Member Info for Phrontist

Over the period of S4's Stock Exchange life it risen 128% in spite of its 2022 fall.
During the same period WPP has fallen 44% and Saachi has fallen 37%
IF someone wished to make a takeover bid for S4 they would need very deep pockets, WPP have missed their chance here.

Someone sold £6 million of shares in four lots at 280.70p per share, and....
The SP has risen by 7p in response.
Opposite to the expected response.
This implies that bigger purchases are happening in the background.
Personally I believe the SP will settle at over 7p during 2022 H1.
Which means fund managers and the like deciding that SMS has indeed put together a formidable business ahead of potential competitors.
Phron

Note the 'climate':
£50bn wiped off UK stocks as global market rout continues
So, not all S4 problems are of S4 creation.
In the USA (where much of S4 business is), for example, Tesla have dropped from $1,150 down to $700, and dropped out of Standard & Poor plus dumped by two ETFs.
If you happen to own any shares that have risen, then hold on tightly.
The S4 Capital 2022 Q1 Report is important. With a BIG HOPE that they declare a PROFIT.
S4 IS making substantial amounts of money, but they keep investing in growth by buying up more and more relevant companies.
In fairness to SMS, he did say this somewhere 12 to 18 months ago.
Phrontist

Don't blame S4, significant falls are occurring across all stock exchanges. Fears of low GDPs, wars, inflation, reduced global cooperation, semiconductor and rare metal shortages due to EV market growth, etc

S4 are joining the hi tech, high growth, high gross margin type of business. 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 have average Sales growth over 60% per annum.
Hopefully the 2021 Profit will introduce a substantial positive number.
The 3-year forecast for 2022, 2023 and 2024 is key to restoring the Share Price to £8+

S4 Capital plc was founded in May 2018 so now celebrates four years in business.
If, for example, we look at Google Finance SFOR, the last filed Accounts are 2021 H1.
The company is now in it's 4th Quarter without published Accounts. It is not surprising that the SP is dragging it's heels.
Delay due to PriceWaterhouseCoopers PWC having significant COVID infected staff off sick.
Don't they use COVID Vaccine in Holland, thought to be the Achilles Heel of the 2021 Audit Operation?
April 2022 has arrived and passed without a word from either PWC or S4....
It does not take much effort to issue a progress report with revised target date of 2021 Report and Accounts...
And also target date for 2022 Q1 business progress report...
SMS, where art thou....?

The late Audited 2021 Report and Accounts are bringing stress and tension when S4 should be bringing celebration.
A bonus for stressed out shareholders would be 2022 Q1 Results (not audited) with great Sales and Profit figures that justify the acquisition and merger strategy of the last two years.
WPP MC is almost £14 billion after 30 years.
S4 MC is about £1.7b at just over £3/share.
My guess is that SMS is aiming to overtake WPP by the end of 2023, requiring an SP of just over £12/share.
A tall order to achieve, but WPP's Sales and Profit have been declining over the last 5 years.

As a Hi Tech internet based business with multi $ billion MC , NASDAQ seems the obvious choice.

If S4 Capital wish to become listed in the USA, then quarterly report and accounts would be required.
Maybe S4 must show ability to comply as part of a USA listing process, in which case 2022 Q1 is a good place to start.
My thoughts are that 50% or more of Sales could be USA based during 2022, so a strong USA presence in all business respects would be a positive move.
The SP would rise much higher....

I hope S4 and it's Auditors are able to produce the First Quarter of 2022 report and accounts. This with the late 2021 Audit or closely following it.
This will give shareholders some confidence that S4 with Auditors have ironed out the variety of problems that can occur in such a large geographically spread business.
Also, SMS has the opportunity to prove that the earlier years of rapid organic and acquisition growth have settled into a strong functioning business.

I read that only 12% of SFOR shares were traded by Personal Investors.
Large chunks are locked into S4 staff and management, and professional funds.
These people / companies are holding SFOR on a long term basis.
So, within 'our' 12%, trading can have a disproportionate effect in a situation like this (late finalised 2021 Report and Accounts).

Peace talks at a dead end for a reason - Putin has purposely avoided his involvement or a face to face meeting with Zelensky.
Why? Putin wants the whole length of Ukraine's Black Sea border from Russia across and down to Rumania.
The Russian navy based in Crimea are able to bombard all Ukraine cities along this border with not a single opposing navy ship to oppose them in the Black Sea.
Then they are free to bombard Rumania and Bulgaria....

It seems, for example, a director of S4 has transferred his/her S4 shares to his/her partner.

Sir Martin Sorrell and the BoD must be fuming.
This delay for unspecified reasons is a significant bungle, to put it mildly.
Phrontist

Ask 270
SP 289
Bid 492
????? Very strong buy....

S4 employ over 7,000 people in 33 countries worldwide.
My guess is, the Audit had difficulties reconciling this, with many currencies, tax regimes, and the like.
Some new companies may have been audited by local operations, this work has to be validated by the UK Audit function, there will be translation issues, etc. After all, S4 has merged many foreign companies into S4.

Assuming this audit finalisation is completed shortly, and nothing significant emerges, then IMHO -
The share price deserves to pass the 800p level.
A profit in excess of £500m is a tremendous achievement.
A Market Capitalisation exceeding £4b is likely.
A 2022 Forecast will be significant.
Digital Advertising methods are taking market share from traditional advertising methods.
...'S4Capital is currently in a growth sweetspot...'
Clients include whoppers - Facebook, HP, Google, BMW Mini, Mondelez, Amazon, Netflix, Burberry - up to £20m pa marketing and advertising revenue each.

My apologies - Sir Martin Sorrell, Executive Chairman
From the 12th Jan 2022 RNS:
S4Capital confirms that trading for the first 11 months and forecasts for December continue in line with market expectations, delivering very strong like-for-like revenue and gross profit/net revenue growth well ahead of the previous latest company guidance of 40% (at almost double the growth in our addressable markets, which are forecast to grow 20-30% in 2021)*.
The 9 investment analysts that follow S4Capital forecast consensus Gross Profit of £560m for 2021.

Martin Sorrel, founder and CEO, knows where the business is going.
He has managed the growth of S4 into a global player enabling the company to secure wealthy global clients.
6 months ago the SP was over 800p after 5 years of operation.
Proof of top flight ability is given by the massive growth of Annual Sales.
Acquisitions have extended geographic coverage and added new expertise to share within the group.
The companies states 'Our three-year plan calls for doubling of revenue and gross profit'.
Recent information says the company is within its commitments.
The SP should be past 400p quite soon IMHO
All the best

One day an agreement will happen.
But it requires a meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
Putin keeps putting this off. Not even a phone call.
Remember Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister) a day before Russia invaded Ukraine:
We (Russia) have no plans to invade Ukraine or anyone else.
Putin has 'plans' for Ukraine and no one else seems to know what they are.