Companies: DLAR   

With the shares marked down from a 52-week summit of 520p following a pair of profit warnings, and interim figures coming in better than expected, now looks a good time to buy into banknote printer De La Rue. In the half to 28 September, pre-tax profits of £41.5m collapsed to a £800,000 loss after charging £18.7m, which mostly related to the reorganisation of its security products business. Pre-goodwill and exceptionals, profits eased off 45% to £19.6m on a lower turnover of £269.6m (£303.9m). However, chief executive Ian Much says the group will benefit from improved prospects in its cash systems division, which makes the likes of coin counters and ATM parts, as well as the aforementioned reorganisation and a strong banknote order book. Analysts suggest an EPS of 23.41p for the year, so the shares are on an undemanding rating of 11.43. Looks a solid recovery play.