my 'big' tip for... 2004

following on from the recent asset sales by arl/nlx i'm tipping(consult your own advisor) that arl/nlx will sell off
'ah plant hire business'(before the next nhr agm) and some of this if not all will be picked up with the help of seven network supremo kerry stokes and his ace p/l and westrac outfit which now run the caterpillar dealerships in nsw & act & wa

this will send nhr earnings sky high and catapult nhr
as serious player and threat to grabbing 'hire' market share from coa

rebranding nhr stores to cat rental(like o/seas)gives nhr brand power and customer recognition which should translate into higher revenues,growth and maybe dividends which even at these levels provide above average yields

accc approval shoudn't be a problem as nhr currently has 3% mkt share but that will increase alot post ah hire purchase

also bis shrapnel forecasting construction activity to continue to at least 06/07 and although interest rates may rise slightly they are still at historic all time lows

do it your self back yard renovations continue at all time highs(thanks to programs on ch7 & ch9) which goes well for all hire firms

aussies are becoming more educated on how to renovate properties and they are more willing these days to do the hard work rather than take the easy option and get someone else in to do what they can, at less than half the price and just a good a finish and it makes basic economic sense to renovate it your self

this is where companies like 'nhr' leverage off such activity