<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
     xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"
     xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
    xmlns:company="http:/purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/company" xmlns:fool="http://fool.com/rss/extensions"     >

    <channel>
        <title>South32 News | The Twelfth Magpie</title>
        <atom:link href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tag/south32/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tag/south32/</link>
        <description>Share Tips, Investing and Stock Market News</description>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:27:00 +0000</lastBuildDate>
        <language>en-GB</language>
                <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
                <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
        <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0</generator>

<image>
	<url>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cropped-Magpie_Icon_Black_RGB-1-32x32.png</url>
	<title>South32 News | The Twelfth Magpie</title>
	<link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tag/south32/</link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 
            <item>
                                <title>Why SSE plc isn&#8217;t the only dividend stock I&#8217;d buy with my first £1,000</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/02/15/why-sse-plc-isnt-the-only-dividend-stock-id-buy-with-my-first-1000/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 15 Feb 2018 11:40:30 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SSE]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=109222</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Roland Head makes the case for value investors to buy SSE plc (LON:SSE).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/02/15/why-sse-plc-isnt-the-only-dividend-stock-id-buy-with-my-first-1000/">Why SSE plc isn&#8217;t the only dividend stock I&#8217;d buy with my first £1,000</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you&#8217;re investing in stocks with limited funds, then it&#8217;s more important than ever to make sure you keep costs under control. One of the simplest ways is to avoid trading too often.</p>
<p>Today, I&#8217;m looking at two high-yield dividend stocks I believe could deliver a market-beating performance over the next few years.</p>
<h3>A 7.9% yield I&#8217;ve bought</h3>
<p>Shares in utility group <strong>SSE </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-sse/">LSE: SSE</a>) are currently trading at a six-year low, with a forecast dividend yield of 7.9%.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m not sure this gloomy outlook is justified, having recently added SSE to my own portfolio. Although the group faces political pressure to cap prices and has lost customers to smaller rivals, the board is taking steps to address these problems.</p>
<p>SSE plans to combine its retail business with that of nPower, forming a new company. The new business will have a tighter focus on retail and greater scale, which should help with pricing. Meanwhile SSE should receive a share of the profits of the new business while being free to <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2018/01/31/is-it-finally-time-to-return-to-super-stock-sse-plc/">focus on its core business</a> of gas and electricity production.</p>
<h3>Too cheap to ignore?</h3>
<p>My view is that SSE&#8217;s depressed share price already allows for a fair amount of bad news.</p>
<p>In its most recent trading update, the company confirmed earnings and dividend guidance for the current year. This puts the stock on a forecast P/E of 10, with that prospective dividend yield of 7.9%.</p>
<p>Although such a high yield would normally be a warning that a cut might be likely, I&#8217;m prepared to accept this risk here. Even a 25% cut would still provide an attractive 6% yield, with the potential for future gains.</p>
<p>I believe SSE deserves a buy rating &#8212; a view shared by 11 out of the 16 City brokers who cover the stock.</p>
<h3>This cash-rich miner could be on a roll</h3>
<p>Mining groups have made a stunning comeback over the last two years. But I reckon some companies in this sector could still be attractive for dividend investors. One stock I rate highly is <strong>South32 Ltd </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>), which was spun out of FTSE 100 giant <strong>BHP Billiton</strong> in 2015.</p>
<p>The Australia-based group published its half-year results today. Revenue rose by 8% to $3,494m during the six months to 31 December, while underlying operating profit rose by 5% to $724m.</p>
<p>The interim dividend will be increased by 19% to 4.3 cents and shareholders will also receive a special dividend of 3 cents per share.</p>
<p>These payouts look comfortably affordable to me. South32 ended the half-year with net cash of $1,431m, despite spending $426m on dividends and share buybacks during the period.</p>
<h3>Why are the shares falling?</h3>
<p>South32 shares have fallen by 6% following today&#8217;s results. One source of pressure could be that volumes from some of the group&#8217;s mines fell during the first half, due to technical challenges. Higher revenue and profit was mostly due to higher commodity prices, a benefit that may not recur during the second half.</p>
<p>However, I think it&#8217;s worth noting that the group&#8217;s cash balance accounts for 10% of its share price. On this basis, South32&#8217;s forecast P/E of 13 and 4.3% yield look good value to me. I&#8217;d be happy to buy at these levels.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2018/02/15/why-sse-plc-isnt-the-only-dividend-stock-id-buy-with-my-first-1000/">Why SSE plc isn&#8217;t the only dividend stock I&#8217;d buy with my first £1,000</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/2026/06/20/how-uk-shares-could-build-a-339849-isa/">How UK shares could build a £339,849 ISA</a></li></ul><p><em>Roland Head owns shares of SSE. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>2 dividend stocks I&#8217;d buy and hold forever</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/07/20/2-dividend-stocks-id-buy-and-hold-forever/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 20 Jul 2017 13:22:26 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antofagasta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=100143</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>These two shares could deliver high dividends in the long run.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/07/20/2-dividend-stocks-id-buy-and-hold-forever/">2 dividend stocks I&#8217;d buy and hold forever</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Although the rate of inflation fell from 2.9% to 2.6% last month, it still poses a problem for many investors. The income returns on a range of assets such as cash, bonds and even property (on a net basis) may offer a negative real yield at the present time. That&#8217;s why shares which either have a high yield or a fast-growing dividend could be worth buying right now. Here are two such companies which, while relatively risky, could be strong income stocks in the long run.</p>
<h3><strong>Improving performance</strong></h3>
<p>Releasing a quarterly report on Thursday was mining company<strong> South32</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>). It delivered record performance at Mozal Aluminium, which aided a 2% rise in total aluminium production during the year. The company&#8217;s smelters continue to operate at their maximum technical capability, which boosted production to some degree.</p>
<p>While impressive, the remainder of the company&#8217;s portfolio did not achieve the level of consistency which had been expected. For example, Cannington recorded a significant decrease in ore grades and metal production, while there was a 15% decrease in Illawarra Metallurgical Coal production. Despite these disappointments, South32&#8217;s alumina, nickel and manganese operations ended the financial year on a positive note.</p>
<p>At the present time, it has a dividend yield of 4.1%. That&#8217;s from a shareholder payout which is covered 2.5 times by profit, which suggests that dividends could increase at a faster pace than profit without hurting the company&#8217;s reinvestment prospects. Certainly, the mining industry is not the most stable sector for income investors. But with an inflation-beating yield and the potential for rapid dividend growth, South32 could be a strong investment for the long term.</p>
<h3><strong>Growth potential</strong></h3>
<p>Also offering upbeat income prospects within the mining sector is <strong>Antofagasta</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-anto/">LSE: ANTO</a>). The copper mining specialist is set to deliver strong earnings growth over the next couple of years as it benefits from the results of a strategy change which saw some restructuring in recent years. In fact, in the current year the company is expected to report a rise in its bottom line of 44%, followed by further growth of 10% this year.</p>
<p>Such strong growth in earnings is set to lead to rapid dividend growth. That&#8217;s especially the case with Antofagasta currently having a payout ratio of just 37%. This is forecast to enable it to raise dividends per share by 9% next year, with further scope for dividend growth in future years. While this puts the stock on a forward yield of just 1.8%, it would be unsurprising for dividend growth to beat inflation and lead to a relatively enticing income return over a sustained period.</p>
<p>As well as its income potential, Antofagasta also appears to offer good value for money. For example, it has a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of just 1.8, which suggests that provided commodity prices remain stable, it could deliver a high rate of capital growth in the long run.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/07/20/2-dividend-stocks-id-buy-and-hold-forever/">2 dividend stocks I&#8217;d buy and hold forever</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/hot-hotter-hottest-is-it-too-late-to-consider-these-3-ftse-100-shares/">Hot, hotter, hottest. Is it too late to consider these 3 FTSE 100 shares?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> owns shares of South32. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Can spin-offs make you a millionaire?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/03/15/can-spin-offs-make-you-a-millionaire/</link>
                                <pubDate>Wed, 15 Mar 2017 12:16:10 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Summers]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BHP Billiton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Indivior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reckitt Benckiser]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=94504</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Serious about retiring early? Perhaps it's time to look at the merits of spin-off companies.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/03/15/can-spin-offs-make-you-a-millionaire/">Can spin-offs make you a millionaire?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>While many investors gravitate towards volatile tech, oil or gas stocks in an effort to secure early retirement, far fewer take an interest in spin-offs &#8211; companies created through the distribution of shares by a parent business to existing holders. </p>
<p>Spin-offs can happen for various reasons. A business may wish to streamline its operations, for example. Setting up a new company allows both the existing and new management teams the opportunity to focus on a more limited range of products or services, hopefully to the benefit of shareholders.</p>
<p>Sometimes, a company may feel that one or some of its component parts aren&#8217;t properly valued. Creating a spin-off should encourage the market to re-evaluate these assets to the point where they&#8217;re often worth more as separate entities. On other occasions, companies might want to create a spin-off to side-step regulatory hurdles.</p>
<h3>Why should investors care?</h3>
<p>Perhaps one of the most compelling benefits for existing investors is that both a parent company and its spin-off tend to perform better once the separation is complete &#8212; particularly the latter.</p>
<p>But while creating a new company may make sound business sense, there are also benefits for <em>prospective</em> investors. Given that many existing holders would prefer to keep their capital concentrated in the parent business, shares in the spin-off are often quickly jettisoned from portfolios.</p>
<p>This tendency to sell isn&#8217;t limited to private investors. Fund managers will also offload shares in the newly-created company, particularly if it doesn&#8217;t meet certain criteria or the objectives they&#8217;re required to work towards. Since the spinoff is usually a lot smaller than its parent company, many are forced to sell for reasons of size, even if they believe that prospects for the former are good.  </p>
<p>Of course, all this downward pressure presents a wonderful buying opportunity for those wishing to invest for the medium-to-long term.  </p>
<h3>Got any evidence?</h3>
<p>Yes, actually. In 2015, FTSE 100 constituent <strong>BHP Billiton</strong> created <strong>South 32</strong> &#8212; the base metal and coal mining company with assets in Australia, Southern Africa and South America.</p>
<p>When shares entered the market in May, they began to fall almost immediately, partly due to the negative sentiment surrounding resources stocks at the time, but also because many investors wished to relinquish their minor holdings. Since reaching a low of 42.5p back in January 2016 however, shares have rallied to as high as 178p. That&#8217;s a rise of almost 320% in 14 months. Meanwhile, BHP&#8217;s shares have climbed &#8216;only&#8217; 123%.</p>
<p><strong>Indivior</strong> &#8211; the specialist pharmaceutical company focused on treating addiction &#8211; is another example of a successful spin-off. Originally a part of consumer goods giant, <strong>Reckitt Benckiser</strong>, the £2.4bn cap was set up back in 2014 and now occupies a space in the FTSE 250 index.  </p>
<p>After hitting a low of 130p just over a year ago, shares in Indivior have since rocketed by 158% to 335p. For comparison, shares in Reckitt are up around 11% over the same period.</p>
<p>Of course, there are many caveats here. For one, shares of spin-off companies have a tendency to be more volatile than those of their parents. Moreover, macroeconomic or political events can impact on sentiment towards all stocks, including promising offshoots. As such, it always makes sense to position your portfolio in such a way that your financial goals are not dependent on any one company or industry remaining resilient.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/03/15/can-spin-offs-make-you-a-millionaire/">Can spin-offs make you a millionaire?</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/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Paul Summers 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Do these figures mean I should start selling mining stocks?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/02/16/do-these-figures-mean-i-should-start-selling-mining-stocks/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:40:30 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BHP Billiton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=93031</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Roland Head asks: is it time to take profits on miners and look elsewhere for value?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/02/16/do-these-figures-mean-i-should-start-selling-mining-stocks/">Do these figures mean I should start selling mining stocks?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last year&#8217;s rapid recovery in mining stocks has left investors who bought during the first half of 2016 with big profits.</p>
<p>A fast resurgence in the price of coal and iron ore led to big gains. But this rate of recovery is unlikely to continue. At some point mining stocks will transition from being value buys to being fairly priced. As a shareholder in all three of the big miners, valuation is a subject I&#8217;m paying close attention to.</p>
<p>We&#8217;re now in the middle of results season. <strong>Rio Tinto </strong>has already released its figures, which were better than expected. In this piece I&#8217;ll take a look at the latest numbers from <strong>BHP Billiton</strong> (LSE: BLT) spin-off <strong>South32 </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>), and consider the mining outlook for 2017/18.</p>
<h3>Profits rise by 390%</h3>
<p>The headline figures from South32 were certainly impressive. Sales rose by 8% to $3,221m during the six months to 31 December. The group&#8217;s first-half underlying operating profit rose by 390% to $691m.</p>
<p>Higher profits were backed by strong cash generation. Free cash flow rose to $626m during the half, meaning that 90% of operating profit was converted to surplus cash. The group ended 2016 with net cash of $859m.</p>
<p>Some of this cash is being returned to shareholders. South32 will pay an interim dividend of 3.6 cents per share, which is equivalent to a cash return of $192m.</p>
<h3>How safe is the outlook?</h3>
<p>South32 stock now trades on a forecast P/E of 9.2, with a prospective yield of 5.2%. These are attractive figures. But it&#8217;s worth noting that first-half earnings of 9 cents per share only represent 41% of full-year earnings forecasts for 22 cents per share. The company admits that hitting guidance will depend on <em>&#8220;a strong finish to the financial year&#8221;</em>.</p>
<p>Another point worth noting is that consensus forecasts currently suggest earnings per share will fall by 20% during the 2017/18 financial year, which starts on 1 July. South32 may outperform this guidance, but at current levels I&#8217;d view the stock as a <em>hold</em>, rather than a <em>buy</em>. It might make sense to lock in some gains at this point.</p>
<h3>Bigger might be better</h3>
<p>BHP Billiton benefits from a more diverse portfolio of assets than South32. But the outlook is remarkably similar. Earnings per share are expected to fall by 13% to $1.25 per share in 2017/18. This puts the stock on a forecast P/E of 13.8, with a prospective yield of 4.5%.</p>
<p>As we&#8217;ve seen with Rio Tinto and South32, current year performance is likely to be very strong. BHP expects to generate free cash flow of $7bn during the current year, which will be used to fund debt reduction and a big dividend hike.</p>
<p>Are the shares still a buy? One measure which suggests that BHP may still be cheap is the so-called PE10. That&#8217;s a P/E ratio calculated using the current share price and 10-year average earnings per share.</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve calculated BHP&#8217;s PE10 as 9.1. That suggests to me that the stock isn&#8217;t expensive, relative to its historic performance.</p>
<p>As a long-term income buy, I believe BHP remains attractive. But for investors seeking capital gains, now may be a good time to reduce the size of your holding. I suspect that further gains will be slower, with a greater risk of disappointment.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2017/02/16/do-these-figures-mean-i-should-start-selling-mining-stocks/">Do these figures mean I should start selling mining stocks?</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/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Roland Head owns shares of Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Rio Tinto. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Are these today&#8217;s top growth buys?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/08/25/are-these-todays-top-growth-buys/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2016 10:30:59 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Essentra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jimmy Choo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=85856</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Are further gains on the cards for shareholders in these three mid-cap stocks?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/08/25/are-these-todays-top-growth-buys/">Are these today&#8217;s top growth buys?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today&#8217;s results include some surprising numbers from three mid-cap stocks. In this article, I&#8217;ll take a closer look at the growth outlook for these firms.</p>
<h3>Selling could boost growth</h3>
<p>Manufacturing group <strong>Essentra </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-esnt/">LSE: ESNT</a>) will sell its Porous Technologies unit for £220m to US firm Filtration Group. The deal will reduce Essentra&#8217;s debt levels significantly and allow the group to focus on core growth areas of its business.</p>
<p>Shares in the group have fallen by 38% so far this year, thanks to a profit warning in June. Profits will take another hit from the loss of the Porous Technologies business, which generated an operating profit of £17.6m over the last 12 months. This represents about 17% of Essentra&#8217;s reported operating profit for the last year.</p>
<p>However, I suspect that the impact of this loss will be partly offset by the benefits of lower operating costs and reduced debt.</p>
<p>In my view, Essentra remains a hold. I estimate that the shares will trade on a forecast P/E of 12-14 after the sale, with a prospective yield of about 4%. Essentra has good growth prospects elsewhere &#8212; the shares could perform well from here.</p>
<h3>Profits up at fashion firm</h3>
<p>Luxury shoe retailer <strong>Jimmy Choo </strong>(LSE: CHOO) said that sales rose by 9.2% to £173.1m during the first half of the year. The firm&#8217;s adjusted operating profit rose by 13.7% to £21.6m.</p>
<p>However, because 89% of sales were made outside the UK, these figures were given a big boost by the recent slide in the pound. Measured at fixed exchange rates, sales rose by a more modest 3.8% during the first half.</p>
<p>Sales trends in Asia were encouraging. Jimmy Choo reported double-digit like-for-like growth in China and strong growth in men&#8217;s sales. Men&#8217;s shoes currently account for just 8% of Jimmy Choo&#8217;s sales, but the firm believes this figure could rise <em>&#8220;well into double digits&#8221;</em> in coming years.</p>
<p>Jimmy Choo shares are up by 3% at the time of writing, putting them on a 2016 forecast P/E of 19, falling to 16 for 2017. The shares have fallen by 30% over the last year, but earnings growth is expected to accelerate next year. Now could be a good time to pick up a few shares.</p>
<h3>Mining spin-off digs up cash</h3>
<p>Mining group <strong>South32 </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>) reported a loss after tax of $1.6bn last year, due to non-cash writedowns on the value of its assets. The firm&#8217;s underlying earnings fell by 76% to $138m. However, the situation may not be as bad as these figures suggest.</p>
<p>South32&#8217;s profits have fallen as a result of weak commodity prices. But market conditions have stabilised this year. South32 is profitable at current prices and generated adjusted free cash flow of $597m last year. This enabled the group to reduce debt and finish the year with net cash of $312m.</p>
<p>The firm has declared a maiden dividend of 1 cent per share, giving a yield of about 0.6%. Analysts&#8217; forecasts suggest that underlying earnings will rise from 2.6 cents to 6.9 cents per share in 2017. This puts the stock on a forecast P/E of 22.</p>
<p>I&#8217;d say that South32 is priced fairly at the moment, but further gains could follow as the market recovers, or as a result of takeover or acquisition activity.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/08/25/are-these-todays-top-growth-buys/">Are these today&#8217;s top growth buys?</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/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em>Roland Head has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK owns shares of and has recommended Essentra. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Are these 3 resources stocks on the cusp of stunning returns?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/07/22/are-these-3-resources-stocks-on-the-cusp-of-stunning-returns/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 06:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cairn Energy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tullow Oil]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=84575</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Should you buy these three resources companies right now?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/07/22/are-these-3-resources-stocks-on-the-cusp-of-stunning-returns/">Are these 3 resources stocks on the cusp of stunning returns?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last week&#8217;s quarterly operational report from <strong>South32</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>) shows the company is making encouraging progress despite a challenging market. Its production either met or exceeded guidance for the period for the majority of its operations and with its shares up 71% since the turn of the year, investor sentiment is on the up too.</p>
<p>Clearly, much of this is down to an improved outlook for commodity prices, but South32&#8217;s focus on value over volume has also helped it deliver improved financial performance. And its delivery of two major projects on budget and ahead of schedule shows that it has the capacity to operate and be successful within a difficult environment.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, South32 is forecast to increase pre-tax profit from around £125m in the most recent financial year to just under £400m in the current one. This is clearly dependent on prevailing commodity prices, but with South32 trading on a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of around 0.3, it seems to offer a sufficiently wide margin of safety to merit purchase now for the long term.</p>
<h3>Return to profits</h3>
<p>Also offering an upbeat outlook is <strong>Tullow Oil</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-tlw/">LSE: TLW</a>). The oil explorer has responded to a lower oil price environment by focusing to a greater degree on production and this is set to boost its profitability in the short run. In fact, Tullow Oil is expected to return to profitability in the next financial year, with its Project TEN in Ghana being a major reason for that.</p>
<p>Although the profitability of the project will be lower than previously anticipated due to a lower oil price, the cost per barrel of producing oil at the deepwater project is just $20. Therefore, oil could fall by up to 60% from its current level and still leave the new project economically viable.</p>
<p>And with Tullow Oil expected to rapidly improve its cash flow in the coming years, concerns surrounding its degree of leverage may subside and cause investor sentiment to improve. Therefore, now could be a good time to buy it – even if the oil price disappoints over the short-to-medium term.</p>
<h3>Lagging its peers?</h3>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>Cairn Energy</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-cne/">LSE: CNE</a>) has benefitted from a rising oil price in 2016, with its shares up 20% year-to-date. It continues to have a bright long-term future, with the company having a strong financial position through which to develop its lucrative asset base. And with the prospects for the oil price now being stronger than a number of months ago, investor sentiment towards Cairn could improve over the coming months.</p>
<p>However, with a number of other resource-focused companies having black bottom lines and forecast to grow their earnings at a rapid rate, the appeal of Cairn on a relative basis may be somewhat limited. That&#8217;s not to say that it&#8217;s a stock to avoid, but rather investors may prefer to buy the likes of South32 or Tullow, which may prove to be on the cusp of stunning returns thanks to their high forecast earnings growth rates over the next year.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/07/22/are-these-3-resources-stocks-on-the-cusp-of-stunning-returns/">Are these 3 resources stocks on the cusp of stunning returns?</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/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> owns shares of South32. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Are South32 Ltd, KAZ Minerals PLC And UK Oil &#038; Gas Investments PLC 3 &#8216;Must-Have&#8217; Resources Stocks?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/02/25/are-south32-ltd-kaz-minerals-plc-and-uk-oil-gas-investments-plc-3-must-have-resources-stocks/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2016 15:49:46 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[KAZ Minerals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UK Oil & Gas]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=76993</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Should you pile into these 3 resources companies right now? South32 Ltd (LON: S32), KAZ Minerals PLC (LON: KAZ) and UK Oil &#38; Gas Investments PLC (LON: UKOG)</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/02/25/are-south32-ltd-kaz-minerals-plc-and-uk-oil-gas-investments-plc-3-must-have-resources-stocks/">Are South32 Ltd, KAZ Minerals PLC And UK Oil &amp; Gas Investments PLC 3 &#8216;Must-Have&#8217; Resources Stocks?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Despite posting a large loss in its half-year results (released today), shares in mining company <strong>South32</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>) have risen by around 5%.</p>
<h3>Severe cuts</h3>
<p>That&#8217;s mostly because the company has also announced a major restructuring programme that has the potential to improve its long term financial outlook. It will include severe cuts in sustaining capital expenditure at a handful of its operations, with over 1000 jobs also due to be cut as it seeks to offset falls in sales resulting from low commodity prices. It will also seek to make productivity improvements and generate greater efficiencies, although its future remains highly dependent upon commodity prices.</p>
<p>With South32 trading on a price to earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 0.4, it continues to have capital gain potential. And despite being in the midst of a tough trading period and being forced into making major changes to its strategy, it remains a company which could be of great interest to less risk averse investors.</p>
<h3>Considerable rewards</h3>
<p>Clearly, a turnaround is very achievable, as shown by <strong>KAZ Minerals</strong> (LSE: KAZ) which released its 2015 results today. Despite experiencing a fall in revenue versus the prior year, KAZ Minerals was able to move from a red bottom line in 2014 to a black one in 2015. This was largely because of a fall in impairments, but also because the company&#8217;s drive to cut costs has been relatively successful.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, KAZ Minerals is aiming to become increasingly efficient and is also targeting production growth of 50% per year over the next three years. This could have a very positive impact on its profitability, with the copper miner expected to record a pre-tax profit of around £65m in the 2017 financial year.</p>
<p>Although this puts it on a rather rich forward price to earnings (P/E) ratio of 20.4, there is scope for share price gains over the medium to long term. That&#8217;s because, with production rising and costs having the potential to fall, KAZ Minerals could begin to deliver on its turnaround potential in the coming years.</p>
<p>Clearly, the company remains a relatively high risk play and continues to have rather high debt levels. But for investors who are comfortable with a relatively high level of risk, the rewards from investing in KAZ Minerals could be considerable.</p>
<h3>Risky potential</h3>
<p>Meanwhile, <strong>UK Oil &amp; Gas</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-ukog/">LSE: UKOG</a>) continues to lead most of its resources peers when it comes to year-to-date share price growth. It is now up by 100% since the turn of the year as a result of positive news flow regarding the Horse Hill prospect near Gatwick airport, with its 20% stake in the project benefitting from the better than expected flow rates.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, there is the potential for further upbeat news flow from Horse Hill, although investing in UK Oil &amp; Gas at the present time may be rather risky. That&#8217;s because it is impossible to determine the nature of future news, and there could be disappointments ahead, as well as more encouraging news.</p>
<p>Therefore, while less risk averse investors may be keen to invest in UK Oil &amp; Gas, for most investors buying a slice of a less volatile business within the oil and gas sector may offer a more preferable risk/reward opportunity.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/02/25/are-south32-ltd-kaz-minerals-plc-and-uk-oil-gas-investments-plc-3-must-have-resources-stocks/">Are South32 Ltd, KAZ Minerals PLC And UK Oil &amp; Gas Investments PLC 3 &#8216;Must-Have&#8217; Resources Stocks?</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/the-15bn-defence-splurge-that-could-send-uk-shares-soaring-in-july/'>The £15bn defence splurge that could send UK shares soaring in July</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-446-in-12-months-whats-next-for-the-ceres-power-share-price/'>Up 446% in 12 months! What&#8217;s next for the Ceres Power share price?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/how-much-is-needed-in-an-isa-to-unlock-1220-of-passive-income-a-year/'>How much is needed in an ISA to unlock £1,220 of passive income a year?</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/forget-meal-deals-heres-how-8-a-day-could-be-worth-357000/'>Forget meal deals! Here&#8217;s how £8 a day could be worth £357,000</a></li><li> <a href='https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/07/01/up-132-and-surging-how-is-this-ftse-250-share-still-so-cheap/'>Up 132% and surging, how is this FTSE 250 share STILL so cheap?</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> owns shares of KAZ Minerals and South32. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Does South32 Ltd&#8217;s Restructuring Make It A Better Buy Than Rio Tinto plc Or Centamin PLC?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/02/04/does-south32-ltds-restructuring-make-it-a-better-buy-than-rio-tinto-plc-or-centamin-plc/</link>
                                <pubDate>Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:59:27 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Stephens]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Centamin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rio Tinto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=75957</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Which of these 3 mining stocks has the most appeal? South32 Ltd (LON: S32), Rio Tinto plc (LON: RIO) or Centamin PLC (LON: CEY).</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/02/04/does-south32-ltds-restructuring-make-it-a-better-buy-than-rio-tinto-plc-or-centamin-plc/">Does South32 Ltd&#8217;s Restructuring Make It A Better Buy Than Rio Tinto plc Or Centamin PLC?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Shares in <strong>BHP Billiton</strong> spin-off <strong>South32</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>) have soared by over 10% today after it announced the results of the strategic review of its manganese operations in South Africa. Although it has decided to restart production of manganese following its suspension last year, it intends to do so on a smaller scale and this will mean significant job losses in the region.</p>
<p>The company believes that the changes being implemented will allow it to rebase its manganese ore production and benefit from reduced mine gate costs. When the changes are taken alongside the other initiatives being undertaken across South32&#8217;s portfolio of assets, they could lead to a strengthening of the company&#8217;s financial position as well as improved future cash generation.</p>
<p>Although South32 also announced a non-cash impairment charge of $1.7bn today, investors seem to be optimistic about its long-term prospects. Certainly, there&#8217;s scope for it to become more efficient and increasingly profitable, which is expected to lead to earnings per share of 3.3p in the current year. This puts South32 on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.1 which, given its long term potential, could prove to be a highly appealing valuation.</p>
<h3>More appealing?</h3>
<p>Despite this, the likes of<strong> Rio Tinto </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-rio/">LSE: RIO</a>) and <strong>Centamin</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-cey/">LSE: CEY</a>) may hold greater appeal. In the case of the latter, it trades on a lower rating than South32, with its shares having a P/E ratio of just 12.9. Furthermore, with production set to hit 500,000 ounces of gold within the next two years, it&#8217;s likely to deliver a significant rise in profitability over the medium term, which could positively impact on its share price.</p>
<p>In addition, Centamin&#8217;s focus on gold may also be a major ally for investors given the uncertain outlook for the world economy. That&#8217;s because during such periods it can be seen as a store of wealth. Also, its price has historically held up better than other commodities, thereby providing Centamin with a slightly better earnings outlook than South32.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Rio Tinto continues to have a dominant position within the iron ore market, with its cost curve being among the lowest in the world. Although the price of iron ore could continue to come under pressure as Chinese demand falls, Rio Tinto&#8217;s position in the industry is likely to be strengthened relative to its rivals. This could lead to higher market share and greater profitability in future.</p>
<p>Furthermore, with Rio Tinto trading on a P/E ratio of 12.2, it also offers better value than South32 at the present time. So while South32 could prove to be an excellent long-term buy, Rio Tinto and Centamin seem to be preferable for investors who are unable to hold all three.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2016/02/04/does-south32-ltds-restructuring-make-it-a-better-buy-than-rio-tinto-plc-or-centamin-plc/">Does South32 Ltd&#8217;s Restructuring Make It A Better Buy Than Rio Tinto plc Or Centamin 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/2026/06/02/the-only-ftse-100-stock-i-own-right-now/">The only FTSE 100 stock I own right now</a></li></ul><p><em><a href="https://my.fool.com/profile/XMFstockpicker/info.aspx">Peter Stephens</a> owns shares of BHP Billiton, Centamin, South32 and Rio Tinto. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Rio Tinto. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Do Zinc Cuts Make Glencore PLC, Vedanta Resources plc And South32 Ltd A Buy?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2015/10/09/do-zinc-cuts-make-glencore-plc-vedanta-resources-plc-and-south32-ltd-a-buy/</link>
                                <pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2015 09:19:56 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[Roland Head]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glencore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mining]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vedanta Resources]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=71256</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Glencore PLC (LON:GLEN) is cutting zinc production. Vedanta Resources plc (LON:VED) and South32 Ltd (LON:S32) are up. Which of the three should you buy?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2015/10/09/do-zinc-cuts-make-glencore-plc-vedanta-resources-plc-and-south32-ltd-a-buy/">Do Zinc Cuts Make Glencore PLC, Vedanta Resources plc And South32 Ltd A Buy?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Glencore </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-glen/">LSE: GLEN</a>) announced this morning that it will cut zinc production from its mines by one third, or 500,000 tonnes.</p>
<p>Zinc is currently trading at multi-year lows and the firm says that cutting production now will help to <em>&#8220;preserve the value&#8221; </em>of the firm&#8217;s zinc reserves.</p>
<p>According to the <em>FT</em>, Glencore&#8217;s cut equates to around 6.3% of global zinc production outside of China, so it is likely to have a noticeable effect on supply and demand.</p>
<p>Zinc prices have risen by around 6% this morning, while Glencore shares are also up by around 6%.</p>
<p>The share prices of other zinc producers have also risen. Notable among these are <strong>Vedanta Resources </strong>(LSE: VED), whose shares are up by nearly 10% at the time of writing. Another firm that should also benefit is recent <strong>BHP Billiton</strong> spin-off <strong>South32 </strong>(<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>), which also mines zinc. South32 shares have climbed by around 4% so far today.</p>
<p>Are any of these companies a buy, following today&#8217;s news?</p>
<h3>Glencore</h3>
<p>Glencore is under pressure from investors to reduce its high level of debt in the face of low commodity prices. In my view, today&#8217;s decision needs to be looked at in this light.</p>
<p>Are the zinc mines affected by the cuts currently operating profitably? Are they generating free cash flow? If the answer to these questions was yes, surely Glencore would be maintaining production to help repay debt.</p>
<p>I suspect Glencore is cutting production in order to improve its cash flow and operating margins. The firm reported an adjusted operating margin of just 3.5% from its zinc operations during the first half of the year. Cutting production at higher cost mines could improve this significantly.</p>
<p>On this basis, today&#8217;s move seems smart and cautiously improves the outlook for the firm.</p>
<h3>Vedanta Resources</h3>
<p>Bosses at Indian miner and oil firm Vedanta must be smiling this morning.</p>
<p>Vedanta owns some of the lowest-cost zinc mines in the world, and zinc accounted for 65% of the group&#8217;s adjusted operating profit last year. The boost in zinc prices seen today will help lift Vedanta&#8217;s profits.</p>
<p>Vedanta also has high debt levels, but generates a lot of free cash flow. Trading on around 16 times 2016 forecast earnings and offering a 7% prospective yield, I rate these shares as a potential buy.</p>
<h3>South32</h3>
<p>Earlier this year, BHP Billiton spun off a number of unwanted assets, including its zinc operations, into a new company called South32.</p>
<p>This spin-off came just before the big commodity sell-off, and South32 shares have fallen by 27% since joining the market in May. Today&#8217;s news is good for the firm, however, and I believe South32 could be a medium-term buy.</p>
<p>South32 was floated with a minimal amount of debt and is expected to generate net profit of $367m this year, rising to $698m in 2016/17.</p>
<p>The firm&#8217;s shares currently trade on just 8.5 times 2016/17 forecast earnings and at around 0.6 times their book value. There&#8217;s also a forecast yield for the current year of 2.8%.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2015/10/09/do-zinc-cuts-make-glencore-plc-vedanta-resources-plc-and-south32-ltd-a-buy/">Do Zinc Cuts Make Glencore PLC, Vedanta Resources plc And South32 Ltd A Buy?</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/2026/06/23/down-10-to-below-6-now-heres-why-glencores-share-price-looks-a-bargain-to-me-anywhere-under-12-13/">Down 10% to below £6 now! Here’s why Glencore’s share price looks a bargain to me anywhere under £12.13</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/14/warren-buffett-warns-on-valuations-is-market-cap-to-gdp-flashing-a-bubble-signal-again/">Warren Buffett warns on valuations — is market cap-to-GDP flashing a bubble signal again?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/03/2-ftse-100-dividend-stocks-that-stand-out-for-shareholder-returns/">2 FTSE 100 dividend stocks that stand out for shareholder returns</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/02/up-over-100-are-these-ftse-100-names-still-among-the-top-stocks-to-buy/">Up over 100%, are these FTSE 100 names still among the top stocks to buy?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/01/up-103-with-a-p-e-of-261-is-this-ftse-100-stock-still-worth-buying/">Up 103% with a P/E of 261 — is this FTSE 100 stock still worth buying?</a></li></ul><p><em>Roland Head owns shares of BHP Billiton and South32. 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                            <item>
                                <title>Should You Follow Director Buying At BP plc, South32 Ltd And Audioboom Group PLC?</title>
                <link>https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2015/09/08/should-you-follow-director-buying-at-bp-plc-south32-ltd-and-audioboom-group-plc/</link>
                                <pubDate>Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:19:58 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator><![CDATA[G A Chester]]></dc:creator>
                		<category><![CDATA[Investing Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Audioboom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Director buys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South32]]></category>

                <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/?p=69881</guid>
                                    <description><![CDATA[<p>Is now the perfect time to invest in BP plc (LON:BP), South32 Ltd (LON:S32) and Audioboom Group PLC (LON:BOOM)?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2015/09/08/should-you-follow-director-buying-at-bp-plc-south32-ltd-and-audioboom-group-plc/">Should You Follow Director Buying At BP plc, South32 Ltd And Audioboom Group PLC?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com">The Twelfth Magpie</a>.</p>
]]></description>
                                                                                            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Many companies with a 30 December year end have now released their first-half results. Directors, who were unable to buy or sell shares during the &#8220;close period&#8221; ahead of the results, have become free to trade again.</p>
<p>There hasn&#8217;t been a huge amount of director dealing overall, but there <em>has</em> been substantial buying at most of the heavyweight companies in the unloved resources sector, as well as one or two notable deals in the technology space.</p>
<p>Recent hefty purchases at oil supermajor <strong>BP</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-bp/">LSE: BP</a>), miner <strong>South32</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-s32/">LSE: S32</a>) and small-cap tech firm <strong>Audioboom</strong> (<a class="tickerized-link" href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/tickers/lse-boom/">LSE: BOOM</a>) are the latest trades to catch my eye.</p>
<h3>BP</h3>
<p>Directors at BP&#8217;s rival <strong>Shell</strong> were not slow to avail themselves of the opportunity to buy shares after the company released its half-year results at the end of July &#8212; <a href="https://www.investegate.co.uk/Index.aspx?searchtype=3&amp;words=rdsa">trades I highlighted</a> for readers this time last month. There&#8217;s been further director buying at Shell since, but now it seems that some directors at BP also see value in their company at current depressed levels.</p>
<p>In particular, BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg has nailed his colours to the mast by purchasing a cool one million shares on Monday. Mr Svanberg&#8217;s total investment was £3.43m, having paid 343p a share.</p>
<p>You can buy BP today at around the same price, on a current-year forecast price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.5, falling to around 12 for 2016. A whopping 7.7% dividend yield may, or may not, be sustainable, but, either way, BP appears a good buy at the current level for far-sighted investors.</p>
<h3>South32</h3>
<p>South32 was demerged from mining giant <strong>BHP Billiton</strong> earlier this year. I recently highlighted <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/investing/2015/09/03/should-you-follow-director-buying-at-rio-tinto-plc-bhp-billiton-plc-and-glencore-plc/">director buying at BHP Billiton</a>, and fellow <strong>FTSE 100</strong> heavyweights <strong>Rio Tinto</strong> and <strong>Glencore</strong>, but South32&#8217;s directors have been as keen to open their wallets as their counterparts at the larger companies.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve seen the following purchases, since the company released its maiden results on 24 August.</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th style="text-align: center;"><strong>Director</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: center;"><strong>Date of purchase</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: center;"><strong>No. of shares</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: center;"><strong>Price per share</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: center;"><strong>Total investment</strong></th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Frank Cooper (non-exec)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2 September</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">122,866</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AU $1.464968</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AU $179,995</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Keith Rumble (non-exec)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1 September</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">50,000</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">69.5p</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£34,750</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>David Crawford (chairman)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">27 August</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">331,500</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AU $1.493325</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">AU $495,037</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>The shares have moved up a bit in recent days &#8212; to about 75p, as I write &#8212; but with a forward P/E of not much more than 10, and a 3% dividend yield, they still look reasonably cheap.</p>
<p>However, while the directors are clearly in bullish mood, South32 is unproven as a standalone company, and, with great value also on offer from the big established businesses in the sector, I find it hard to get too excited about the Billiton spin-off at this stage.</p>
<h3>Audioboom</h3>
<p>Nick Candy was appointed a non-executive director of Audioboom in April this year. Mr Candy is co-founder and chief executive of a top luxury real estate designer (projects include One Hyde Park in London) and is not short of a bob or two.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, a £480,000 investment in Audioboom last week by Candy Ventures is hardly small change. The 16,000,000 share purchase at 3p a pop takes Mr Candy&#8217;s beneficial interest in Audioboom to 40,820,000 shares (7.62% of the company). The shares have since risen to 5p, giving the company a market value of £27m.</p>
<p>Audioboom is a digital audio platform focused on the spoken word, and the company is aiming to create <em>&#8220;the world&#8217;s first aggregated audio content syndication and advertising network&#8221;</em>. The business is currently loss-making &#8212; and will continue to be for the foreseeable future &#8212; and is impossible to value on any conventional financial metrics. However, investors who like the odd &#8220;blue-sky&#8221; punt might want to dig deeper into the company&#8217;s potential, following Mr Candy&#8217;s latest show of faith.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2015/09/08/should-you-follow-director-buying-at-bp-plc-south32-ltd-and-audioboom-group-plc/">Should You Follow Director Buying At BP plc, South32 Ltd And Audioboom Group 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/2026/07/01/back-below-500p-is-it-time-to-consider-bp-shares-again/">Back below 500p, is it time to consider BP shares again?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/28/just-how-bad-could-it-get-for-the-bp-share-price/">Just how bad could it get for the BP share price?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/22/bp-shares-are-falling-but-is-the-oil-market-actually-tighter-than-investors-think/">BP shares are falling. But is the oil market actually tighter than investors think?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/20/how-much-is-needed-in-a-stocks-and-shares-isa-for-357-of-weekly-passive-income/">How much is needed in a Stocks and Shares ISA for £357 of weekly passive income?</a></li><li> <a href="https://www.twelfthmagpie.com/2026/06/15/oil-prices-are-falling-so-why-am-i-still-bullish-on-bp-shares/">Oil prices are falling. So why am I still bullish on BP shares?</a></li></ul><p><em>G A Chester 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>
]]></content:encoded>
                                                                                                                    </item>
                    </channel>
</rss>
