Marks And Spencer Share Discussion Threads

[tattooed93] 12/1/2017 16:37

is it the 6.8p dividend on Tuesday

[tattooed93] 12/1/2017 16:34

Key Takeaway
M&S' strategy to reduce promotions and invest in lower prices has started to pay off with the group's first UK positive Christmas LFL in Clothing & Home (+2.3%/+0.8% ex sale timing impacts) for five years.

[diku] 12/1/2017 16:28

NXT could be on the verge of another leg down to £36...

[freedom97] 12/1/2017 14:48

With the share price being very low & Sterling too, it will certainly attract overseas interest. So I think we may well see offers being made before the Bank of England starts to raise interest rates. Once one offer is received then most likely more will follow with higher offer within days imo.

I would be very surprised if there are no companies out there that are interested. If an offer isn't made this year, then I doubt one will be made next year.

[philanderer] 12/1/2017 14:44

Right, not the Qataris then :-D

[omega1525] 12/1/2017 14:38

Qataris! with the oil price down and all the building work that's gone on, they are now short of cash, count them out for now. Chinese or Indians maybe.

[philanderer] 12/1/2017 14:03

Chinese would be interesting , maybe Qataris ? :-)

[freedom97] 12/1/2017 13:54

Afternoon phil, that's good, I thought divi gets paid Tuesday, I must have wrote down wrong date in my diary.

With regards to who would look to takeover M&S, no idea at present but I'm sure there must be companies very interested in M&S. However, most likely a Chinese company.

[diku] 12/1/2017 13:45

Chinese or the Indians...have the garments made in China or India which would be beneficial for their home countries...job creation...

[qantas] 12/1/2017 13:40

I see Qatari or Chinese takeover.

[philanderer] 12/1/2017 13:26

Afternoon free, even better, divi gets paid tomorrow :-)

As much as I`d like to see it who do you guys see as the predator for a takeover ?

[freedom97] 12/1/2017 13:19

Divis get paid on Tuesday :o)

[maurillac] 12/1/2017 13:12

meanwhile the market plays around with share price as long as i get my divis i aint really bovvered ...........
m

[freedom97] 12/1/2017 12:44

With all the bad publicity re. M&S clothing range over the past few years, which would have put many shoppers off shopping at M&S, hence the negative growth in the past. Todays news, will most likely encourage those shoppers to return to M&S to checkout the new clothing range etc. So, looks like this could be the start of a good recovery at M&S. The newspapers that were negative on M&S clothing range will most likely start writing articles on how good the range is now, which will encourage even more shoppers to visit M&S imo.

[qantas] 12/1/2017 12:15

bigboots think you may be correct ....

Very low price for such a amazing company and such a good turn around.

[bigboots] 12/1/2017 11:40

Wonder if we get the bid talk on M&S now Steve has stabilized the business and the weaker Sterling makes M&S attractive ?

[philanderer] 12/1/2017 10:54

Long round up of comments ;-)


Markets & Spencer: City reaction after solid Christmas quarter beat


After British retailer Marks & Spencer jumped 3pc after beating forecasts for Christmas trading, we take a look at some analysts' reactions:

Freddie George, Cantor Fitzgerald:

"Overall this update was better than expected. However, Steve Rowe’s new strategy will not, in our view, lead to a marked improvement in earnings over the medium term although it appears sensible and focussed on preventing any further steps down in profitability. In the meantime, the stock still does not look compelling value even after taking into account this update and is rated at 11.9x our FY17 earnings with a dividend currently yielding over 5pc, which we believe is not guaranteed, if management decide to tackle its debt burden. We reiterate our Sell recommendation and maintain our TP of 300p."

David Jeary, Canaccord Genuity:

"Overall a positive statement, in our view, with positive underlying Clothing sales very welcome, and which would seem to imply that Next was the exception rather than the rule in the clothing sector."

However, Jeary believes M&S continues to be "a work in progress".

"With the second part of the strategy under CEO, Steve Rowe, on International and a store portfolio rationalisation only delivered at the November interims, and the latter some years from realisation, the shape and rate of profit recovery remains unclear to us at best. As such, the company provides fuel for those of both a bullish and bearish persuasion, and share price movement is likely to be driven by trading newsflow and its impact on sentiment."


Clive Black, Shore Capital:

"We would expect the market to respond warmly to this update from M&S, noting management’s balanced, nay cautious comments on the UK outlook. That said, there is a lot going on in the business and this early win needs to become a trend for the stock to fulfil its undoubted potential, particularly with respect to the scope to harvest positive operational gearing. Accordingly, we recommence a recommendation with a HOLD stance."

Tom Gadsby, Liberum:

"M&S achieved LFL sales growth of 0.8pc underlying in Clothing & Home in Q3 albeit against the softest comps of the year , ahead of Next but well behind the challengers in the clothing market. Today's Q3 update from M&S highlights the fact that its market continues to be squeezed, by fast fashion, online, brands and value. We fear that for M&S the outlooks gets tougher still. The plan to close 10pc of clothing and home space is very long term, in our view, and we see further erosion of Clothing margins in the meantime."

As such, the investment bank maintained its "sell" rating on Marks & Spencer.

[diku] 12/1/2017 10:31

MKS has become a good trading stock...buy around the 320p - 325p lows...& sell above 350p...of course you don't have to screen watch...& if lucky you might even get the odd divi...

[philanderer] 12/1/2017 10:01

Exactly larva , that`s what I`ve got them for :-)


No change from these brokers...

12th jan Liberum sell tp 250p
12th jan Peel Hunt buy tp 500p
12th jan Haitong buy tp 375p
12th jan ShoreCap hold
12th jan Cantor sell tp 300p

[freedom97] 12/1/2017 09:44

Hopefully we shall see the share price going to £4+ over the coming weeks/months.

[larva] 12/1/2017 09:24

collect lovely dividends

[philanderer] 12/1/2017 09:23

Phew :-)

Happy to continue to hold what I`ve got.

Morning all.

[maurillac] 12/1/2017 09:21

What's not to like !
M

[qantas] 12/1/2017 09:16

It's called capitulations shorters having to buy back desperate stock.

[diku] 12/1/2017 09:08

Well they sure are kicking it around...up 18p & then loses all gains...358p is a hard nut to crack...