Hi otaku - There are comparisons made with MRM now and again,...

Hi otaku - There are comparisons made with MRM now and again, but they are not really comparable in terms of what services they provide.

MRM is a localised supply-orientated operation with their own vessels/supply base/wharf and only operates in Australia, as far as I know.

NMS is an integrated marine engineering firm operating internationally. They both get wet, that's about it. Any P/E comparisons should probably be with other marine enegineering outfits.

MRM has the advantage of being around since 1982, (listed in 1990) so they have had a while to get where they are and seem a good investment, and as you say, paid a 2 cent dividend last year. NMS listed in 2004 and was then only an R&D company that hit its straps when Lange was hired.

I wondered last year if NMS might consider paying a small divvie for the sake of the SP, but the general response was that you don't become a major doing that in the first couple of years you begin making profits. If their focus was local and more modest maybe they would, although I dare swear MRM didn't either.

NMS SP was $1.37 pre-crash, which included a bit of froth, but return above a dollar seems quite a modest goal, especially given company performance in the intervening period.

With the demonstrated and potential future growth in earnings and market share, the current P/E ratio should look appealling.

My opinion is coloured by holding lots of them and wanting to see them become a major worth several dollars in the next say, five years. (The thought of how many long, boring, positive posts about NMS that my interest in the outcome may involve is appalling)

It seems to be in the process of winding up to a good run toward the end of this year. April should be good.