The April 2014 AIM Investor Focus took place on Wednesday, April 30th.
AIM Investor Focus brings together AIM-quoted companies, private investors, fund managers and the media in one place and on one day.
The event enjoys a high level of repeat attendance from investors and participating companies have, on average, gone on to deliver large share price gains.
AIM Investor Focus is a one-day corporate access event, comprising a series of presentations from AIM-quoted companies.
Attendance is free to private investors. If you would like to apply to attend a future event, please contact Blackthorn Focus.
Companies participating at the April 30th event were:
Alternative Networks
In the last five years, telecoms and IT supplier Alternative Networks has grown normalised earnings per share at an average rate of 7.5% a year.
In that time, dividends have been increased, year-on-year, by an average of 23% per annum.
According to financial website Stockopedia, both EPS and dividends per share are forecast to increase at a double-digit rate in 2014 and 2015.
The company has a market capitalisation of £250m.
Brooks Macdonald
Brooks Macdonald is one of AIM's most successful companies.
The company is a specialist pensions, investments and employee benefits provider.
In the last five years, Brooks has delivered average compound annual sales growth of 30% per annum. Normalised EPS in that time has risen at an average rate of 40% per annum with dividend growth averaging 45% a year.
Gooch & Housego
In 2013, sales at fibre optics specialist Gooch and Housego reached twice the figure made five years previously. EPS increased in that time from 17.8p per share to 27.7p.
Although the company dropped its dividend entirely for 2009, the 2010 payout was one third higher than the figure for 2008. Year-on-year increases followed, taking the 2013 payout to four times the amount paid for 2007.
The company has a market capitalisation of around £150m. More significant earnings and dividend growth is forecast for the next two years.
IndigoVision
Edinburgh-based IndigoVision is a £30m market cap CCTV technology specialist. The company has been profitable and dividend paying in each of the last five years.
The company's recent interim results showed a 14% sales increase and a 33% hike in operating profits. The interim dividend was increased by 9%.
Project wins included the FIFA World Cup and Edinburgh airport.
IndigoVision has increased its per share dividend from 5p for 2009 to 11p for 2013.
LiDCO
LiDCO is a £45m market cap healthcare technology company. The most recent six-month results from the company highlighted the progress being made as the industry recognises the value of LiDCO's cardiac monitoring products.
UK revenues were 48% higher than the previous period with exports increasing 16%.
The company's LiDCOrapid v2 product recently received FDA clearance, opening up a sales channel into the lucrative US healthcare market.
Share plc
Share plc, owner of thesharecentre stockbroking brand, has reported a net profit in each of the last five years. This enables the company to be dividend paying. The 2012 payout was more than double the amount paid for 2007.
The company's final results for 2013 revealed a 44% rise in underlying earnings per share and a 21% dividend increase.
thesharecentre is Financial Times/Investors Chronicle Online Stockbroker of the Year for 2013.