Is it over for construction stocks? (#515)

Murray & Roberts (JSE code: MUR) horror update.

"working capital requirements are especially acute"

"financial results for the six months period ending 31 December 2022, to be at least 100% down"

This is not South Africa at all, it's Australia and the US. We've seen Wilson Bayly (JSE code: WBO) walk away from their Australian operations.

Low margins and bankers not keen on bonding projects are going to crunch this industry globally. I would suggest Aveng (JSE code: AEG) is not immune either.

The only time this industry really made money was in the run-up to the world cup, and they were colluding to get operating margins of +5%. So really this is a bust industry.

That all said, decent results from Calgro M3 (JSE code: CGR) while we wait for Balwin (JSE code: BWN).

Simon Shares

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