The world's largest metals and electronics recycler, Sims Metal Management (ASX: SGM), has reported a pretty ordinary set of interim results, however it appears it was all baked in to the share price with the market pushing the stock over 3% higher after the results release. The company informed the market last month that irregularities had been found within the UK division, so the write-down was well flagged to the market. Indeed, since the announcement on the 21st of January regarding the UK division's inventory write-downs, the stock price has rallied nearly 24%, far outperforming the 4.6% return from the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO).
CEO and dividend both gone
After nine years in the job, Sims CEO Daniel Dienst has announced his retirement. With the CEOs of both BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) also calling it quits this reporting season, it would seem that there are some very "war weary" CEOs in the resource sector! Dienst also announced that Sims would not be paying an interim dividend. It was a similar story at BlueScope Steel (ASX: BSL) which did not pay a dividend this half either. Korvest Ltd (ASX: KOV) whose major shareholder Hills Holdings (ASX: HIL) just sold its stake in the company, did manage to declare a dividend despite NPAT declining 39%.
Foolish takeaway
Sims is a classic example of why investors need to look past the headline bad news and analyse the underlying value of a company. There was possibly a great opportunity to purchase a global leader in late January after the UK news came to light and to be 24% better off!
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The Motley Fool's purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool's free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson. Motley Fool writer/analyst Tim McArthur does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article.
