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My view /guess. They'll want to produce some stellar results to bring back confidence. Some will come from being a part of the current growth in global (digital) advertising revenue. But a big factor I hope will be the start of reducing staffing costs. More out-sourcing? And a freeze or slow-down on freelance hiring? Although the later is more of quick-fix.
Feels like day-traders, bought and then sold (are selling?) after the rise?
Are next expected financials in mid-Sept?
Perhaps there's a new 'whopper' or two to announce at some point, but maybe after the summer? Given pitches often occur after the summer and decisions for any pitches from before the summer are often made when everyone is back from hols.
So, maybe likely no positive news til Sept?
Brick, that makes sense, although I suspect that they, like most digital agencies are currently under-staffed as it is. I think one of their best long-term options is to off-shore more staff positions to lower cost countries - certainly any tech based /back room roles. Much like Epam currently do.
https://www.moreaboutadvertising.com/2022/07/jwts-jo-wallace-heads-to-media-monks/
Would love to know more about their future hiring policy. Good points about top talent form acquisitions being 'locked-in' and expensive. There's still a big talent shortage in the industry. especially in digital, which affects wages, but also working conditions.
If I were SMS, I'd be looking at what EPAM do - outsourcing talent to cheaper countries. Albeit not the over-dependance on Russia/Ukraine mistake that EPAM made! Especially on the tech side of things.
As for me. I dabbled around 230-310 after watching this share for over 18 months and got out just about breaking even. But got back in at 117 today. I've no idea where the SP is going, but believe that SMS can open doors, that the second quarter of 2022 will benefit from the World Cup and that S4's digital focus will help protect them from any future downturn in advertising.
Today 1MSN suggests this is going to 75p, yet a few week ago they said this "We all know this is very cheap at the moment.. but the world is selling all growth .. when it turns it will be fast, just need to position yourself for the move to 4.25 again..'
I'd suggest to anyone to do their own research and not take too much notice of folk on LSE.
What was the motivation behind SMS creating S4? I think it was to make a statement to WPP, to prove that his new digital based model was the future. And given his age (77) to do this quickly. I'm not sure he'd want to get out without achieving that. He's got his legacy to think about.
Doubled my stake at 244p. Hopefully at near the bottom.
Lots of positives for S4: Still a strong ad market in 2022 (World Cup year), Any future downturn likely to favour digital, S4 becoming more global - spreading risk, SMS opens a hell of a lot of doors, SMS's motivation is to show WPP what they're missing.
Potential negatives: SMS not getting any younger, More traditional agencies making progress with digital transformation - but some still way behind.
Anything else?
Just had a quick look on LinkedIN at available jobs at media Monks, posted in the past month.
79 jobs in the UK. 10 of which are senior (what appears to be just below Exec) level, including Head of Social.
37 in New York, including 6 at senior level, one of which is an Exec appointment.
23 in Singapore, including 4 at senior level, including Regional Head of Strategy.
Some of these will be due to churn and a shortage of good talent in the ad industry, but could be sign of business growth ?
Can't necessarily see that this Q1 news was already priced in, so something odd going on? As others have alluded to.
Any advertising downturn in is going to affect the traditional advertising groups more than S4. And more likely could potentially open up more opportunities for S4 as a 100% digital player.
Can't see any bid happening. S4 is all about SMS. He's the one that opens doors.
Without him they're just one of a number of new digital focussed ad agencies, albeit without the 'baggage' of the oil tankers who are slowly turning themselves around.
https://www.ig.com/uk/news-and-trade-ideas/s4-capital-shares-boosted-by-strong-results-220509
Does anyone have a login to TheDrum ?
https://www.thedrum.com/insight/2022/05/10/s4-s-sir-martin-sorrell-outlines-audit-delay-comeback-plan