Builders and building materials
WH Smith gets target price boost by Peel Hunt over post-crisis prospects
“The biggest and swiftest recovery will come, we believe, on the high street"
Company
WH Smith PLC
LON:SMWH
WHSmith PLC has 548 high street stores and 433 travel outlets at airport, train station, hospital and motorway service area locations across the UK which sell a wide range of newspapers, magazines, stationery, books and entertainment products.
183 stories · page 5 of 10
WH Smith downgraded as broker sees depressed travel footfall for prolonged period
“With Covid-19 global in nature and some likely ongoing consumer concern about travel, we expect passenger footfall to be down for a prolonged period but conversion in store and average spend per passenger up,” the analysts said
WH Smith continues to expand in travel locations but posts massive full-year loss
In the year to August 31, WH Smith slumped to a £280mln loss before tax from £135mln profit a year ago
Goldman Sachs makes WH Smith a 'buy' on expected increase in customer traffic
“Our positive view is based on a gradual improvement in traffic (across air, rail and UK high street) and a constructive long-term view on profitability,” analysts said
WH Smith launches restructuring to cut 1500 jobs
Consultation is now beginning on the proposed restructuring and redundancies, which is expected to cost £15-19mln
Archive
FTSE 100 makes gains at the close, Dow leads Wall Street higher
The index of UK blue-chips added 69 points to 6,105
WH Smith plans gradual re-opening and new Heathrow flagship store
The newsagents’ chain said it is “well positioned” to benefit from other shop closures in travel locations
WH Smith raises £166mln in share placing amid coronavirus disruption
Over 15mln shares were placed to existing and new institutional investors at 1,050p each, a 4% discount to Monday’s closing price
WH Smith to launch share placing representing up to 13.7% of the company's issued capital
The retailer said the share placing is a condition to receive a new £120mln loan
WH Smith warns on profits as coronavirus hammers travel arm
So far, the high street newsagents have not been affected materially but that situation might change if general restrictions on movement are brought in.
WH Smith whacked by coronavirus concerns, analysts eye long-term potential
The virus does not diminish the long-term prospects for the retailer, said analysts at Peel Hunt, while those at JP Morgan Cazenove highlighted the shares as the best way of betting on the “rebirth of the high street”
WH Smith's travel revenue jumps as new acquisitions kick in
Group like-for-like revenue dipped 1% in the 20 weeks to 18 January, with travel up 3% and UK high street down 5%
WH Smith shares “materially undervalued” after second US deal, says broker
The high-street favourite recently doubled its thriving international business with new acquisitions in US, taking the pressure off struggling UK chains
WH Smith doubles down on US travel with Marshall acquisition
The British retailer said it made “a good start” of the current financial year although the high street segment keeps delivering weak results
Archive
FTSE 100 closes up but off earlier highs as Boris's Brexit deal boosts sentiment
The blue-chip benchmark gained 14.37 points on the day to close at 7,182.32, but off the session high of 7,237.78
WH Smith: threadbare carpets but shag-pile profits?
Whether or not investors can find a link between performance and carpet threadbare-ness, the often-hilarious @WHS_Carpet twitter account remains one for the social media watchlist
Strong but slightly fuzzy: WH Smith says year finished well
Profit margins and stores openings were “in line with plan”, with shops adjoining hospital waiting rooms now the retailer's second-largest channel
WH Smith ranked as worst UK retailer in national survey - once again
Consumers described WH Smith stores as “cramped, messy and dirty” with “unhelpful staff”.
WH Smith CEO Clarke to step down in October
The news accompanied the high street retailer's third-quarter trading update which showed total sales up 15% and like-for-like sales growth of 1%
Investments and investor services
FTSE 100 closes higher as trade tensions ease
The UK's premier shares index closed up around ten points at 7,320