Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Investment: Hill Hire keeps on trucking

Edited Nigel Cope
Tuesday 10 November 1998 01:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

HILL HIRE, the Bradford-based truck and trailer rental specialist, is just one of many companies that suffered particularly heavily during the stock market rout. Although the shares have bounced, they are still 30 per cent below their peak.

Yesterday, profits for the half to the end of September came in at the top of expectations, up 21 per cent to pounds 2.61m on turnover up 28 per cent to pounds 15.57m. The fleet grew by 28 per cent and capacity utilisation edged up from 81 per cent to 83 per cent.

A downturn will inevitably affect demand, but the company is confident that the national trend to outsourcing truck and trailer fleets will compensate. There is also still scope for increasing market share and extending coverage.

Hill Hire has six depots across the country, but there is still scope for depots to cover the South-west, West Midlands and Tyne Tees. On full- year forecasts of pounds 6.3m, the shares - down a penny at 138p yesterday - trade on a forward multiple of just eight. That looks cheap.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in