Shares in focus: A steady route to profits

National Express suffered a loss of face when it was forced to hand back the East Coast rail franchise. Has the transport operator bounced back? And should you buy the shares? Phil Oakley investigates.

The business

National Express is the largest coach operator in Britain, serving more than 1,000 destinations, including major cities and airports. It is also the UK partner in the Eurolines coach network. The British bus business is concentrated in the West Midlands, the biggest bus market in Britain other than London. It also runs the Midlands Metro light rail system and buses in Dundee.

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Phil spent 13 years as an investment analyst for both stockbroking and fund management companies.

 

After graduating with a MSc in International Banking, Economics & Finance from Liverpool Business School in 1996, Phil went to work for BWD Rensburg, a Liverpool based investment manager. In 2001, he joined ABN AMRO as a transport analyst. After a brief spell as a food retail analyst, he spent five years with ABN's very successful UK Smaller Companies team where he covered engineering, transport and support services stocks.

 

In 2007, Phil joined Halbis Capital Management as a European equities analyst. He began writing for MoneyWeek in 2010.