Our opinion on the current state of ASTORIA(ARA)Astoria (ARA) is an investment company established to provide investors with exposure to a diverse selection of international equities in developed economies. The share has been trading at a significant discount to its net asset value (NAV) and only recently resumed trading after being suspended from September 2020 to April 2021.
The company saw benefits from the sale of "non-lethal self-defense" products during a period marked by civil unrest. Astoria currently owns one-third of Outdoor Investment Holdings, holds a 35.7% stake in Trans Hex, and has divested its stake in CNA. On 19th April 2021, the company announced that trading in its shares had resumed following the distribution of 51.15 million shares.
In its results for the six months ending 30th June 2024, the company reported headline earnings per share (HEPS) of 79.29 cents, a significant improvement from a loss of 18.32 cents in the previous period. The company's net asset value (NAV) increased from 74.76 cents (US) per share to 77.2 cents.
Trading volume for the share has seen some improvement, with an average of R227,000 worth of shares traded per day, although there are still days with no trades. The share is currently under a cautionary announcement and appears to offer good value at its current levels.