IMB.L - Imperial Brands PLC
| Previous Close | 1,762.20 |
| Open | 1,761.80 |
| Bid | 1,756.60 x 0 |
| Ask | 1,757.60 x 0 |
| Day's Range | 1,751.20 - 1,766.27 |
| 52 Week Range | 1,670.00 - 2,713.50 |
| Volume | 141,041 |
| Avg. Volume | 2,902,025 |
| Market Cap | 16.643B |
| Beta (3Y Monthly) | 0.25 |
| PE Ratio (TTM) | 16.61 |
| EPS (TTM) | 105.80 |
| Earnings Date | Nov 5, 2019 |
| Forward Dividend & Yield | 2.07 (11.53%) |
| Ex-Dividend Date | 2019-11-21 |
| 1y Target Est | 3,018.82 |
- Thomson Reuters StreetEvents
Edited Transcript of IMB.L earnings conference call or presentation 5-Nov-19 9:00am GMT
Full Year 2019 Imperial Brands PLC Earnings Call
- Bloomberg
Imperial Brands Suffers From Vaping Backlash
(Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here.Imperial Brands Plc picked former investment banker Therese Esperdy to replace its chairman as the U.K. cigarette maker struggles to keep up in the fast-changing tobacco industry.Esperdy, who retired from JPMorgan in 2015, will replace Mark Williamson in January and guide the search for a new chief executive officer. The new team will have to catch up with bigger rivals in next-generation products, navigate regulatory turmoil for e-cigarettes and gain back investors’ trust.Imperial also said Tuesday it aims to announce the sale of its premium cigar business soon as it seeks to raise cash to pay down debt. The stock swung between gains and declines in morning trading after the company forecast weak growth this fiscal year.Imperial, the smallest of the major tobacco companies, has had a hard time keeping up with rivals such as Philip Morris International Inc. as smokers increasingly switch to e-cigarettes and devices that heat tobacco without combustion. A health scare in the U.S. and competition from upstart Juul Labs Inc. have muddled what used to be a stable market for nicotine products.Halfwheel, a cigar industry blog, said Monday that Imperial plans to sell the premium cigar business unit to Huabao, a Chinese company with investments in tobacco. The price would probably be less than the $2 billion high-end estimate, the site said, citing people close to the talks it didn’t identify. A spokesman for Imperial declined to comment.The sale process is at an advanced stage, CEO Alison Cooper said. Imperial didn’t comment on Huabao.Imperial took a 525 million-pound ($677 million) impairment for the cigar business, which distributes Cuban brands like Romeo & Julieta through a joint venture. The company said other attempts to sell tobacco assets didn’t attract appropriate prices.Revenue and earnings per share will rise by a low single-digit percentage in the 12 months through September 2020, the company forecast Tuesday. Imperial normally targets growth of 1% to 4% in revenue and 4% to 8% in earnings per share, based on constant currencies.Imperial said growth will be weighted to the second half this year as the company seeks to revive sales of its next-generation products. Revenue from smoking alternatives rose 48% in the year through September, below the company’s expectations.The stock has lost more than half of its value in about three years. Last month the company announced its plans to replace Cooper. Imperial will announce a new CEO faster than it took to find a new chairman, Williamson said. That process took nine months as many potential candidates didn’t want to work for a tobacco company, he said.Esperdy’s appointment is great news for Imperial, said Nico von Stackelberg, an analyst at Liberum who highlighted the company’s 12% dividend yield. “A lot hinges on the incoming chair and CEO and their plan.”(Updates with executive comments in third, penultimate paragraphs.)To contact the reporter on this story: Corinne Gretler in Zurich at cgretler1@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net, Thomas MulierFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
- Financial Times
Opening Quote: Imperial cools on vaping
Whoever takes on the top job at Imperial Brands, the tobacco group, has a tough gig. Pre-tax profits for the year to September were down 7 per cent to £1.69bn, hit by a £525m writedown of the value of its premium cigar business and £139m in Russian excise tax liabilities, among other things. Net revenues were up 3.9 per cent, helped by strong currency tailwinds.
- Financial Times
Imperial outlines ‘cautious’ revenue outlook amid US vaping backlash
Imperial Brands indicated its difficulties are likely to spill into the next financial year as it outlined a “cautious approach” to its earnings and revenue outlook amid a clampdown on vaping and e-cigarettes in the US. for the year to the end of September, Imperial said it anticipates “low single-digit revenue and earnings per share growth” in the coming financial year, excluding the impact of divestments, and said it would temper its investment in cigarette alternatives. The cautionary note came as the group — previously known as Imperial Tobacco — reported revenue of £31.59bn for the year to the end of September, up just 2.2 per cent on the previous year at constant currencies, in line with the September warning.
- Reuters
CORRECTED-UPDATE 2-Imperial Brands issues cautious 2020 forecast, appoints Esperdy chairman
Imperial Brands on Tuesday issued a "cautious" forecast for the year and named a new chairman as the tobacco producer grapples with challenges in e-cigarette products and vaping. The maker of Winston and Gauloises cigarettes reported full-year revenue from tobacco and next-generation products - e-cigarettes and vapour-based devices - of 7.99 billion pounds ($10.29 billion), up 3.9% on a constant-currency basis. "2019 has been a challenging year with results below our expectations due to tough trading in Next Generation Products," outgoing CEO Alison Cooper said in a statement.
- Financial Times
IWG’s Dixon proves more fit for office than WeWork’s Neumann
IWG’s share price must be affected by the collapsing valuation of WeWork, its higher-profile rival in the serviced office sector. of IWG shares by Toscafund “seems anything but optimal”. : they are up 78 per cent since then, having added 4 per cent in the past two days.
- Moody's
Imperial Brands Finance PLC -- Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Imperial Brands PLC
Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Imperial Brands PLC and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future.
- Simply Wall St.
Is Imperial Brands PLC's (LON:IMB) ROE Of 29% Impressive?
While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like...
- Benzinga
These Were The Most Active Securities On OTC Markets In September
A British tobacco company, Dutch paint company, California-based dermatological company, and Maryland-based regional bank were among the securities that experienced the largest trading volume increases ...
- Bloomberg
Taking the Tobacco Out of Imperial Didn’t Fix Its Problems
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Imperial Brands Plc’s Alison Cooper is stepping down in a cloud of raspberry scented smoke.The timing isn’t surprising. It comes exactly a week after the British-based maker of Davidoff cigarettes and the Blu electronic device, lowered expectations for sales and profits after taking a hit in the U.S. vaping market. The warning brought to a head discussions about the company’s future leadership as the board conducts its search for a successor to Chairman Mark Williamson.Change is clearly needed. The shares of the smallest of the world’s major tobacco companies are roughly back where they were at the start of Cooper’s 9-year watch, having lost more than half of their value since a 2016 peak.Her successor faces a tall order. The new CEO will have to figure out how to make Imperial a strong force in tobacco alternatives. It currently ranks fourth in electronic smoking devices by units sold on a four-week basis. But in the heat-not-burn segment, its Pulze product is a relative newcomer in the Japanese market, where the products have taken hold more quickly than elsewhere. It’s important to have a clear strategy in each segment since no one really knows exactly where the market’s headed.Finding the right path forward won’t be easy, given the crisis engulfing vaping in the U.S., which has prompted efforts by President Donald Trump to ban flavored products and nicotine pads while some retailers including Walmart Inc. have stopped selling e-cigarettes.They must find a way through this. One option would be developing a boarder suite of tobacco alternatives alongside Imperial’s Blu vaping device. Stepping up development in heat-not-burn segment would also be wise.Rival British American Tobacco Plc has hedged its bets, with a presence in both vaping and the heat-not-burn segment. This is a model that Imperial should follow. But this would likely mean more investment.Duncan Fox, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, says Imperial can afford to spend more. First of all, it’s core business of traditional cigarettes — including local brands such as Winston in the U.S. — is cash generative. Plus, its 2 billion-pound ($2.5 billion) asset disposal program and decision to abandon its policy to increase its dividend by 10% annually should give it scope to act.The new chairman must also address corporate governance issues. Bloomberg News reported that investors and analysts had voiced concerns about Imperial’s earnings calculations and strategy.Imperial has long been seen as a takeover target, but it is now particularly vulnerable given the share price weakness and that industry consolidation is back on the agenda, even after Altria Group Inc. and Philip Morris International Inc. called off their merger talks.Japan Tobacco Inc. is often mooted as the likely predator, although it would have to find a way to deal with competition constraints.If the new chairman and chief executive don’t raise their game on alternatives, then someone else might light up even more radical change for them.To contact the author of this story: Andrea Felsted at afelsted@bloomberg.netTo contact the editor responsible for this story: Melissa Pozsgay at mpozsgay@bloomberg.netThis column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering the consumer and retail industries. She previously worked at the Financial Times.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
- Reuters
Imperial Brands' longtime CEO Cooper to step down amid vaping backlash
Imperial Brands Plc Chief Executive Officer Alison Cooper will step down once a replacement is found, a move that comes as the cigarette maker grapples with a regulatory backlash against e-cigarettes and declining tobacco sales. The departure of Cooper, who has led the maker of Davidoff cigarettes for nine years, comes days after it issued a full-year profit warning blaming the U.S. regulatory crackdown on vaping. It also follows the impending departure of Chairman Mark Williamson, who in February announced that he would step down once a successor was found, citing new British guidelines on the length of board chair tenures.
- Reuters
UPDATE 2-Imperial Brands' longtime CEO Cooper to step down amid vaping backlash
Imperial Brands Plc Chief Executive Officer Alison Cooper will step down once a replacement is found, a move that comes as the cigarette maker grapples with a regulatory backlash against e-cigarettes and declining tobacco sales. The departure of Cooper, who has led the maker of Davidoff cigarettes for nine years, comes days after it issued a full-year profit warning blaming the U.S. regulatory crackdown on vaping. The smallest of the four major global tobacco players in the world, Imperial has been slow to react to the vaping craze in the United States, a market where it generates nearly 30% of its annual profit.
- MarketWatch
Imperial Brands CEO stepping down
Imperial Brands PLC said Thursday that Chief Executive Officer Alison Cooper and the board have agreed that she will step down when a suitable replacement is found.
- Yahoo Finance
Juul should be 'ashamed' of role in vaping epidemic: Rep. Donna Shalala
Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) have introduced comprehensive legislation to address the rise in tobacco and e-cigarette usage among young people. Shalala joins Yahoo Finance to discuss the bill, why vaping has become a nonpartisan issue, and how Juul and other vaping companies should be "ashamed" of the role they've played in the epidemic.
- Benzinga
Tobacco Company Imperial Brands, Auxly Cannabis Close On Partnership, $92.8M Investment
Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (OTC: CBWTF) announced Wednesday the closing of a transaction with Imperial Tobacco Group plc (OTC: IMBBY). “We are delighted to announce the closing of this transaction to formally mark the start of our strategic partnership with Imperial Brands,” Auxly CEO Hugo Alves said in a statement. “We believe there is considerable opportunity for growth and value creation for both companies.
- MarketWatch
European stock indexes move higher on trade hopes, gains for oil majors
European stocks are in the black, boosted by fresh hopes for a U.S. trade deal, with oil majors out in front..
- MarketWatch
FTSE 100 marches higher amid a flurry of profit warnings
The FTSE 100 stock index is climbing, with gains for oil majors underpinning positive sentiment, despite warnings from International Consolidated Airlines, Imperial Brands and Pearson
- MarketWatch
Imperial Brands plunges on profit warning as U.S. vaping crisis deepens
The U.K. maker of Blu e-cigarettes said profits per share will be flat this year compared with last year. It now expects revenue growth of just 2% for the year ending September 30, well short of its previous guidance of up to 4%.
Reuters VideosImperial warns U.S. vaping backlash to hit annual profit
A health warning from tobacco giant Imperial Brands on Thursday (September 26) - not about its products, but its finances. Full-year profits and revenues will take a hit, the British firm said ... From a regulatory crackdown on vaping in the U.S. - where it makes nearly a third of its profits. Its shares slipped 12 per cent after the statement. The U.S. government has announced a move to pull flavoured e-cigarettes from stores amid a spike in teenage usage ... And earlier this week, a senior official from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported on an investigation .... Into a mystery vaping-related disease that has sickened hundreds of people and killed nine. Imperial dropped the word 'Tobacco' from its name in 2016 but still makes Winston, Gauloises and other cigarette brands. It's cutting, it says, revenue growth forecasts by roughly half to two per cent. Earnings per share will be flat. Elsewhere too vaping is facing a growing backlash. India and Brazil have imposed bans on products. And on Wednesday (September 25), US tobacco firms Philip Morris and Altria - the biggest investor in e-cigarette maker Juul - axed their merger talks.
