space is likely to be a major growth area in the coming years as more businesses and individuals switch from physical to cloud storage.</p>
<p>As Iomart&#8217;s most recent final results showed, it is experiencing rising demand for its services, with sales increasing by 16% and adjusted pretax profit 14% higher than in the previous year. And with the scope for further partnerships within the Hybrid Cloud space, as well as additional M&amp;A opportunities, Iomart seems to be a top-notch smaller company for the long term.</p>
<p>As with Zytronic, Iomart has an excellent track record of profit growth, with its bottom line rising by over 100% in the last four years. And with double-digit growth expected this year, now could be an excellent time to buy the company for the long term.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/06/28/3-stocks-to-buy-and-hold-forever-unilever-plc-iomart-group-plc-and-zytronic-plc/">3 stocks to buy and hold forever: Unilever plc, Iomart Group plc and Zytronic plc</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/29/3566-shares-in-this-ftse-100-stalwart-earns-a-1443-second-income/">3,566 shares in this FTSE 100 stalwart earns a £1,443 second income</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/07/2-ftse-shares-for-beginners-starting-a-new-isa/">2 FTSE shares for beginners starting an ISA</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/02/is-this-former-stock-market-hero-now-the-ultimate-ftse-100-buy-and-hold/">Is this former stock market hero now the ultimate FTSE 100 buy and hold?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> owns shares of Unilever and Zytronic. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Unilever. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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                                <title>Are Sirius Minerals plc, Iomart Group plc &#038; CVS Group plc 3 must-have small-caps?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/05/17/are-sirius-minerals-plc-iomart-group-plc-cvs-group-plc-3-must-have-small-caps/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2016 08:30:58 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CVS Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iomart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sirius Minerals]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=81375</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Should you pile into these 3 smaller companies right now? Sirius Minerals plc (LON: SXX), Iomart Group plc (LON: IOM) and CVS Group plc (LON: CVSG).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/05/17/are-sirius-minerals-plc-iomart-group-plc-cvs-group-plc-3-must-have-small-caps/">Are Sirius Minerals plc, Iomart Group plc &amp; CVS Group plc 3 must-have small-caps?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
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                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>2016 has been a rather disappointing year for investors in <strong>CVS Group</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-cvsg/">LSE: CVSG</a>). That&#8217;s because the veterinary services provider has recorded a fall in its share price of 7% since the turn of the year. However, with its shares still being up by 24% in the last 12 months, recent performance could prove to be something of a blip due to wider market weakness and/or profit-taking.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, CVS is forecast to increase its bottom line by 27% this year and by a further 17% next year. This rate of growth, while strong, is not particularly unusual for CVS since it has recorded an annualised rate of earnings growth of just under 16% during the last five years. And with its shares trading on a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of only 1.3, they seem to offer upbeat growth numbers at a very appealing price. As such, CVS seems to be set to reverse its recent share price fall and remains a high quality smaller company for the long term.</p>
<h3>Head in the clouds</h3>
<p>Also recording a falling share price since the turn of the year is cloud computing and managed hosting specialist <strong>Iomart</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-iom/">LSE: IOM</a>). Like CVS, however, Iomart&#8217;s share price has surged in recent years and despite falling by 2% since the start of the year it&#8217;s still up by 211% in the last five years.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, such a staggering rate of growth could be replicated since Iomart remains a high quality business with a very bright future. This is evidenced by the company&#8217;s earnings growth outlook, with Iomart expected to increase its bottom line by 23% in the current financial year and by a further 9% next year. This indicates that investor sentiment could pick up – especially when Iomart has a PEG ratio of just 1.6. Therefore, with Iomart continuing to produce an above average growth rate, it seems to be a worthwhile purchase at the present time.</p>
<h3>Surprise surprise</h3>
<p>While CVS and Iomart have fallen this year, shares in <strong>Sirius Minerals</strong> (LSE: SXX) have soared by 22%. This is somewhat surprising since 2015 was a fantastic year for the company and investor interest was exceptionally high as planning approval was granted for a major potash mine in Yorkshire. And after rising by 41% in 2015, it would have been unsurprising for Sirius Minerals&#8217; shares to have come under a degree of pressure due to profit-taking.</p>
<p>However, investors seem to be even more excited about the company&#8217;s prospects now, even though the cost of the project is vast. While funding such a huge project may prove to be challenging – especially with investor sentiment towards the resources sector being somewhat lukewarm, Sirius Minerals has the potential to post high levels of profit in the long run. However, with a number of other resources sector companies offering rising profitability and a low share price, there seem to be better options on offer elsewhere.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/05/17/are-sirius-minerals-plc-iomart-group-plc-cvs-group-plc-3-must-have-small-caps/">Are Sirius Minerals plc, Iomart Group plc &amp; CVS Group plc 3 must-have small-caps?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
<p><strong>More reading</strong></p><ul><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-yield-of-6-8-and-a-p-e-ratio-of-12-1-is-this-a-dirt-cheap-ftse-250-stock-to-consider/'>With a yield of 6.8% and a P/E ratio of 12.1, is this a dirt cheap FTSE 250 stock to consider?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/will-spacex-nvidia-or-alphabet-be-the-first-10trn-stock/'>Will SpaceX, Nvidia, or Alphabet be the first $10trn stock?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-95-this-ftse-100-stocks-outperformed-nvidia-over-the-past-year/'>Up 95%! This FTSE 100 stock&#8217;s outperformed Nvidia over the past year</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/with-a-9-3-yield-is-this-an-amazing-opportunity-to-consider-buying-dirt-cheap-taylor-wimpey-shares/'>With a 9.3% yield, is this an amazing opportunity to consider buying dirt-cheap Taylor Wimpey shares?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-do-you-need-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-to-aim-for-375-a-week-in-retirement/'>How much do you need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to aim for £375 a week in retirement?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/help/disclaimer/what-does-it-mean-to-be-motley/">us better investors.</a></em></p>
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