I dont normally write about stocks that I "dont" own, but I am always concerned when a stock has a high retail following and they probably cant see the writing on the wall.
It's lead by a founding member of the Hills family - Jenny Hill-Ling as the chairman and you've got people like Roger Flynn (Coventry's chairman) as a director. Coventry's are nearly as bad as Hills.
I dont rate any business that Hills own except one - Hills Healthcare. But overall its only a small piece.
Both Orcon and especially Fielders would be feeling heat from Chinese imports and John Easling who sold them Fielders for a motza, has now started up against them (all part of the deal to cut him out of the last share he had in the JV).
Team Poly - dog. Who needs a water tank in NSW, VIC or QLD? The Brisbane dam has 160% capacity (which by the way is 6 years usage).
Retail supplies that you see in Bunnings, well you can see what Coles is doing to the milk boys, imagine the heat Hills would be under for their products.
Hills gearing While thats pretty moderate you dont think the banks would be watching their cashflow and share price carefully?
Divi Reduced but if you ain't making a lot, you can't give out a lot.
As for them selling good businesses, well I dont think they can work out what's good from bad, so anything could happen.
Pep
HIL Price at posting:
$1.54 Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held