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Short/ medium term - Huge hit to non Ocado side of MKS due to virus resurgence. Long term - Behavioural changes resulting from Covid will cause big losses to non Ocado side of MKS and require a drastic/very radical reduction of store space

The market understands the acute susceptibility of MKS's non Ocado side of the business to virus resurgence. Private investors focus on the Ocado tie up, the success of its current trading is known to all. We will see who knows best. I'm seeing it sub 100p soon.

Yet again today FTSE 100 down, Ocado up. As virus resurgence rises this pattern will repeat and repeat...

Not a surprise. That capital raise was a big buy signal for this share. A company at the top of its game looking to further assert its market leading position when demand is rocket high. Very astute. Further market outperformance lie in the weeks/months ahead.

Did say the Ocado deal is "very positive". Didn't say the Ocado deal was limited.

Did say that that "limited short term expansion possible as Ocado currently at maximum capacity". Which is true due to Ocado's current UK retail operations warehousing constraints

As usual anyone pointing out anything negative re MKS is called "downright ignorant"

Remarkable lack of courtesy shown to any new posters on this board who dare to question MKS strategy. To be expected I guess due to year after year after year of share price declines.

Far easier to shout down and tell others to "get a life" than actually engage in discussion.

The share price is being kept down chiefly due to:

The huge vulnerabilities of MKS's 1,519 store network during a time of coronovirus resurgence. Stores in city centres, transport hubs particularly hard hit ongoing due to work from home shift.

Department store model broken.

Decline of the high street, on which MKS has a big presence

Ongoing poor non food performance

Ocado deal very positive but limited short term expansion possible as Ocado currently at maximum capacity, not able to take in new customers

Possible forced store closure due to local/national lockdowns.

Ocado retail division does make a profit. That profit is then reinvested into the company's technology so that it remains ahead of the competition. Crucial that Ocado remains best in class as this attracts new customers.

Over the last 4 years OCDO has delivered a 700% return to investors whereas MKS has delivered -70%. I would much rather Ocado don't pay a dividend as they are extremely good at investing it shrewdly within their business to maximize shareholder return.

Welcome any more insightful comments on why Ocado isn't a good investment.

The comparison between MKS and OCDO was first raised on this board as investments on 6th July. OCDO was then 2000p, MKS, 100p, currently OCDO is returning around 9% more than MKS.

Archie Norman has a huge job on his plate trying to reverse MKS's fortunes after many years of decline. Crucial time for MKS currently he'll have no time to expand to dual roles. Stuart Rose chaired OCDO through many years of huge growth. Will be hard shoes to fill, potential candidates will be very attracted to the lucrative role and will want to be part of the world's most advanced online grocery solution providers.

Analysts, apart from a few exceptions, have been forecasting OCDO's share price incorrectly for many years. Thankfully I and many others on this board have ignored them and gone on to receive exceptional returns over the last 4 years.

The comparison between MKS and OCDO was first raised on this board as investments on 6th July. OCDO was then 2000p, MKS, 100p, Currently OCDO is returning around 8% more than MKS. I see this outperformance continuing as OCDO is better placed to deal with the coronovirus resurgence than MKS. OCDO currently are in prime position to capitalise on the huge rise worldwide in online grocery shopping. Their solutions serve partners with a way to turn their current margin loss on online delivery into margin gain. This is very compelling as Amazon's competition lurks in the shadows.

Let's see how this plays out...

What a time to change their head of digital!

Waitrose will be so isolated outside the Ocado partnership. Will need huge investment to keep up with the industry's pace of change

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/waitrose-digital-boss-logs-off-as-ocado-split-looms-m37xzcxws

Because I do not share your rosy view of MKS's prospects? Has to to room for open discussion and positive/negative views on any share board. Understandable that tetchiness increases as share price falls but no need for swearing etc.

I've read all the corporate MKS spiel. These are dark days indeed. The market has no room for sentiment or nostalgia. Lots of room for this share price to drift south.

Valueplay... Source is Wikipedia. Apologies I am incorrect, it's actually 959 UK stores. Sub 94p on Monday....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marks_%26_Spencer

Good to hear you are happy as the share price drifts lower Aimigo. Have a good weekend

I don't post daily. Don't have the time. There will be blips but these shares will and are drifting south. I share my observations and research occasionally. Please do your own research and of course feel free to ignore the current issues MKS faces

We need a repost of those MKS analyst price targets soon please

Yes, a deal there is possible. I'm not sure Asda is a premium enough brand to be attractive to Amazon. However if the price is attractive a deal there is possible. Amazon are certainly extremely committed to dominating the grocery business. With 43% of UK households currently having a prime membership it's a great platform for them to build and diversify through.

Below was reported a few years ago. Makes sense as Waitrose is the most akin to Wholefoods brand of the UK large grocers. Morrisons the most likely to be bought by Amazon but I think they will let their share price drift south for a while before making a move.

https://inews.co.uk/news/business/amazon-moves-buy-waitrose-john-lewis-partnership-151663

Until the scale of decline amongst the 958 shop empire is grasped this share will drift south. Will be extremely expensive to remedy the situation at MKS.

You're having trouble with names though, it's "valueplay". Stay home, stay safe xx

October will be no silver lining for the MKS share price. Your profits will dwindle. Enjoy the SAGA holiday, their share price could do with a boost.