YouGov's (YOU) shares rose 5 per cent on the back of these full-year results after the online polling company revealed further evidence of its turnaround - indeed, adjusted pre-tax profit rose 13 per cent year on year to £6.8m.
Data products and services revenue grew 17 per cent, supported by a 22 per cent sales hike to £5m from brand intelligence service BrandIndex. New client wins included Barclaycard and Travelodge and a new service - CategoryView - was launched to provide in-depth data on specific market sectors. Moreover, YouGov's daily survey facility, Omnibus, grew revenue 20 per cent to nearly £7.6m - helped by expansion into the US, France and the Middle East. Revenue rose 8 per cent in the US, although adjusted operating profit there fell from £2.7m to £2.3m - reflecting lower activity from two leading clients without an immediate cost reduction. However, management expects cost savings since the year-end to reverse that.
Chief executive Stephan Shakespeare stressed the changing nature of market research, which is shifting towards real-time information by tracking social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. YouGov should benefit from that through its social media analysis product, SoMA.
Broker Numis Securities expects adjusted pre-tax profit of £7.8m for 2014, giving EPS of 5.8p (from £6.8m and 5.1p in 2013).
| YOUGOV (YOU) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD PRICE: | 73p | MARKET VALUE: | £71m | |
| TOUCH: | 72-74p | 12-MONTH HIGH: | 80p | LOW: 65p |
| DIVIDEND YIELD: | 0.8% | PE RATIO: | 35 | |
| NET ASSET VALUE: | 63p* | NET CASH: | £6.7m | |
| Year to 31 Jul | Turnover (£m) | Pre-tax profit (£m) | Earnings per share (p) | Dividend per share (p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 44.3 | -0.68 | -0.60 | nil |
| 2010 | 44.2 | -10.6 | -8.80 | nil |
| 2011 | 56.1 | 0.41 | 0.30 | nil |
| 2012 | 58.1 | 0.44 | 0.40 | 0.50 |
| 2013 | 62.6 | 1.49 | 2.10 | 0.60 |
| % change | +8 | +239 | +425 | +20 |
Ex-div: 4 Dec Payment: 16 Dec *Includes intangible assets of £48m, or 49p a share | ||||
