eCommerce/Retail

We have written a 9-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it announced preliminary fiscal 2024 financial results, with revenue expected between $478M and $480M, slightly below prior estimates. Adjusted EBITDA is projected at $62M to $64M, in line with expectations. The Company also introduced a dividend program, including a special dividend of $0.20 per share and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share. Revenue was impacted by project timing shifts, the exit from low-margin accounts, and the Canada Post strike, but cost efficiencies from the Moore Canada Corporation integration supported profitability. Final results will be released on March 12, 2025. [more]

Nordstrom is set to go private in a $6.25 billion deal led by the Nordstrom family and Mexican retail giant Liverpool. Shareholders will receive $24.25 per share, a 42% premium to pre-deal speculation. The move aligns with industry trends, as department stores adapt to online competition and shifting shopping habits. Going private could provide Nordstrom greater flexibility, supported by Liverpool’s expertise in e-commerce and logistics. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2025, requires shareholder and regulatory approval. Nordstrom will retain its headquarters, management team, and iconic brand identity. [more]

Groupe Dynamite (TSX: GRGD) debuted on the public market with a secondary offering, raising $300 million for existing shareholders. The IPO valued the retailer at $2.7 billion, with an EV/Revenue ratio of 3.0x, above the average for North American retail comparables. Groupe Dynamite plans to use its free cash flow to support U.S. expansion and entry into the U.K. market. With revenue reaching $888.4 million in the last 12 months and a three-year CAGR of 14.9%, the company is positioned for growth in a competitive fashion landscape. Investors remain focused on its ability to sustain these trends. [more]

We have written a 16-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it released its Q3/2024 financials. DCM is a Canadian-based communications, DAM, marketing, MarTech, and social media analytics solutions provider. Revenue increased 14.5% YTD driven by the Moore Canada Corporation (MCC) acquisition. Despite a 11.4% decline in quarterly revenue due to reduced client spending and strategic account exits, DCM continued to focus on operational efficiencies and cost reductions. Adjusted EBITDA rose 6.6% Y/Y to $12.6 million, supported by MCC synergies and restructuring efforts. The company launched ASMBL and acquired Zavy Limited to expand tech-enabled solutions. DCM remains optimistic about revenue recovery and targets an improved EBITDA margin of over 14% in the coming quarters. [more]

Wonder Group, a delivery-focused food hall operator, has agreed to acquire Grubhub from Just Eat Takeaway.com for $650 million. The deal, comprising $150 million in cash and $500 million in senior notes, is expected to close in Q1/2025. Wonder plans to integrate Grubhub’s platform, which connects 375,000 merchants across 4,000 U.S. cities, to enhance its super app for meal ordering. This acquisition comes as Wonder raises $250 million to support its growth and follows its 2023 purchase of Blue Apron. Grubhub continues to face market challenges, with declining share and ongoing profitability concerns. [more]

We have written a 10-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it acquired Zavy Limited, a New Zealand-based provider of social media analytics. This acquisition enables DCM to expand its MarTech offerings, enhancing capabilities in social media performance analytics, audience sentiment, and data-driven marketing. Zavy’s platform provides tools like social media benchmarking and AI-driven insights, aligning with DCM’s strategic goals to shift towards digital solutions. The acquisition also allows DCM to extend Zavy’s services to North American markets, meeting the demand for social media analytics among both large enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses. [more]

We have written a 17-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it released Q2/2024 financials. DCM is a Canadian-based communications and marketing solutions provider. Revenue increased 5.7% to $125.8 million, though below our estimate due to deferred client projects. The company remains focused on completing the integration of Moore Canada Corporation by year-end and achieving annualized cost savings of $30 to $35 million. DCM‘s strategic initiatives target improved gross margins and revenue growth, particularly through technology-enabled solutions, including its new Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution called ASMBL. Focused on the merger integration, DCM reported a 22.2% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to $16.9 million. [more]

We have written a 16-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it released Q1/2024. DCM is a Canadian-based communications and marketing solutions provider. Revenue increased to $129.3 million in Q1/2024, up 69.9% from $76.1 million in Q1/2023, but lower than our estimate of $139.0 million. Revenue fell short of expectations mainly because several projects from larger clients were postponed to later quarters this year. DCM reported Adjusted EBITDA of $18.7 million in Q1/2024, an increase of 46.2% from $12.8 million in the same quarter last year. The EBITDA growth reflects the positive impact of the MCC acquisition and ongoing efforts to improve margins and reduce expenses. [more]