Picture supply: Getty Pictures
Final week was an fascinating one for house owners of 1 well-known penny share, together with myself. Sure it has fallen 45% over 5 years and the most important shareholder is reportedly sad about how the enterprise is being run. However administration set out causes that counsel the 6%-yielder could also be undervalued and will doubtlessly take off.
The penny share in query is Topps Tiles (LSE: TPT). The title is well-known to many people, whether or not as clients or just because we’ve seen the corporate’s showrooms in some unspecified time in the future. In any case, Topps sells one in 5 tiles purchased within the UK.
Robust ambition, constructing on a confirmed technique
That was the results of a technique to intention for 20% of the market that the corporate set and efficiently delivered over current years.
Because it crowed this week, the corporate is now aiming for £365m of annual gross sales. Not solely is that one million kilos’ price of tiles a day on common, it could signify 47% progress from final yr’s adjusted revenues. That’s bold on any measure and particularly provided that adjusted income final yr fell 5.4%, albeit from a document excessive.
An ongoing digital push and the acquisition of components of a failed competitor (presently present process regulatory scrutiny) may each assist propel Topps’ gross sales ahead.
Topps’ efficiency isn’t the tops
Nevertheless, Topps has disenchanted in additional methods than one. Not solely did adjusted revenues fall final yr, however a £6.8m revenue after tax the prior yr became a £16.2m loss earlier than tax this time round. In the meantime, adjusted internet money shrank from £23.4m to £8.7m.
Disappointingly, the dividend per share fell a 3rd to 2.4p. Given its penny share standing, that also equates to a 6% yield. After its weak interim outcomes, I had thought there could also be a dividend minimize and certainly it got here to move. Nonetheless, I believe that minimize is unhealthy for investor confidence and helps clarify the 19% fall within the Topps share worth up to now in 2024.
The corporate factors to a troublesome market and the cyclical nature of tile demand is certainly a danger I see, particularly if the housing market slows. It additionally identified final week that, though gross sales have declined, it has been rising total market share. The acquisition I discussed above ought to assist that.
Nonetheless, the enterprise has seen falling gross sales, fell into the pink final yr and has diminished its shareholder payout. These are not often indicators of an organization working at its finest.
I’m hanging on
Thus, it was no shock that Topps’ largest shareholder continued its long-running dispute with the corporate about how administration is doing.
With the utmost stake allowed with out mounting a takeover bid, the long-term shareholder is understandably centered on Topps’ efficiency. I believe that would assist the enterprise over time (if it listens).
I proceed to love Topps’ strategic ambition, robust market place and comparatively easy enterprise mannequin.
So though I see a danger of additional weak efficiency, I contemplate the penny share nearly as good worth from a long-term perspective and plan to hold on to my holding. I believe it has fallen additional than is merited by its long-term prospects.
