The share price of CVS Group (LON:CVSG), the UK’s leading veterinary services business, rose strongly this week on the back of another positive trading update. CVS has been a mainstay of Fundamental AIM portfolios for many years, although it’s tested our patience on numerous occasions.

The dynamics of the UK veterinary market have changed significantly over the past few years and a shortage of newly qualified vets, combined with the rapid consolidation of the sector, has been making life harder for CVS, the UK’s largest consolidator.

We were getting particularly concerned by CVS management’s strategy of pursuing high priced acquisitions, despite the evident challenges in the sector which needed addressing. Generally speaking Fundamental is a very cautious investor in pure ‘buy and build’ business models of the sort being run by CVS. From our perspective, there comes a point when the focus needs to be on internal matters and organic growth. However, we like the defensive attributes of this sector and the management team had done a pretty good job up to now, so we were prepared to see this through.

Other investors were clearly also worried about the state of play sending the share price down sharply to a low of 362p in January 2019 from 1140p just six months earlier.

The interim results for the six months ending 31 December 2019, announced at the end of March 2019, offered a first glimpse that things were improving, with management addressing several of the key issues which had contributed to the previous underperformance.

What encouraged us more than anything was the greater reluctance to pursue acquisitions, unless the price was right, and a greater focus on organic growth. The interim results commented on an increase in the number of in-house referrals, which would benefit the group’s referral centres like Lumbry Park, which we visited in the summer and in which they had made significant investment. The growing numbers joining CVS’ Healthy Pet Club scheme, which provides care through a monthly subscription model also looked encouraging.

Results for the year ended 30 June 2019 announced in September provided further evidence that things were continuing to improve with like-for-like sales growth of 5.2%, of which 4.3% came from the core Veterinary Practices division. Earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA), after central office costs, rose 14.5% to £54.4m.

The group’s Healthy Pet Club had 401,000 members at the year-end, an increase of 10.8% in the year, with 133% growth in their new Healthy Horse Programme to 7,000 members. These membership schemes bind the group to its clients and their pets and lifted annual monthly based subscription revenue 19% to £45.4m.

The update this week offered more encouragement with like-for-like sales increasing 8.0% in the four months to 31 October 2019 driven by a strong performance from the core Practices Division, which has seen like-for-like sales increase 7.4%.

It’s also reassuring to note that employment costs and vet vacancy rates have remained stable and only one acquisition has been made since September 2019.

The latest update cautioned that comparatives become more challenging in the second half of the current financial year given the improved second half performance seen in the previous financial year but it all sounds a lot more promising than 12 months ago.

While the shares still remain well below previous highs, they have performed strongly over the past 10 months rising over 170% from lows.

Having assessed the holding on numerous occasions over the past 18 months, our patience and ongoing commitment has been well rewarded…..up to now.

Hopefully onwards and upwards!

To find out more about other investment opportunities on AIM, the Main Market or overseas markets, contact Chris or Stephen on 01923 713890 or email [email protected]

The nature of investing in AIM for Inheritance Tax planning purposes is that investors must directly hold shares in the underlying AIM companies, albeit via a broker’s nominee arrangement. The Inheritance Tax planning benefits would be lost should investment be made via a fund or investment trust arrangement where the investor simply holds shares or units in the underlying fund or investment trust.

This method of direct investment has the advantage that the investor has full knowledge of exactly which stocks he or she is holding and how each is performing. This contrasts with the typical fund arrangement where normally only the largest holdings (typically the top ten) are disclosed by the fund manager.

The portfolio approach means investors are also privy to all the transaction details and therefore have full knowledge of the manager’s actions.

The suspension of the Woodford Equity Income fund, where 300,000 investors have been prevented from accessing their cash since June, has highlighted the problems with investment in open ended funds, where fund managers, administrators, custodian’s and regulators sit between investors and their money. Furthermore, investors have little knowledge of managers trading activity and the complete picture of where performance is really coming from. Indeed, the opaque nature of fund investment appears at odds with the information age in which we live and the demand for greater transparency.

While a portfolio approach is a requirement for investment in AIM for Inheritance Tax planning purposes it can equally apply to general investment portfolios. Fundamental Asset Management’s general investment portfolios, supported by our in-depth research and a good dose of common sense, have delivered excellent performance over the past few years, benefitting from exposure to some terrific companies, both in the UK and overseas. Our clients have enjoyed success with the likes of Apple, Games Workshop, Microsoft and Nestle, to name a few.

With trading costs a fraction of what they used to be and portfolios free of the additional burden of administrators fees and other excessive costs carried by funds, it’s a great time for portfolio investors.

We would argue that it’s also far more enjoyable and reassuring to have full knowledge of one’s investments and to experience the thrill of some terrific stock selections and of course the disappointment of the occasional mistake!

To find out more about our high performing portfolios call Chris or Stephen on 01923 713890