Archived UK Stocks Shares Investment Tips complied by Money sorter at 22 6 2007

UK Stocks and Shares and Investment tips

Top of the Tips: Share Recommendations at 22 6 2007

Ones To Buy

United Business Media

B2B publisher United Business Media are currently focusing on improving margins and cutting costs, especially in their CMP Technology unit, which is increasingly focusing on the exhibition market. With shares at 14.7 times forecast earnings and falling costs, UBM currently looks good value. Buy, says The Independent.
Hyder Consulting

Hyder Consulting were originally part of Welsh Water but underwent a management buyout in 2001. The company provides engineering consulting services all over the world. Full-year results show underlying profits up from £7m last year to £9.6m, and analysts are confident that next year will be better still. Buy, says the Mail on Sunday.

Hays

Recruitment agency Hays has seen a 19 per cent rise in total fee income in the year just ended, reflecting a 35 per cent improvement in the permanent market. Hays overseas expansion is continuing successfully and the current discount in its share price is undeserved - buy, says The Independent.

First Choice

The well-known high street travel company has just agreed a merger with German company TUI, owners of Thomson Holidays. The merger will create the world's largest travel company and has been approved by the regulators. Happily, First Choice CEO Peter Long will remain at the helm - a good omen given his track record at First Choice. Buy, suggests The Times.

Oxford Instruments

The Oxford University spin-off has the technology but has not always had the commercial approach needed to generate strong sales. That's changing with products that are much more market-friendly and OI has now swung back into the black. Although the company's shares look expensive at 30 times 2008 earnings, the potential is there and investors should buy, reckons Questor in The Telegraph.

Ones To Let Go

AEA Technology

AEA do most of their work for government bodies in the UK and Europe, and their twin focus on energy and the environment is a good match for current political hot potatoes. However, at a price/earnings ratio of 25 time forecast earnings, they don't look cheap. Time to take profits, says The Times.

Amstrad

Amstrad's dependency on set-top boxes for digital TV makes them seem a little vulnerable in such a competitive market. They are trying to diversify into personal video recorders and HD TV products, but with their fortunes so closely tied to sole customer BSkyB they still look vulnerable. Amstrad's last full-year results showed pre-tax profits down 16 per cent and sales down nearly 20 per cent - sell while the price holds firm, suggests The Independent.