This week I have taken the opportunity to look over some of the recommendations that we have made this year and revisit some of the companies that have performed well.

Just Car Clinics, the AIM listed company should be well known to regular readers as we have featured it on a couple of occasions, the latest being at the end of January. The company specialises in repairing accident damage to cars, motor cycles and vans and has repair centres located all over the north of England.

Since we first recommended the shares they hit an all time high of 121p in July 2007 but since that time have fallen back somewhat. The fall seemed to have been overdone and the shares looked good value in January at 57.5p. At the time of writing the shares were 72p, an increase of 25 per cent but they still look good value.

Biffa was in an interesting position when it featured at the beginning of February. The integrated waste management company had announced that it had received notification from Montagu Private Equity LLP that it was working with Global Infrastructure Partners towards making an offer for Biffa in the region of 350p. At that time however there was no guarantee that an offer would be made. But with the share price at 305p there was a potential 15 per cent gain to be had. The following week it was confirmed that the company was to be taken over at 350p per share, a decent profit for those who managed to act quickly.

February was a good month for this column and my colleague Chris Bragg recommended two other companies besides Biffa that have since seen their share prices rise significantly. The second company Titan Europe may also be taken over in the near future. At the time of writing the article the company had just been approached but it has now received an offer from Titan International valuing the shares at 230p at the offer time. The shares were 156.25p when they were recommended and are currently 205p, a rise of 31per cent.

Standard Life completes a hat-trick of solid recommendations made in February. The company looked good value and the shares have increased from 205p and are currently 250p Finally I mentioned Straight plc last week, with the shares standing at 81.5p. The share price has continued to move in the right direction this week and is currently at 96.5p. Readers could do worse than have a few of these tucked away.

  • WARNING: Opinions expressed are the writers' judgments at the time of writing. The information does not constitute a personal recommendation and readers should seek their own professional advice.