Shares in focus: An impressive metamorphosis

Better known for its newspaper business, John Menzies has moved into supplying airlines. Will it pay off, and should you buy the shares? Phil Oakley investigates.

John Menzies' move from newspapers into aeroplanes is worth backing, says Phil Oakley.

John Menzies opened its first book stall in Edinburgh in 1833. Over the next 165 years, it established itself as a prominent bookseller, newsagent and stationer across Britain, before switching to focus on its logistics business. Instead of selling newspapers and magazines, it became a middleman, collecting them from the publisher, then distributing to retailers.

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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.