Marks And Spencer Share Discussion Threads

[careful] 07/11/2018 11:23

How can any serious investor mention Debenhams on this thread.
DEB are virtually worthless.
They were taken over by private equity, stripped of assets, loaded with debt, then the carcase was dumped back onto the market.
Net assets of DEB after stripping out intangibles is less than zero.

MKS is a serious company with potential.
Market seems ruthless and irrational.

Ocado is roaring ahed today.
Crazy, take a long term view.

[debsdowner] 07/11/2018 10:50

Press been rather brutal good cash-flow and if Debenhams hits the wall which they may Marks will gain.

Still a risk factor but profits up despite slip in sales. Fair yield a positive.

Rumour was the company would split the divisions up which was denied this morning and I think that is the right decision.

No position.

[montyhedge] 07/11/2018 10:40

Disappointing I thought, revenue tells the story.

[ignoble] 07/11/2018 10:29

Makes sense to me

[diku] 07/11/2018 09:59

Trimmimg the divi news would counteract good news on restructuring progress...you can always increase the divi later on a firm footing or a special divi if sales improve...better to under promise and over deliver than the other way round...

[cwa1] 07/11/2018 09:43

FWIW, I've just taken my first holding in MKS for aeons(at 290p). Bit of a punt obviously but those pre tax figs look like a move in the right direction and the chunky capex lowering also look positive. Clearly plenty of other stuff to worry about but hoping those two positives alongside a stabilising of the ship/not too crazy a Brexit settlement will mean a more positive medium term outlook. Rose tinted punt I concede but fingers crossed.

[careful] 07/11/2018 09:42

The divi costs about £300m.
they can afford that comfortably.

The civil service culture is being attacked, a bloated organisation.
Stores are being closed.
There is so much to save, although closing stores cost in the short term.

A forward PE of around 10 and a dividend of 6%.
That is before any improvements.

It is time to see the potential.

[freedom97] 07/11/2018 09:36

By not trimming the divi, it shows the company believes there is no need to, all is on track. If they did trim the divi that would be a warning, that all was not well imo.

[diku] 07/11/2018 09:26

So the figures are a bit muddy...hence the muted reaction?...market not convinced...by trimming divi market would see it as tight control of cash whilst restructuring going on...instead they are dishing out cash...

[freedom97] 07/11/2018 09:24

Which retailer do you suggest would be good for a merger? Waitrose?

[philanderer] 07/11/2018 09:24

I don't think that they could afford to cut the dividend . Most institutions just holding for the income . Any capital gain here will take years.

A cut in the divi and the shares would have been savaged.

[diku] 07/11/2018 09:20

Can anybody listen to live conference call?...hope a journo ask CEO if Mks would consider a possible merger with another retailer...

[freedom97] 07/11/2018 09:18

diku, you have to take into account store closures.

[diku] 07/11/2018 09:15

And Sales figures?...

[freedom97] 07/11/2018 09:12

Net debt down -12.3 %
Profit after tax up 6.1%,

They are certainly doing something right.

[blueteam] 07/11/2018 09:10

Here we go, report of a very interested buyer. Looked at the big holders and no sign of big activity. May come out of the blue. Will keep an eye on holding in company news over the next few weeks.

[qantas] 07/11/2018 09:07

Marks & Spencer said it was leaving "no stone unturned" in its efforts to restructure the business to thrive in the new retail environment where sales 3.1% in the first half of the year but underlying profits were higher. The retailer's food like-for-like sales fell 2.9% amid tough competition in the supermarket sector, while clothing and home sales shrank 1.1%.

Please do your own research.

[qantas] 07/11/2018 09:04

LATEST BROKER UPGRADE
Date Broker New target Recomm.
7 Nov Peel Hunt N/A Buy

Please do your own research.

[diku] 07/11/2018 09:03

Such a fantastic day for FTSE to be up and Mks down!...opportunity missed to trim the divi...

[diku] 07/11/2018 09:00

phil...sales need to grow for profits to keep going up...you cut the fat/costs to the bone then what...if sales are not growing?...




philanderer
7 Nov '18 - 08:41 - 7635 of 7638
0   0  0



A summing up I heard an hour ago..

Profits up /Sales down..... managed by lower costs.

[philanderer] 07/11/2018 08:58

The usual...

Peel Hunt 'buy'
Liberum 'sell'


I'll continue to hold :-)

[ignoble] 07/11/2018 08:57

Going back a good few years , comments about Marks were that the quality is not what it was
Haven't heard that for many a year so hopefully they may regain the quality image.
Of late , I have no complaint.

[ignoble] 07/11/2018 08:51

Seem to be doing sensible things in tricky times.
Imho

[freedom97] 07/11/2018 08:48

Net debt has gone down 12.3%!

GBP1.78bn (18) GBP2.03bn (17) -12.3 %

[ignoble] 07/11/2018 08:43

Holly Willoughby range appeared to bring in a younger following.
Maybe it will continue ...