Latest news with #ManxFinancialGroup
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Small British firms cut back on hiring and growth efforts as financing dries up
Nearly a third of smaller UK firms have paused or axed parts of their businesses over the last two years in response to a lack of financing, research suggests. The cost of borrowing has soared since the Bank of England began hiking interest rates in 2022 and many small businesses are unable to obtain financing without shouldering crippling terms. YouGov data analysed by Manx Financial Group suggests 30 per cent of UK small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs) have been forced to cut back. Areas most likely to be paused of cut back include hiring, research and development, product launches, marketing, and market expansion efforts since 2023. Some 38 per cent now anticipate stagnation over the next year, up from 25 per cent in 2022, though 'most' believe they could grow by up to 13 per cent over the next 12 months if they had access to the right external finance, according to Manx. Just under a tenth of SMEs have been unable to secure external finance despite trying, with 33 per cent of firms citing high costs as the major barrier to borrowing. The UK Government defines SME as an organisation with fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than €50million (£42.4million) or a balance sheet total less than €43million. In efforts to boost smaller firms, the Govvernment raised the limit at which businesses start paying employer national insurance from £5,000 to £10,500 in December. This means 865,000 employers will pay nothing in national insurance contributions next year, according to the Government. But Manx chief executive Douglas Grant said the Government 'must prioritise targeted measures to unlock credit, boost lender collaboration, and accelerate growth'. And SMEs are unlikely to see a substantial reduction in borrowing costs anytime soon. The Bank of England is expected to hold base rate at its current level of 4.25 per cent next week as concerns about resurgent inflation outweigh signs of economic deterioration. However, current market pricing suggests the rate could fall as low as 3.75 per cent by year end with two more cuts of 25 basis points each. Other factors cited by firms struggling to borrow include inflexible repayment terms, lengthy processes and lenders' poor understanding of SME needs. Grant said: 'Accessing finance remains difficult, and this funding gap threatens not only their survival but also the broader UK economy. 'With SMEs generating around half of all private sector turnover, limited access to credit is a serious drag on national growth, especially during such volatile and uncertain times. 'While some firms have shielded themselves with fixed-rate debt, many others are now facing rising costs without a financial safety net.'
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
One Manx Financial Group Insider Raised Stake By 228% In Previous Year
Viewing insider transactions for Manx Financial Group PLC's (LON:MFX ) over the last year, we see that insiders were net buyers. This means that a larger number of shares were purchased by insiders in relation to shares sold. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. The CEO & Director Douglas Grant made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK£245k worth of shares at a price of UK£0.15 each. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being UK£0.14). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Douglas Grant was the only individual insider to buy during the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! See our latest analysis for Manx Financial Group Manx Financial Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying. I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It appears that Manx Financial Group insiders own 36% of the company, worth about UK£6.1m. This level of insider ownership is good but just short of being particularly stand-out. It certainly does suggest a reasonable degree of alignment. The fact that there have been no Manx Financial Group insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. Insiders do have a stake in Manx Financial Group and their transactions don't cause us concern. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Manx Financial Group you should know about. Of course Manx Financial Group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Be Adding Manx Financial Group (LON:MFX) To Your Watchlist Today?
It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should. In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Manx Financial Group (LON:MFX), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Manx Financial Group with the means to add long-term value to shareholders. View our latest analysis for Manx Financial Group Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. Recognition must be given to the that Manx Financial Group has grown EPS by 43% per year, over the last three years. While that sort of growth rate isn't sustainable for long, it certainly catches the eye of prospective investors. Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Not all of Manx Financial Group's revenue this year is revenue from operations, so keep in mind the revenue and margin numbers used in this article might not be the best representation of the underlying business. EBIT margins for Manx Financial Group remained fairly unchanged over the last year, however the company should be pleased to report its revenue growth for the period of 18% to UK£36m. That's encouraging news for the company! In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. Since Manx Financial Group is no giant, with a market capitalisation of UK£17m, you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects. It's said that there's no smoke without fire. For investors, insider buying is often the smoke that indicates which stocks could set the market alight. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions. The first bit of good news is that no Manx Financial Group insiders reported share sales in the last twelve months. But the important part is that CEO & Director Douglas Grant spent UK£245k buying stock, at an average price of UK£0.15. It seems at least one insider thinks that the company is doing well - and they are backing that view with cash. And the insider buying isn't the only sign of alignment between shareholders and the board, since Manx Financial Group insiders own more than a third of the company. Owning 36% of the company, insiders have plenty riding on the performance of the the share price. Those who are comforted by solid insider ownership like this should be happy, as it implies that those running the business are genuinely motivated to create shareholder value. Although, with Manx Financial Group being valued at UK£17m, this is a small company we're talking about. That means insiders only have UK£6.3m worth of shares, despite the large proportional holding. This isn't an overly large holding but it should still keep the insiders motivated to deliver the best outcomes for shareholders. Manx Financial Group's earnings per share growth have been climbing higher at an appreciable rate. To sweeten the deal, insiders have significant skin in the game with one even acquiring more. This quick rundown suggests that the business may be of good quality, and also at an inflection point, so maybe Manx Financial Group deserves timely attention. We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 2 warning signs for Manx Financial Group that you need to be mindful of. Keen growth investors love to see insider activity. Thankfully, Manx Financial Group isn't the only one. You can see a a curated list of British companies which have exhibited consistent growth accompanied by high insider ownership. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
