Europe's Champions Chase Is Key to Big M&A, Says BofA's Morisseau
Hi, it's Vinicy Chan in London, discussing one of the big potential M&A drivers in Europe with Bank of America's Jerome Morisseau. Also today, Babbel says its IPO is off the table.
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Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I've been loading up on this cheap FTSE 100 share this week!
This week I bought some more shares in a FTSE 100 company that already features heavily in my portfolio. In fact, although I always want to keep my portfolio diversified, I decided that topping up my holding in this company when the share price looked particularly cheap could potentially prove to be a lucrative move. The FTSE 100 share in question is JD Sports (LSE: JD). Why am I so excited about it? Legendary investor Warren Buffett talks about buying into great companies at attractive prices. In my opinion, JD Sports currently ticks both those boxes. To start, consider the business. JD's focus is on selling clothes, shoes and other athletic goods. That is a large market and one that is likely to endure. The customer base also seems to be happy to shell out on pricy goods even when the economy is weak, something I see as a bonus although I do still fear that a deep enough economic downturn could hurt sales. JD Sports has built economies of scale and also has a substantial international reach. It has built a sizeable digital presence but not at the expense of abandoning bricks and mortar. In fact, it has been opening hundreds of stores in recent years and this month opened its largest one yet, at Manchester's Trafford Centre. With a strong brand, regular special products unique to JD, loyal customer base and ongoing growth plans, I reckon this is an outstanding business. But the road has had some bumps. Last year, JD sports issued profit warnings and it has reined in its aggressive store opening programme. A key supplier Nike has had a difficult few years and ongoing weakness in the brand's sales is a risk for JD Sports too given how big a proportion of its sales are of Nike products. But does that justify a share price in pennies? The FTSE 100 company has no debt (excluding lease liabilities) and a market capitalisation of £4.2bn. Yet last year's profit before tax and adjusting items came in at £0.9bn. To me, that makes the current share price in pennies look unreasonably cheap. In a tough market with uncertain risks like tariffs and unpredictable international shipping rates, the FTSE 100 company's profits this year and in subsequent years may not match last year's performance. However, I remain upbeat about the long-term story here. JD's investment in growth over recent years is paying rewards already as far as I am concerned. The next couple of years will see major sporting events that could help boost customer demand. The company has a proven model that is highly cash-generative and could help support further growth without the company needing to take on debt to fund it. As far as I am concerned, the current JD Sports share price is a bargain. I acted on it because I did not want to miss what I see as an excellent opportunity. The post I've been loading up on this cheap FTSE 100 share this week! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool C Ruane has positions in JD Sports Fashion. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Nike. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 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
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich to help Liverpool strike MOMENTOUS Alexander Isak deal
Liverpool have spent close to £200m so far during this transfer window. Landmark arrivals include Florian Wirtz in a deal potentially worth £116m as well as Milos Kerkez (£45m) and Jeremie Frimpong (£29.5m). It now appears the Reds will enter a phase of selling - before later committing to other transfers further down the line. The club have got ambitions to add a new centre-forward and could probably use a new centre-back given the scale of uncertainty in the position. Advertisement Before that, outgoings are required. Alexander Isak is thought to be the first-pick at No9. Newcastle woud like to sign him to a new contract but this deal doesn't appear as improbable as it once did. The Swede would certainly be attracted by the bright lights of Anfield but Richard Hughes and Arne Slot will have to come up with a fee of over £100m as well as a sizeable wage packet. Bayern frustrated in winger chase In order to do so, they could opt to offload one or more of their current forward options. It looks like Dominik Szoboszlai is set to stay in the lineup, meaning Wirtz reverting to a left-sided starting role. Advertisement If the 22-year-old plays from the left then there will be no need for both Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz. One could be sold and Bayern Munich are now reported to be interested in both. The Bavarians had ambitions of adding Nico Williams as a replacement for Leroy Sane but it looks like he could be off to Barcelona if they can get a deal done with Athletic Club. And Christian Falk has told Caught Offside that the German champions have Gakpo and Diaz in line as a backup option. Bayern want Diaz AND Gakpo 'Max Eberl should already be looking for alternative candidates for the wing. Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, for example, could be back on the radar,' he said. Advertisement 'The player is said to be a personal favourite of Eberl. 'After initial talks with the Gakpo side, there has been no contact with the agents recently. That could now quickly change again. Teammate Luis Diaz also remains a candidate.' © IMAGO Bayern can help Liverpool land Isak Diaz is out of contract in 2027 - and could be sold this summer in order to avoid losing him for a diminished fee. Gakpo is two years younger and under contract for a year longer - and would fetch a higher price in the market. With Diaz being valued by the club at around €80m, it means Gakpo could be in the bracket higher than that - potentially up to €100m. Should Liverpool achieve a sale of Gakpo in that category then it would radically boost their chances of signing Isak further on in the window.
Bloomberg
35 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Bezos Wedding Bonanza Enters Day Three in Venice Among Protests
VENICE, Italy (AP) — Hundreds of protesters marched through Venice's central streets on Saturday to say 'No' to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-anticipated wedding extravaganza, which reached its third and final day amid celebrity-crowded parties and the outcries of tired residents. On Friday, the world's fourth-richest man and his bride Lauren Sanchez Bezos tied the knot during a private ceremony with around 200 celebrity guests on the secluded island of San Giorgio.
