Latest news with #SThree
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
European Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Action For May 2025
In recent weeks, European markets have faced pressures from proposed U.S. tariffs, leading to a decline in major stock indexes such as the STOXX Europe 600, which ended a streak of gains. Amidst this backdrop of economic uncertainty and shifting trade policies, identifying small-cap stocks with potential value can be challenging yet rewarding for investors who focus on strong fundamentals and market resilience. Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Morgan Advanced Materials 12.1x 0.6x 34.06% ★★★★★☆ Savills 24.4x 0.5x 41.41% ★★★★☆☆ FRP Advisory Group 11.6x 2.1x 18.80% ★★★★☆☆ Tristel 28.8x 4.1x 7.84% ★★★★☆☆ AKVA group 15.8x 0.7x 46.16% ★★★★☆☆ Absolent Air Care Group 22.7x 1.8x 48.43% ★★★☆☆☆ Italmobiliare 11.9x 1.6x -216.86% ★★★☆☆☆ SmartCraft 40.9x 7.3x 35.45% ★★★☆☆☆ Close Brothers Group NA 0.6x 0.21% ★★★☆☆☆ Seeing Machines NA 2.4x 44.17% ★★★☆☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 73 stocks from our Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying screener. We'll examine a selection from our screener results. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: H+H International is a company that specializes in the production of construction materials, with a market capitalization of approximately DKK 2.78 billion. Operations: The company's revenue primarily comes from the construction materials segment, amounting to DKK 2.78 billion. Over recent periods, the gross profit margin has shown variability, reaching as high as 31.86% in early 2020 before declining to around 22.17% by early 2025. Operating expenses include significant allocations for general and administrative purposes, sales and marketing, and depreciation and amortization. The company experienced fluctuations in net income margins over time with a notable negative trend in recent quarters before a positive turnaround by early 2025. PE: 34.3x H+H International, a smaller player in the European market, shows potential as an undervalued opportunity. Recently, insider confidence was demonstrated when Jorg Brinkmann purchased 4,000 shares for approximately DKK 433K in March 2025. Despite recent volatility and reliance on higher-risk external funding, the company has improved its financial position with a net loss reduction to DKK 12 million from DKK 129 million year-on-year in Q1 2025. Looking ahead, they maintain guidance for organic revenue growth of up to 10% this year. Dive into the specifics of H+H International here with our thorough valuation report. Gain insights into H+H International's historical performance by reviewing our past performance report. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: SThree is a recruitment company specializing in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) sectors with operations across the USA, DACH region, Rest of Europe, Middle East & Asia, and Netherlands including Spain. Operations: SThree's revenue is primarily derived from its operations across regions such as the USA, DACH, Rest of Europe, Middle East & Asia, and the Netherlands (including Spain). Over time, net income margin has shown variability with a recent figure of 3.33%. The company's cost structure includes significant general and administrative expenses alongside non-operating expenses. PE: 5.9x SThree, a key player in the STEM workforce consultancy sector, recently experienced a drop from major indices like FTSE 250 and FTSE 350 in March 2025. Despite this, insider confidence is evident with share purchases made within the past year. The company faces an anticipated earnings decline of 18% annually over three years. A recent board addition of Paula Coughlan as an Independent Non-Executive Director could bring strategic insights to navigate these challenges amidst its reliance on external borrowing for funding. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of SThree stock in this valuation report. Explore historical data to track SThree's performance over time in our Past section. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Nyab operates in the heavy construction industry with a focus on large-scale infrastructure projects and has a market cap of €393.48 million. Operations: The company generates its revenue primarily from heavy construction, with the latest reported revenue at €393.48 million. Over recent periods, the gross profit margin has shown variability, reaching 24.64% in September 2023 before adjusting to 22.87% by March 2025. Operating expenses and cost of goods sold are significant components impacting profitability. PE: 22.2x Nyab, a European small-cap company, is gaining traction with significant projects and insider confidence. Recent contracts include a SEK 409 million road reconstruction in Sweden and a SEK 144 million railway project. Despite reporting a net loss of €0.35 million in Q1 2025, sales surged to €106.71 million from €59.17 million the previous year. The company's five-year extension with Aker BP ASA highlights its strategic partnerships in energy sectors, while earnings are forecasted to grow annually by over 19%. Click here and access our complete valuation analysis report to understand the dynamics of Nyab. Understand Nyab's track record by examining our Past report. Reveal the 73 hidden gems among our Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying screener with a single click here. Hold shares in these firms? Setup your portfolio in Simply Wall St to seamlessly track your investments and receive personalized updates on your portfolio's performance. Streamline your investment strategy with Simply Wall St's app for free and benefit from extensive research on stocks across all corners of the world. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This 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. Companies discussed in this article include CPSE:HH LSE:STEM and OM:NYAB. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SThree (LON:STEM) investors are sitting on a loss of 43% if they invested a year ago
Passive investing in an index fund is a good way to ensure your own returns roughly match the overall market. Active investors aim to buy stocks that vastly outperform the market - but in the process, they risk under-performance. That downside risk was realized by SThree plc (LON:STEM) shareholders over the last year, as the share price declined 46%. That falls noticeably short of the market return of around 4.8%. Even if you look out three years, the returns are still disappointing, with the share price down35% in that time. With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Unhappily, SThree had to report a 12% decline in EPS over the last year. The share price decline of 46% is actually more than the EPS drop. Unsurprisingly, given the lack of EPS growth, the market seems to be more cautious about the stock. The less favorable sentiment is reflected in its current P/E ratio of 5.93. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. That said, we think earnings and revenue growth trends are even more important factors to consider. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on SThree's earnings, revenue and cash flow. As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for SThree the TSR over the last 1 year was -43%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Investors in SThree had a tough year, with a total loss of 43% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 4.8%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 5% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand SThree better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks, for example - SThree has 2 warning signs (and 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) we think you should know about. SThree is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find lesser know companies this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. 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. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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WIRED
14-05-2025
- Business
- WIRED
How to Build an AI-Ready Culture
Generative AI redefines what's possible–but only if your culture is ready to evolve with it Generative AI can be applied almost anywhere that information is consumed or created, so its potential to improve business productivity seems vast. Practically every organization is considering how best to use it, whether that's for speeding up routine tasks like drafting emails and summarizing reports or enhancing more complex, industry-specific workflows. Unlike many enterprise technologies, however, adopting generative AI is not just about implementation, it's about culture. Generative AI's capabilities are non-deterministic and forever shifting, so it rewards experimentation and knowledge sharing. It doesn't always give the same answer or the right answer, requiring new ways of thinking about the role of computers at work. Its success is a product of its accessibility—it runs on the cloud and operates via natural language—but that same ease-of-use creates a high risk of shadow IT. And if all that weren't enough there are the inevitable fears that the technology could steal jobs, breeding resistance to using it in the first place—or at least admitting to usage. So how do you create a culture that will allow your team to thrive in the era of generative AI? A recent roundtable event hosted in London by WIRED Consulting and the global STEM workforce consultancy SThree explored this important question—and revealed its urgency. 'STEM professionals are losing up to six hours each week due to insufficient AI support,' says Rakesh Patel, SThree's managing director for the UK, France, and Belgium. A report by SThree based on a survey of 2,500 STEM professionals globally found that almost half believed their company lagged behind competitors on AI. Patel believes that 'culture is the key ingredient people most often forget when they're trying to put their business at the front of the pack.' Here's what we learned from the roundtable about how to get it right… Set the ethos at the top A good AI culture should incentivize adoption and experimentation while mitigating risks. It should have a clear sense of aims and intentions, promote transparency and encourage collaboration and openness. Culture starts at the top, which means the CEO and the board need to embrace and lead the change. 'Otherwise, what ends up happening is you have pockets of change remaining at pilot status and not moving across the whole organization,' says Sana Khareghani, professor of practice in AI at King's College London and a trustee at the Institute for the Future of Work. While leaders don't need to be AI experts, setting this culture requires some knowledge of the technology. The problem is, this knowledge is often lacking, and it can be hard for C-suite figures to admit as much. 'They're too senior to ask questions, and even the people who report into them are too senior to ask questions,' says Khareghani. The result can be layers of decision-making based on little understanding. Indeed, 48 percent of respondents to SThree's survey believe their organization's leadership fails to grasp the potential productivity benefits of AI. The solution? 'It's about creating a safe space for the most senior people to ask what they would deem dumb questions,' says Khareghani. Bring in an outside expert if necessary to help answer these, drawing on industry-relevant examples. Address concerns head on Leadership onboard, you need to convince the rest of your team. While STEM professionals often have a strong desire to use AI, don't be surprised if the broader pool of employees aren't immediately enamoured with the idea of integrating generative AI into their roles. You may see it as a productivity boon; they may see it as a threat to their jobs. To address this, be upfront about what you're hoping to achieve with the tech. If you're not planning on making redundancies, but instead upskilling your staff so they can spend more time on the tasks AI can't do, then tell them. You should also address fears around wider societal impacts. Tessa Clarke, Co-founder and CEO of local sharing app Olio, says she was all-in on generative AI, but noticed a disconnect with her team. 'One of the most important things that I did to really help get everyone on the journey was a very deeply personal presentation at a company call,' she says. She talked through her assessment of the potential risks, opportunities, and why she chose to embrace AI. When people questioned potential impacts on the company's environmental mission, Clarke did the calculations on emissions and water use so they could feel comfortable using the tools. As she puts it: 'We had to meet people where they were.' Embrace the power of play An initial 'play' period will help familiarise people with the technology. You could set a task such as composing a song using an AI music generator, or making a skit using an AI video tool. But play is also vital for innovation: the people best placed to figure out where AI can offer the most value in your business specifically are the people that work for you. The problem is that creative freedom isn't always an intuitive part of an organization's culture. Company policies, especially around information security, can put a dampener on innovation. Creating a safe sandbox for exploration lets people take some initial steps without risk. So too do policies that clearly define what is and isn't acceptable, and indicate which tools are approved. Crucially, don't let fear of failure thwart experimentation. 'The ability to fail has to be part of the AI adoption journey,' says Khareghani. 'If you're putting everything on the success of a single pilot, I would worry.' Break down the walls between tech teams and non-tech teams While generative AI can be used by almost anyone, you probably still want IT to take the lead on designing policies, approving tools, and training staff. They will likely also be the ones taking on more technical—and impactful—tasks, such as designing bespoke AI tools based on generative AI models, or fine-tuning models for domain-specific solutions. However, it's usually non-IT functions that best understand the problems that actually need solving. Fostering collaboration between the two is therefore critical. One approach is to embed IT personnel inside different departments. Michelle Ibbotson, head of architecture at XPO Logistics, says that 'we have seen quite a bit of success embedding our IT teams, especially in our back-office functions', noting that she spent useful time herself working within the finance team. This kind of collaboration also promotes inclusivity and makes sure everyone is brought along for the journey, argues Pablo Bawdekar, independent Chief Architect previously with Aspen and QBE Insurance. 'If you've got this team of geniuses, and they're seen as being geniuses—the spotlight's on them, and everyone loves them—then I think that actually builds a silo and kills, rather than enhances, the true culture of the organization.' Integrating tech across functions may be uncomfortable at first, like a collision of two different languages, says Khareghani. But the general-purpose nature of generative AI requires it. 'Traditionally, tech has been separated from the rest of the business, and usually it's just about getting your kit to work,' she says. 'But now, more and more, these technologies are part of every business line, and the effects of their adoption should be part of the organisational strategy from the outset.' Now read SThree's report 'How the STEM world works: Navigating the new era of AI and trust'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SThree's (LON:STEM) Dividend Will Be £0.092
The board of SThree plc (LON:STEM) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 6th of June, with investors receiving £0.092 per share. The dividend yield of 5.9% is still a nice boost to shareholder returns, despite the cut. Our free stock report includes 2 warning signs investors should be aware of before investing in SThree. Read for free now. Impressive dividend yields are good, but this doesn't matter much if the payments can't be sustained. Before making this announcement, SThree was easily earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that most of its earnings are being retained to grow the business. Over the next year, EPS is forecast to fall by 29.8%. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we believe the payout ratio could be 52%, which we are pretty comfortable with and we think is feasible on an earnings basis. View our latest analysis for SThree The company has a long dividend track record, but it doesn't look great with cuts in the past. Since 2015, the dividend has gone from £0.14 total annually to £0.143. Its dividends have grown at less than 1% per annum over this time frame. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. Earnings per share has been crawling upwards at 4.2% per year. While EPS growth is quite low, SThree has the option to increase the payout ratio to return more cash to shareholders. Overall, we think that SThree could make a reasonable income stock, even though it did cut the dividend this year. While the payout ratios are a good sign, we are less enthusiastic about the company's dividend record. The dividend looks okay, but there have been some issues in the past, so we would be a little bit cautious. Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. Meanwhile, despite the importance of dividend payments, they are not the only factors our readers should know when assessing a company. For example, we've identified 2 warning signs for SThree (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that you should be aware of before investing. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers. 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.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exploring 3 Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Activity
Amidst the backdrop of fluctuating European markets, the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index recently experienced a decline of 1.23%, driven by concerns over U.S. trade tariffs and economic growth uncertainties. In this environment, identifying promising small-cap stocks often involves looking for companies with strong fundamentals and notable insider activity, as these factors can sometimes signal potential resilience or growth opportunities despite broader market challenges. Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Macfarlane Group 10.4x 0.6x 41.02% ★★★★★★ Stelrad Group 10.6x 0.6x 29.28% ★★★★★★ Hoist Finance 7.4x 1.6x 20.34% ★★★★★☆ Bytes Technology Group 22.8x 5.8x 11.64% ★★★★★☆ Robert Walters NA 0.2x 46.46% ★★★★★☆ Speedy Hire NA 0.2x 21.84% ★★★★★☆ Foxtons Group 13.7x 1.2x 26.64% ★★★★★☆ Gamma Communications 21.4x 2.2x 38.87% ★★★★☆☆ Optima Health NA 1.6x 42.19% ★★★★☆☆ Franchise Brands 38.4x 2.0x 26.73% ★★★☆☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 59 stocks from our Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying screener. Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: Restore is a UK-based company specializing in document management and data storage services, with a market cap of approximately £0.65 billion. Operations: RST's revenue has shown fluctuations, with a peak of £279.0 million in 2022 before slightly declining to £275.3 million by early 2025. The gross profit margin experienced variations, reaching up to 45.75% in late 2021 and later adjusting to around 44.50% by early 2025. Operating expenses, including general and administrative costs, consistently impacted the company's overall profitability throughout the periods analyzed. Net income margins also varied significantly over time, reflecting the impact of non-operating expenses on profitability trends. PE: 25.8x Restore, a European company with a market focus on document management and storage services, recently reported earnings for the year ending December 2024. Sales reached £275.3 million, slightly down from the previous year, yet net income turned positive at £12.4 million compared to a loss of £30.7 million previously. A final dividend increase to 3.8 pence reflects confidence in future prospects despite reliance on external borrowing as its sole funding source. Earnings are projected to grow annually by 22%, indicating potential value in this investment space amidst insider confidence through share purchases over recent months. Click to explore a detailed breakdown of our findings in Restore's valuation report. Examine Restore's past performance report to understand how it has performed in the past. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★☆☆☆ Overview: SThree is a specialist staffing company focused on providing recruitment services in sectors such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with a market cap of £1.25 billion. Operations: SThree generates revenue primarily from its operations in DACH, the USA, and other European regions. The company's gross profit margin has seen a gradual decline from 30.21% to 24.72% over several periods, indicating changes in cost management or pricing strategies. PE: 7.1x SThree, a European staffing company, is currently seen as undervalued within its sector. Recent insider confidence is demonstrated by Timo Lehne purchasing 20,405 shares for £53,063 in early 2025. Despite a challenging year with sales dropping to £1.49 billion and net income decreasing to £49.69 million from the previous year, the firm continues strategic share repurchases worth £20 million to enhance shareholder value. Earnings are expected to decline by 18% annually over the next three years due to reliance on higher-risk external borrowing for funding. Take a closer look at SThree's potential here in our valuation report. Explore historical data to track SThree's performance over time in our Past section. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Zigup is a company involved in rental services and claims & services operations, with a market capitalization of £2.45 billion. Operations: Zigup generates revenue primarily from UK&I Rental (£575.33 million), Spain Rental (£360.69 million), and Claims & Services (£953.98 million). The company's gross profit margin has shown fluctuations, peaking at 29.54% in October 2022 before declining to 21.99% by March 2025, indicating variability in cost management or pricing strategies over time. PE: 7.4x Zigup, a smaller player in the European market, shows potential with earnings projected to grow 5.38% annually. However, its financial structure leans heavily on external borrowing, posing higher risks without customer deposits. Recent insider confidence is evident with key leadership changes; Rachel Coulson will join as CFO by August 2025, bringing extensive experience in digital transformation from Pearson PLC. Despite lower profit margins of 5.1%, compared to last year's 7.7%, strategic shifts could enhance future growth prospects for Zigup (€). Navigate through the intricacies of Zigup with our comprehensive valuation report here. Assess Zigup's past performance with our detailed historical performance reports. Unlock our comprehensive list of 59 Undervalued European Small Caps With Insider Buying by clicking here. Hold shares in these firms? Setup your portfolio in Simply Wall St to seamlessly track your investments and receive personalized updates on your portfolio's performance. Simply Wall St is a revolutionary app designed for long-term stock investors, it's free and covers every market in the world. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This 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. Companies discussed in this article include AIM:RST LSE:STEM and LSE:ZIG. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Sign in to access your portfolio
