The desire to fritter away cash from the comfort of our sofas seems to be benefiting interactive gaming company Netplay TV (NPT). The business, which beams casino-style shows into the nation's living rooms, revealed a 17 per cent rise in new depositing players to more than 88,000 and there's already been a further 26 per cent rise in 2016. Cash profit last year hit £2.7m, a quarter down on 2014, although that was partly attributable to £3.8m in newly introduced gaming duties - like-for-like figures were wholly favourable.
Chief executive Bjarke Larsen, who took on the top job in January last year, said moves to reduce the amount spent on marketing in 2014 had improved the group's finances. Renegotiating and extending contracts with Channel 5 and ITV also gives the group greater visibility over future revenue. Meanwhile, the purchase of digital marketing specialist Otherside has improved Netplay's expertise in the field, and diversified its revenue stream.
House broker Shore Capital expects adjusted pre-tax profit of £2.8m for 2016, leading to EPS of 0.96p compared with £2.2m and 0.76p in 2015.
| NETPLAY TV (NPT) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD PRICE: | 9.5p | MARKET VALUE: | £28m | |
| TOUCH: | 9.25-9.75p | 12-MONTH HIGH: | 11.6p | LOW: 6.8p |
| DIVIDEND YIELD: | 13.1%** | PE RATIO: | 43 | |
| NET ASSET VALUE: | 5.1p* | NET CASH: | £13m | |
| Year to 31 Dec | Turnover (£m) | Pre-tax profit (£m) | Earnings per share (p) | Dividend per share (p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | nil |
| 2012 | 21.8 | 3.1 | 1.2 | 0.38 |
| 2013 | 28.5 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 0.50 |
| 2014 | 27.4 | 0.1 | -0.03 | 0.55 |
| 2015** | 26.3 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.24** |
| % change | -4 | +571 | - | +125 |
Ex-div: 19 May Payment: 9 Jun *Includes intangible assets of £8.5m, or 2.9p a share **Includes special dividend of 0.68p a share | ||||
