MarketWatch - Auckland International Airport

Auckland International Airport [AIA.NZ] is presently a well underrated stock, for a number of reasons. It, like every either stock on the NZX, is getting a pasting by nervous investors and post the merger hubbub the share price has tanked.

OK, I do own this stock but it is pretty immaterial really, I only own 1000 shares, so if you do rib me just make it a small ribbing if you would.

I bought my shares at $2.15 and at today's closing of $1.70 (I originally started this yesterday when AIA was at $1.64) it makes the company a cheap proposition. $1.56 is its 52 week low. (see 2 year chart above for details)

Just over a year ago they were fetching more than $3.60 due to competing bids to buy a share of the company.

Lets forget about the share price for a moment though, even though that is the main reason for this particular column.

For $1.70 per share what do you get?

* An essential monopoly with the ability to raise prices consistently above the rate of inflation.

* Add-on revenue streams from large retail areas inside and outside the port proper.

* Large tracts of undeveloped land surrounding the port.

* Consistent organic growth through increased passenger movements.

To add to this there has been a softening in National Government policy to allow assets like these an easier saleability to overseas interests; Previous Government regulation led the AIA sale to fall through.

In addition to the above point and politics again I'm afraid, with the imminent "super city" about to dawn on Auckland the question of airport shares being held by Auckland and Manakau City Councils will definitely come up again.

Regardless of the short and long term propositions that I have pointed out for owning this stock you will have to make your mind up whether you want to buy Auckland Airport stock but I rate it a buy at these price levels.

Auckland International Airport @ Share Investor

Why did you buy that stock: Auckland International Airport
Cullen's move on Auckland Airport has far reaching effects
Cullen's move on AIA tax plan Anti-Business
AIA profit stays grounded
Softening opposition to CPPIB bid for AIA
Directors of AIA bribe brokers not to sell
What is Auckland Airport worth to you?
Second bite at AIA by CPPIB might just fly
AIA new directors must focus on shareholders
Auckland Airport merger deal nosedives
The Canadians have landed
AIA incentive scheme must fly out the window
Government market manipulation over AIA/DAE deal
DAE move on AIA: Will it fly?

Discuss this stock @ Shareinvestor.net.nz


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AIA Financial Data

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Retailers are having a Christmas sale

New Zealand Retail stocks are getting a real bashing at the moment and it seems the market sentiment for this is a lot of media attention about "price slashing" sales before Christmas.

Of course there is good reason to believe that margins will be affected because of discounts. Couple that with the high interest rates, a low US dollar impacting on NZ retailers with an international presence, uncertain seasons driving apparel retailers crazy and gas prices that have had a negative impact on sales through 2007 and you are going to see downward share price movements.

A Hallenstein's store interior

2008 probably isn't going to be much better, with more of the same experience from 2007, so you could see retail share prices continue to go south.

In my opinion though the market has overreacted to the negative news and there are some bargains to be had in retailing stocks.

Hallensteins Glassons, which I'm thinking of adding to my portfolio and has a dividend of over 10% net, hit a low today of NZ$3.84 after hitting the mid 5 bucks earlier this year, while Pumpkin Patch has sunk to $2.60 after almost reaching the magic $5.00 mark only months ago.

Before the High Court dismissal of the Commerce Commission decision to reject two prospective buyers of The Warehouse, its share price was drifting below 5 bucks and that companies sales have slowed and margins contacted and 2008 looks flat to ordinary.

Postie Plus made a loss earlier in the first half of this year and directors are pessimistic for the festive season, while Briscoe Group took a hit to their profit with a 15% dip in recent earnings.

The pressure hasn't hurt the likes of Michael Hill or Restaurant Brand's share prices too much in comparison to others, in fact RBD share prices has gone up while MHI share price has come off recent highs even though profit is up for the year.

That surely shows that market sentiment is punishing retailing stocks down too far.

Like every other sector of the economy retailing has its ups and downs and it is flat to negative at the moment but it wont last. Just like the sales that the retailers are having now and will have over the summer period, retail stocks are having their own sale.

Its up to you which retailer you are going to buy but it really makes sense to add to the long term portfolio when there is a sale happening.

Disclosure: I own Micheal Hill, Warehouse, Postie Plus and Pumpkin Patch shares


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