SMDS.L - DS Smith Plc

Those Who Purchased DS Smith (LON:SMDS) Shares Three Years Ago Have A 23% Loss To Show For It

DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 14% in the last month. But that doesn't...

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  Investors Who Bought Medica Group (LON:MGP) Shares Three Years Ago Are Now Down 45%

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Analysts optimistic on Ds Smith outlook

The Ds Smith (LON:SMDS) share price has risen by 12.3% over the past month and it’s currently trading at 317.701. For investors considering whether to buy, hol...

Should You Buy DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) For Its 5.4% Dividend?

Is DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can...

U.K. Corporate Titans Get Extra Time at Top in Virus Crisis

(Bloomberg) -- Some of London’s most influential investors are giving U.K. companies extra time to find new board members because of the coronavirus crisis, potentially offering a group of long-standing chairmen an unexpected extension to their careers.Legal & General Investment Management will allow London-listed companies an additional 12 months to replace directors coming to the end of their recommended tenures, it said in response to Bloomberg queries.That could affect companies ranging from wireless giant Vodafone Group Plc to $5 billion packaging producer DS Smith Plc, whose chairmen are close to the maximum nine-year length of service laid out in the U.K.’s guidebook for strong governance.“As a long-term investor, LGIM will be flexible in its policies,” said Angeli Benham, an environmental, social and governance manager at the investment firm, which oversees about 1.1 trillion pounds ($1.4 trillion) globally. “We acknowledge that the current environment may hamper the nominations committee’s ability to appoint the best candidates.”There are 15 companies in the FTSE 350 Index with a combined market value of about $130 billion where the chairman is due for a change after being in position for eight to 10 years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.LGIM’s views hold sway, as it’s the biggest U.K. fund manager by assets and a dominant voice on corporate governance. The firm holds average stakes of about 2.5% in the country’s biggest companies.Extra TimeIt joins Federated Hermes Inc., which has also modified its voting policies for the 2020 season of shareholder meetings in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.“Companies facing unprecedented challenges require strong and stable leadership,” Hans-Christoph Hirt, the asset manager’s head of equity ownership services, wrote in an April 15 letter to listed company executives. “We will therefore be more flexible around the re-election of key directors to avoid unplanned disruption to board composition at this critical time.”RELX Plc, the $43 billion publisher that owns the LexisNexis database, said last month that it will take longer than expected to find a new chairman. The company first announced in February that Anthony Habgood, 73, had decided to retire from the board after more than a decade at the helm.“I don’t think there’s a huge demand to move on with this process right now,” Paul Abrahams, a spokesman for RELX, said by phone. “Anthony’s track record of value creation has been exceptional.”Seeking ContinuityAircraft parts supplier Meggitt Plc is also postponing a change, telling investors in March that chairman Nigel Rudd will stay until further notice to provide continuity during the Covid-19 outbreak. Rudd, who was appointed in 2015, had announced the previous month that he plans to step down after a successor is found.Other companies are in the process of hunting for candidates. Vodafone said in May last year it’s seeking a successor for Gerard Kleisterlee, who will hit nine years as chairman this July. DS Smith also announced last year it would seek a replacement for chairman Gareth Davis, whose term ends in January 2021. Intertek Group Plc, the $9 billion certification firm, is also due to find a new chairman as incumbent David Reid has been in place for more than eight years.A spokesperson for Vodafone said a search is ongoing, while representatives for DS Smith and Intertek declined to comment.Diversity PushThe hunt for fresh talent comes at a time when U.K. companies have been called out for their lack of female directors. Companies need people with new ideas and different experiences to make the best decisions in coming months, said Denise Wilson, chief executive officer of the Hampton-Alexander Review.There were twenty female chairmen of FTSE 250 companies as of October last year, up from 11 in 2017, according to the group, which lobbies for increased female representation on U.K. boards.“The coronavirus must not be used as an excuse to halt progress on improving gender diversity on boards,” said Brenda Trenowden, a partner at PwC U.K. and global co-chair of the 30% Club, the diversity campaign group. “It is important to keep a new generation of chairs coming through despite the difficult challenges businesses are obviously facing.”Peter Grauer, the chairman of Bloomberg News’s parent company Bloomberg LP, is the founding chairman of the U.S. chapter of the 30% Club.Establishing RapportThe Financial Reporting Council, the industry body that sets the U.K. Corporate Governance Code, requires companies that don’t comply with its director tenure limits to explain their reasons to investors. The code, which has been around in various forms since 1992, exists to help ensure chairmen and non-executive directors effectively carry out independent scrutiny of a company’s management.A representative for the FRC said there has been no change to its guidelines since the coronavirus outbreak.Some companies keep board members longer than recommended even during normal times. Pub owner Mitchells & Butlers Plc said in December that chairman Bob Ivell will stay past the usual limit, as it believes his industry knowledge is “invaluable” and his tenure hasn’t impacted his independence. Tim Martin, chairman of rival bar operator J D Wetherspoon Plc, has been in his role for more than 37 years.Search processes for new chairmen continue, though companies are holding off from actually making appointments, according to Will Dawkins, who leads the U.K. board practice at recruitment firm Spencer Stuart.“It’s very hard to establish that relationship with the CEO without actually meeting,” Dawkins said. “It’s common sense for chairs to stay on for a little more time at the moment, so long as there are no other difficulties within the company.”(Updates with details of board diversity push from 14th paragraph)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2020 Bloomberg L.P.

Stock market crash: 2 FTSE 100 stocks I’d buy now for the rebound

A stock market crash can present great opportunities for long-term investors. Here are two FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) stocks with rebound potential. The post Stock market crash: 2 FTSE 100 stocks I’d buy now for the rebound appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

3 FTSE 100 growth stocks I’d buy for the recovery

I strongly believe these FTSE 100 (LON:INDEXFTSE:UKX) stocks have bright futures once the Covid-19 storm passes.The post 3 FTSE 100 growth stocks I'd buy for the recovery appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Why I think this FTSE 100 champion is a bargain in a market crash

This Fool likes the look of this international packaging giant in this market crash. The post Why I think this FTSE 100 champion is a bargain in a market crash appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

£2k to invest? I’d buy these crashing FTSE 100 stocks today

These FTSE 100 stocks look cheap after recent declines and could come out of the current crisis in a stronger position says Rupert Hargreaves. The post £2k to invest? I'd buy these crashing FTSE 100 stocks today appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

3 bargain FTSE 100 shares I’d snap up for my Stocks & Shares ISA

FTSE 100 shares are on sale at historic lows, thanks to the market crash. Roland Head explains why he thinks these three stocks are too cheap to ignore.The post 3 bargain FTSE 100 shares I’d snap up for my Stocks & Shares ISA appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Is DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) Trading At A 47% Discount?

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) by taking the foreast...

A FTSE 100 stock I own and will never sell

Looking to protect your shares portfolio in worrying times? Royston Wild explains why a FTSE 100 stock he owns is a perfect pick for today.The post A FTSE 100 stock I own and will never sell appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

What to watch: Bank of England meets, UK retail sales, US jobless data

A daily overview of the top business, market, and economic stories to watch in the UK, Europe, and abroad.

William Hill incoming CFO decides against move amid coronavirus uncertainty

William Hill announced earlier in February that Adrian Marsh, Finance Director at DS Smith, would join the company later in the year and help steer it through regulatory hurdles in its home market. Ruth Prior, who is currently serving her notice period at William Hill and was also set to make a move to the private equity sector by joining Element Materials Technology, will continue in the CFO role.

Here's why the Ds Smith share price might be in serious trouble

Paying attention to a few simple checklists can radically improve our risk management. One of these - the Altman Z-Score - was found to be: 72% accurate in pr8230;

Is DS Smith Plc's (LON:SMDS) ROE Of 9.5% Impressive?

While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like...

TriMas (TRS) to Acquire Rapak, Expand in Bag-in-Box Markets

TriMas (TRS) is in the process of adding the Rapak brand name that will help it grow in the lucrative bag-in-box market.

Was DS Smith Plc's (LON:SMDS) Earnings Growth Better Than The Industry's?

Assessing DS Smith Plc's (LSE:SMDS) past track record of performance is an insightful exercise for investors. It...

William Hill names DS Smith's Adrian Marsh as CFO

Marsh will join William Hill later this year, taking over from Ruth Prior whose departure was announced last month. William Hill has aggressively expanded into the United States, and recently announced a digital partnership with CBS Sports, giving the British betting firm a platform for brand promotion and access to customers of the U.S.-based company. British betting companies have been pivoting to the United States after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal ban on sports betting, while proposed regulatory curbs in the UK are posing a challenge to gambling firms at home.

Should We Worry About DS Smith Plc's (LON:SMDS) P/E Ratio?

This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it...

Is the Ds Smith share price good value at 357p?

Ds Smith (LON:SMDS) is a large cap in the Containers amp;amp; Packaging industry. It is a provider of corrugated packaging in Europe and plastic packaging acr8230;

Is DS Smith Plc's (LON:SMDS) CEO Pay Fair?

Miles Roberts became the CEO of DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) in 2010. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation...

DS Smith Plc Just Missed EPS By 10.0%: Here's What Analysts Think Will Happen Next

DS Smith Plc (LON:SMDS) missed earnings with its latest half-yearly results, disappointing overly-optimistic analysts...

DS Smith weathers industrial weakness with cost savings from Europac

The company has been grappling with volatility in paper pricing and falling demand in its industrial packaging business, particularly hit by weakness in the automotive sector in Germany and the Benelux region. The company, which makes corrugated cardboard and recycled paper, posted a growth of just 0.7% in box volumes in the first half, missing Jefferies expectations of a growth of 1.4%. "Our leadership in e-commerce and sustainable packaging solutions has enabled us to perform well despite a difficult macro environment and volatility in paper pricing," Chief Executive Miles Roberts said.