Next 15 Group PLC
Next 15 Group PLC has a liquidity position that is slightly constrained, as indicated by a current ratio of 0.92, which is below the ideal 1.0 threshold for short-term solvency. The company holds GBP 89.43 million in cash and equivalents, but this is offset by GBP 150.96 million in long-term debt, resulting in a net cash position that is negative. The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83 suggests a moderate level of leverage, with liabilities accounting for a significant portion of the company's capital structure [doc:HA-latest]. Profitability metrics show a return on equity (ROE) of 21.72% and a return on assets (ROA) of 6.52%. These figures are strong in absolute terms, but must be compared to the industry median to determine relative performance. The company's operating income of GBP 56.63 million and net income of GBP 39.47 million indicate a healthy margin, but the gross profit margin of 78.0% (GBP 569.70 million on GBP 729.81 million in revenue) suggests that the company is managing its cost of services effectively [doc:HA-latest]. The company operates through four segments: Customer Insight, Customer Delivery, Customer Engagement, and Business Transformation. The Customer Insight segment includes Savanta and Plinc, while the Customer Delivery segment includes several agencies focused on short-term revenue solutions. The Customer Engagement segment is the most diversified, with multiple sub-brands, and the Business Transformation segment includes Mach49, Palladium, and Transform. Revenue concentration data is not provided, but the presence of multiple segments suggests a degree of diversification [doc:HA-latest]. Growth trajectory is not explicitly provided in the input data, but the company's operating cash flow of GBP 75.47 million and free cash flow of GBP 52.40 million indicate a capacity to reinvest in growth. The capital expenditure of GBP -7.22 million suggests that the company is not heavily investing in physical assets, which is typical for a service-based business. Analysts have provided a mean price target of GBP 481.75, with a median of GBP 476.00, indicating a generally positive outlook [doc:]. Risk factors include a medium liquidity risk, as the company's cash and equivalents are insufficient to cover its long-term debt. The risk assessment also notes a low dilution risk, but the net cash position being negative after subtracting total debt is a key flag. The company has not issued additional shares recently, and there is no indication of dilution pressure in the near term [doc:HA-latest]. Recent events include the publication of the latest financial snapshot, which provides a comprehensive view of the company's financial health. No specific filings or transcripts are mentioned in the input data, but the company's financial performance and analyst estimates suggest a stable and growing business [doc:HA-latest].
Business. Next 15 Group PLC is a technology and data-driven growth consultancy company that provides market research, data analytics, advertising, lead generation, shopper marketing, management consultancy, and venture building services [doc:HA-latest].
Classification. Next 15 Group PLC is classified under the Advertising & Marketing industry within the Cyclical Consumer Services business sector, with a classification confidence of 0.92 [doc:verified market data].
- Next 15 Group PLC has a strong return on equity (21.72%) and a healthy operating income, indicating solid profitability.
- The company's liquidity position is slightly constrained, with a current ratio of 0.92 and a negative net cash position after subtracting long-term debt.
- The company operates through four segments, with the Customer Engagement segment being the most diversified.
- Analysts have provided a generally positive outlook, with a mean price target of GBP 481.75 and a median of GBP 476.00.
- The company has a low dilution risk, but its liquidity risk is medium due to the negative net cash position.
- # RATIONALES
- ```json
- {
- Net cash is negative after subtracting total debt.