Directors dealings: Hilton Food Group non-exec picks up some shares as stock soars

Christine Cross, one of three non-executive directors at Hilton Food Group picked up £29,000-worth of stock in the company on whose board she sits at a price of 580p for each share.

It was her first purchase of the group's shares.

The meat processor, which operates plants in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland and Denmark, latest full-year results revealed a 11.3% increase in earnings before interest and taxes to £2.9m.

Following those numbers, Numis analyst Charles Pick said the shares were a “tremendous stock to lock away for the medium-term”.

In a research report sent to clients on 6 April, Pick pointed out the Cambridgeshire-based firm’s free cash flow yield of approximately 6.2% and how on a forecast enterprise value-to-earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation basis the shares were trading at a “considerable” discount to the likes of Cranswick or Devro.

Stock in Hilton Foods Group was then changing hands at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 10.0.

Ms.Cross joined the board of the company on 22 March 2016.

For that reason Pick lifted his target price on the shares from 630p to 729p, while keeping his recommendation at a ‘buy’.

Shares in the company finished the Friday session 0.04% lower at 570.0p, just below its 52-week high of 581.5p, giving it a market capitalisation of £425.06m.

Top Director Buys

Hilton Food Group (HFG)
Director name: Cross,Christine
Amount purchased: 5,000 @ 580.00p
Value: £29,000.00

Mj Gleeson (GLE)
Director name: Harrison,Jolyon
Amount purchased: 4,150 @ 571.00p
Value: £23,696.50

Cenkos Securities (CNKS)
Director name: Durkin,James John (Jim)
Amount purchased: 16,410 @ 135.20p
Value: £22,186.32

1pm (OPM)
Director name: Russell,Ronald
Amount purchased: 30,000 @ 67.00p
Value: £20,100.00

John Laing Group (JLG)
Director name: Brousse,Olivier
Amount purchased: 8,800 @ 225.16p
Value: £19,814.08

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (ASL)
Director name: Trickett ,S Paul
Amount purchased: 1,590 @ 1,035.00p
Value: £16,456.50

F&c Private Equity Trust (FPEO)
Director name: Rafferty,John
Amount purchased: 3,000 @ 247.18p
Value: £7,415.40

Jupiter Fund Management (JUP)
Director name: Johnson,Philip
Amount purchased: 1,495 @ 409.00p
Value: £6,114.55

Tyratech Inc. (di / Regs) (TYR)
Director name: Hills,James (Jim)
Amount purchased: 100,000 @ 5.00p
Value: £5,000.00

Xaar (XAR)
Director name: Edwards ,Doug
Amount purchased: 368 @ 489.00p
Value: £1,799.52

Xaar (XAR)
Director name: Bevis ,Alex
Amount purchased: 368 @ 489.00p
Value: £1,799.52

Securities Trust Of Scotland (STS)
Director name: Donaldson,Michael Neil
Amount purchased: 177 @ 137.90p
Value: £244.08

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Roberts,Timothy Andrew
Amount purchased: 21 @ 730.52p
Value: £153.41

Sig (SHI)
Director name: Robertson,Douglas
Amount purchased: 106 @ 141.90p
Value: £150.41

Sig (SHI)
Director name: Mitchell,Stuart
Amount purchased: 106 @ 141.90p
Value: £150.41

Share Plc (SHRE)
Director name: Birkett,Mike
Amount purchased: 556 @ 27.00p
Value: £150.12

Share Plc (SHRE)
Director name: Tolkien,Richard
Amount purchased: 556 @ 27.00p
Value: £150.12

Share Plc (SHRE)
Director name: Ecsery,Francesca Eva
Amount purchased: 556 @ 27.00p
Value: £150.12

Share Plc (SHRE)
Director name: Thomas ,Gareth
Amount purchased: 556 @ 27.00p
Value: £150.12

Share Plc (SHRE)
Director name: Stone,Richard William
Amount purchased: 556 @ 27.00p
Value: £150.12

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Grigg,Chris
Amount purchased: 20 @ 730.52p
Value: £146.10

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Bell,Lucinda
Amount purchased: 20 @ 730.52p
Value: £146.10

British Land Company (BLND)
Director name: Maudsley,Charles
Amount purchased: 17 @ 730.52p
Value: £124.19

Top Director Sells

Prudential (PRU)
Director name: Stowe,Barry
Amount sold: 6,632 @ $39.75
Value: $263,622.00