Ascential (ASCL)

Sector:

Media

Index:

FTSE 250

315.00p
   
  • Change Today:
      3.60p
  • 52 Week High: 318.00
  • 52 Week Low: 188.30
  • Currency: UK Pounds
  • Shares Issued: 445.79m
  • Volume: 12,152,074
  • Market Cap: £1,404.25m
  • RiskGrade: 204

Key Financials

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Growth Metrics 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Annualisation Factor 1.0 n/a 1.0 1.0 1.0
Dividend Yield 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 1.5%
           
Continuing Operations          
PE Ratio - Adjusted 27.6 42.4 n/a 25.9 24.3
PE Ratio - Diluted 53.1
7.5		 n/a
218.1		 n/a
52.9		 n/a
25.9		 78.5
41.7
PEG - Adjusted n/a n/a n/a n/a 1.9
PEG - Diluted n/a
0.0		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
0.4		 1.1
n/a
Return on Capital Employed 19.85%
103.28%		 n/a
0.30%		 n/a
n/a		 2.26%
65.79%		 38.64%
57.22%
Operating Margin (49.27%)
1.99%		 (7.64%)
(7.64%)		 (82.25%)
(2.91%)		 0.63%
18.35%		 11.88%
17.68%
           
Continuing & Discontinued Operations          
PE Ratio - Adjusted 15.6 3,241.1 182.9 20.8 19.5
PE Ratio - Diluted n/a
n/a		 745.1
8,664.4		 n/a
36.6		 195.9
20.9		 7.3
29.3
PEG - Adjusted 0.0 n/a n/a n/a 6.5
PEG - Diluted n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
0.5		 0.0
n/a

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Gearing 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Net Gearing 33.96% 12.79% 68.05% 37.15% 25.52%

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Value Metrics 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Price/Book Value (4.4) (22.9) (5.2) (6.9) (6.3)
Price/Tangible Book Value (4.0) (16.3) (5.2) (6.9) (6.3)
Price/ Cash Flow 16.7 56.2 1,282.6 18.0 20.9
Price/Revenue 4.64 476.26 6.69 4.14 4.33
Price/R&D n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Net Asset Value per Share (exc. Intangibles) (45.82p) (17.57p) (73.33p) (56.95p) (60.08p)
Net Cash per Share n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Annualised Fundamentals 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Continuing Operations          
Revenue 191.20 3.53 229.90 380.30 348.50
EBITDA 23.10
121.10		 0.25
0.25		 (189.10)
(6.70)		 2.40
69.80		 88.20
108.40
Depreciation (117.30)
(117.30)		 (0.52)
(0.52)		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 (46.80)
(46.80)
Net Interest (18.70)
(13.40)		 (0.10)
(0.18)		 n/a
n/a		 (10.30)
(10.30)		 (13.10)
(13.10)
Profit Before Tax 24.80
128.10		 (0.40)
0.18		 (189.10)
(6.70)		 (7.90)
59.50		 28.90
49.10
           
Revenue per Share 43.45p 0.84p 57.36p 94.74p 87.06p
Pre-Tax Profit per Share 5.64p
29.11p		 (0.096p)
0.043p		 (47.18p)
(1.67p)		 (1.97p)
14.82p		 7.22p
12.27p
Market Capitalisation £ (Millions) 887.47 1,767.40 1,546.73 1,580.03 1,511.77
Enterprise Value (EV) £ (Millions) 1,210.97 1,950.70 1,836.43 1,888.03 1,832.97
EBITDA/EV 1.91%
10.00%		 0.01%
0.01%		 (10.30%)
(0.36%)		 0.13%
3.70%		 4.81%
5.91%
Operating Margin (49.27%)
1.99%		 (7.64%)
(7.64%)		 (82.25%)
(2.91%)		 0.63%
18.35%		 11.88%
17.68%
Capital Employed £ (Millions) 137.00 117.50 42.20 106.10 108.70
Return on Capital Employed 19.85%
103.28%		 n/a
0.30%		 n/a
n/a		 2.26%
65.79%		 38.64%
57.22%
Invested Equity Capital £ (Millions) 740.80 783.40 376.10 557.40 573.50
           
Earnings per Share - Basic 3.80p
26.89p		 (9.30p)
1.84p		 (38.20p)
7.26p		 (1.60p)
15.12p		 5.00p
9.16p
Earnings per Share - Diluted 3.80p
26.89p		 (9.30p)
1.84p		 (38.20p)
7.26p		 (1.60p)
15.12p		 4.80p
9.04p
Earnings per Share - Adjusted 7.30p 9.50p (3.10)p 15.10p 15.50p
Earnings per Share Growth - Basic n/a
1,357%		 n/a
-75%		 n/a
-52%		 n/a
65%		 72%
-34%
Earnings per Share Growth - Diluted n/a
1,357%		 n/a
-75%		 n/a
-52%		 n/a
67%		 71%
-34%
Earnings per Share Growth - Adjusted -23% n/a n/a -3% 13%
PE Ratio - Diluted 53.1
7.5		 n/a
218.1		 n/a
52.9		 n/a
25.9		 78.5
41.7
PEG - Diluted n/a
0.0		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
0.4		 1.1
n/a
Tax Rate (40.36%) 4.31% 19.30% 17.72% 31.45%
Dividend Cover n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 8.39
8.40		 2.67
1.58
Interest Cover 1.92
6.88		 (0.97)
1.88		 n/a
n/a		 0.47
5.02		 3.11
4.58
           
Continuing & Discontinued Operations          
Earnings per Share - Basic (21.90p)
(19.41p)		 0.54p
0.046p		 (35.00p)
10.50p		 2.00p
18.76p		 52.20p
13.03p
Earnings per Share - Diluted (21.60p)
(19.41p)		 0.54p
0.046p		 (35.00p)
10.50p		 2.00p
18.76p		 51.40p
12.86p
Earnings per Share - Adjusted 12.90p 0.12p 2.10p 18.80p 19.30p
Earnings per Share Growth - Basic n/a
n/a		 n/a
-100%		 n/a
-44%		 -96%
44%		 1,060%
-30%
Earnings per Share Growth - Diluted n/a
n/a		 n/a
-100%		 n/a
-44%		 -96%
46%		 1,068%
-31%
Earnings per Share Growth - Adjusted 10,290% -94% -89% -3% 3%
PE Ratio - Diluted n/a
n/a		 745.1
8,664.4		 n/a
36.6		 195.9
20.9		 7.3
29.3
PEG - Diluted n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
0.5		 0.0
n/a
Dividend Cover n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 n/a
n/a		 10.44
10.42		 3.33
2.25
Return on Equity (ROE) (13.01%)
(11.53%)		 0.29%
0.02%		 (37.30%)
11.19%		 1.42%
13.51%		 36.48%
9.10%
Operating Cash Flow per Share 12.09p 7.17p 0.30p 21.72p 18.04p
Gross Cash Flow per Share cn/a cn/a cn/a cn/a cn/a
Cash Incr/Decr per Share (2.18p) 0.006p (7.41p) (17.96p) 34.17p
Capital Expenditure per Share n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dividend per Share n/a n/a n/a 1.80p 5.80p
Dividend per Share Growth n/a n/a n/a (68.97%) 3.57%
Dividend Yield 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.5% 1.5%
Shareholders Funds 730.20 775.90 369.90 532.10 545.50
Net Borrowings £ (Millions) 248.00 99.20 251.70 197.70 139.20
Net Asset Value per Share (inc. Intangibles) (50.75p) (24.68p) (73.65p) (56.95p) (60.08p)

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Gearing - inc Intangibles 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Shareholders' Funds inc Intangibles 730.20 775.90 369.90 532.10 545.50
Net Borrowings £ (Millions) 248.00 99.20 251.70 197.70 139.20
Net Gearing 33.96% 12.79% 68.05% 37.15% 25.52%
Cash & Near Cash 80.00 84.10 78.20 111.70 182.00
Cash 10.96% 10.84% 21.14% 20.99% 33.36%
Gross Borrowings 328.00 183.30 329.90 309.40 321.20
Gross Gearing 44.92% 23.62% 89.19% 58.15% 58.88%
Borrowings Under 5 years 328.00 183.30 329.90 309.40 321.20
Under 5 years 44.92% 23.62% 89.19% 58.15% 58.88%
Borrowings Under 1 year n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Under 1 year n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Gearing - exc Intangibles 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Shareholders' Funds exc Intangibles (223.30) (103.00) (295.20) (228.60) (240.50)
Net Borrowings £ (Millions) 248.00 99.20 251.70 197.70 139.20
Net Gearing n/a (96.31%) (85.26%) (86.48%) (57.88%)
Cash & Near Cash 80.00 84.10 78.20 111.70 182.00
Cash (35.83%) (81.65%) (26.49%) (48.86%) (75.68%)
Gross Borrowings 328.00 183.30 329.90 309.40 321.20
Gross Gearing 146.89% 177.96% 111.75% 135.35% 133.56%
Borrowings Under 5 years 328.00 183.30 329.90 309.40 321.20
Under 5 years (146.89%) (177.96%) (111.75%) (135.35%) (133.56%)
Borrowings Under 1 year n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Under 1 year n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

  £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions) £ (Millions)
Cover 31-Dec-22 31-Dec-21 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-19 31-Dec-18
Quick Ratio 0.94 0.98 0.85 0.96 1.35
Current Ratio 0.95 0.98 0.86 0.98 1.37

Key

* GAAP

a. Includes discontinued activities

b. Based on operating cash flow before tax

c. Not disclosed under IFRS

d. Includes non-current assets

Note 1: Prices and trades are provided by Digital Look Corporate Solutions and are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Note 2: RiskGrade figures are provided by RiskMetrics.

Note 3: Above ratios are on a 'per annum' basis, adjusted for corporate actions and based on the fundamentals of the primary listed security.

Note 4: Under IFRS, all figures are based on 'Continuing' operations unless otherwise stated.

Note 5: Normalised ratios are shown in blue text

Note 6: Forecast figures based on normalised accounts.

 

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