Intelligent Investor

Thumbs up for Harvey

By · 24 Mar 1998
By ·
24 Mar 1998
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Recommendation

Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd - HVN
Current price
$4.57 at 16:40 (24 April 2024)

Price at review
$1.42 at (24 March 1998)
All Prices are in AUD ($)
Gerry Harvey and Harvey Norman have once again been given the thumbs up. This time it's on the back of a strong first half result which saw net profit for the six months to December 1997 increase by 53.4% to $27.8m, rekindling plans to expand into the United States and Malaysia. The share price has since jumped by more than 15%. A 5 cent interim dividend has been declared, up from 2.75 cents for the previous corresponding period.

While the sudden surge in the share price may have been a little over done, there's no doubting the quality of the company and its management team. The result was underpinned by strong sales of air-conditioners during a long, hot summer, coupled with a continuation of strong sales growth of furniture and technology products. Two new stores in New Zealand covered start-up costs within 6 months of opening - they obviously weren't located in central Auckland.

Gerry Harvey believes there is a niche in the US between the department stores and specialist furniture and computer stores. In Malaysia the company is continuing to negotiate with a potential joint venture partner. We'll have a more comprehensive review of the company and its prospects in a forthcoming issue but in the meantime, the stock can be purchased closer to $6.50.

IMPORTANT: Intelligent Investor is published by InvestSMART Financial Services Pty Limited AFSL 226435 (Licensee). Information is general financial product advice. You should consider your own personal objectives, financial situation and needs before making any investment decision and review the Product Disclosure Statement. InvestSMART Funds Management Limited (RE) is the responsible entity of various managed investment schemes and is a related party of the Licensee. The RE may own, buy or sell the shares suggested in this article simultaneous with, or following the release of this article. Any such transaction could affect the price of the share. All indications of performance returns are historical and cannot be relied upon as an indicator for future performance.
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