The latest Investing Matters Podcast with Jean Roche, Co-Manager of Schroder UK Mid Cap Investment Trust has just been released. Listen here.
London South East prides itself on its community spirit, and in order to keep the chat section problem free, we ask all members to follow these simple rules. In these rules, we refer to ourselves as "we", "us", "our". The user of the website is referred to as "you" and "your".
By posting on our share chat boards you are agreeing to the following:
The IP address of all posts is recorded to aid in enforcing these conditions. As a user you agree to any information you have entered being stored in a database. You agree that we have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic or board at any time should we see fit. You agree that we have the right to remove any post without notice. You agree that we have the right to suspend your account without notice.
Please note some users may not behave properly and may post content that is misleading, untrue or offensive.
It is not possible for us to fully monitor all content all of the time but where we have actually received notice of any content that is potentially misleading, untrue, offensive, unlawful, infringes third party rights or is potentially in breach of these terms and conditions, then we will review such content, decide whether to remove it from this website and act accordingly.
Premium Members are members that have a premium subscription with London South East. You can subscribe here.
London South East does not endorse such members, and posts should not be construed as advice and represent the opinions of the authors, not those of London South East Ltd, or its affiliates.
"It's not just your M&S bread and butter customers either, she is seeing a lot of younger customers" - Toffee has hit the nail on the head there - Marks turnaround is and was all based around clothing especially Women's clothing - back in the 80's when I was a young lad all the kids went to Marks for their clothes - Marks took this for granted, took their eye off the ball and didn't move on in terms of their clothing offering, and became a place where young people did not want to shop - now they have reversed this and momentum is back with them - my ex wife works as a manager at a small marks food outlet just outside London, been doing it for over 20 years and she says she has never seen sales of food like it ever in her store, the food sales in preperation for Christmas are off the scale - momentum is a beutifiul thing when you have it and MKS has it right now - personally I think we will see MKS go higher on earnings in Jan - 3 quid plus is definitely on imo.
gla dyor etc
JJ. The Halifax store is as busy as the wife ever seen it and she has worked there 25 years+. People queuing to get in when first open.
It's not just your M&S bread and butter customers either, she is seeing a lot of younger customers, they are in buying food as well as clothes. The Christmas food pre-orders have been plentiful, extra hired in fridges required to cope.
The interim earnings report on the 12th of Jan will be the SP boost, maybe £3 🤞🤞
Kowi, thanks for your last post. Can you expand on the information? How does it compare with other large M&S stores? Is it exceptional, is £1m each week a target/aim? Could it in anyway be including online sales picked up at the store. I think that some context would help our understanding. Thank you again. JJ
Hi everyone.
Please kindly note I can confirm that M&S Bluewater has already made its first 1-million-pound week of sales. Golden quarter is looking very good. Volume is healthy, sales are trending extremely well at M&S. Can't wait for next January trading update.
Fforest, look its now down, I do mind, you have confused the market by overinvesting. JJ
JJ, I know you said I should sit on my hands but I got too excited and bought more, hope you don't mind. 😅
Hello 265, pleased to meet you we've been expecting you for a while, will your sister 285 be joining us for Christmas?
Just wish I was in on the SAYE share option scheme. Sit tight the trading update in Jan '24 should please staff and investors alike. JJ
There maybe some read across from Macy’s unwanted bid from US PE to Mks. Judging by good US open on Mks.
Although the gap up is also being filled.
Who knows. It doesn’t fundamentally change anything about the business so it shouldn’t change anyone’s thesis.
Is there an expectation that a whole bunch of staff will sell off their shares when the SAYE matures next year? will that drive the price down?
This might be useful:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-employee-share-schemes/save-as-you-earn-saye
Talking about share save does anyone know tax implications
I have notice a large proportion of the trades today have been buy's, some of which have been quite substantial , shares climbing on the back of it. Merry Christmas Santa.
Greencrossman, i am also looking forward to a prosperous New Year with the M&S share save scheme maturing @82p. 👍👍👍👍
Footfall remains strong, with limited sales protecting margins. Retail stores are picking online orders to mitigate Donnington uplift and better utilisation of resources. Wife's store is busy and we're looking forward to a prosperous New Year with the M&S share save scheme maturing @82p.
I can only assume large rise in sp is down to great footfall in stores. Lakeside was very busy when I shopped there last week and my wife’s food store is doing record sales. The sp will break the 300p after next company reporting in my opinion.
With the higher investment grading from S&P comes opportunity, and M&S lower net borrowing excluding property dilapidation leases.
Balance sheet is much improved, move onto ftse100.
Latest market share published yesterday for Ocado retail.
Donington appears to be under extreme pressure and either they need to automate more to speed up or extend, more likely Ai will play a larger part for future. Strategically, Ocado retail plus Mks digital needs support, and to do this it will need a large strategic change, as it would be unwise for Mks to invest sums into any JV, full autonomy changes this.
The next Mks shift into omnichannel will involve some fairly large shift to integrate and feel wider benefits that will help it push on in multiple areas of its supply chain, whilst reducing on costs on the business model.
Good day today, so far at least.
Anybody any idea why the SP is climbing today? i've looked but not seen anything out of the ordinary.
"I am reasonably confident MKS will continue to do well as the economic climate improves." JJ
Couldn't agree more and I'd go so far as to say they'll continue to do so in the face of the current climate. The UK is in a right mess but MKS and it's management continue to be a shining light in the face of this adversity, a reminder of what we once were and can hopefully rise to again. Great customer care, transitioning when needed to and top quality goods that are well presented. What's not to like?
Not ramping, just have a lot of faith in this company which has much further to go, imo.
Extended for XMAS in more than 400 stores according to Drapers.
I cant wait JJ, I'm toooooo excited it's nearly Christmas!!! 😉
FForest its the moment to sit on your hands, show patience and await the trading update in January. This is what wise investors will be doing. I am reasonably confident MKS will continue to do well as the economic climate improves. JJ
UBS raises Marks & Spencer price target to 265 (200) pence - 'neutral'
That makes 3 upgrades in 2 weeks with an average of 2.91, +15%, during our busiest time of year and SP is static, go figure.
In a Bucks store yesterday and it was extremely busy. Maybe unsurprising at this time of year but moreso than I had expected on a very cold day.
245% but what is that in money? It could have been such a low base. Lets hope its a genuinely good performance. These gift cards often get lost so its particularly good as a revenue stream for any retailer. All the best. JJ