MARKS & SPENCER PLC (MKS) Shares

ABOUT MARKS & SPENCER PLC

Marks & Spencer plc is a leading British multinational retailer with a history dating back to 1884, when the company was first founded by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer.

The company came to prominence in the early 20th century with its focus on selling only British-made goods. It began to retail in clothes and food under the brand St Michael, which it introduced in 1928, with nearly all its goods distributed under this label by the 1950’s.

The Group moved to diversify its portfolio through international expansion in 1973, starting with the introduction of forty-seven stores across Canada. This was continued with expansion into France and Belgium over the next two decades.

In 1985 the company introduced the M&S Bank, a retail bank operating in the UK, which was later purchased by HSBC in 2003.

Today the bank operates several branches within Marks & Spencer stores.

In 1998 the company became the first British retailer to record a profit of £ 1 billion.

OVERVIEW OF MARKS & SPENCER PLC

• Marks & Spencer plc functions across a range of retail divisions consisting of Food, Clothing and Home, M&S Bank and its international divisions.

• The M&S food division recently underwent a restructuring process in order to tackle value perception and reduce the price of over 400 of its most popular lines. Its food division enjoyed significant promotion in millions of homes with the Group’s sponsorship of the 2019 series of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

• The Group is also promoting the restructuring of its clothing and home division, with a brand focus on contemporary, wearable style at great value. Sales of the Group’s £ 15 women’s jeggings were up 30% over the campaign period. The Group has also become dedicated to enhancing its online presence by investing in better navigation and product imagery to deliver a more mobile-first and feature rich experience.

• Digital marketing of the Holly’s Must-Haves range generated 1.7 million clicks through to the Group’s website, with tools such as Instagram Shoppable, helping drive sales. As a result of these actions, UK Clothing & Home division saw online growth of 9.8% and improved its online clothing market share.

• The Group’s strategy for its international division entails creating a more competitive localised version of M&S in those selected markets where it feels it can attain a sustainable market share. The Group’s growing Indian joint venture already consists of 77 stores as it works to localise its range for each market.

• The Group recently partnered with Octopus Energy to establish its M&S Energy division, which provides its customers with 100% renewably sourced electricity.

VISION & VALUES MARKS & SPENCER PLC

• Marks & Spencer plc‘s Plan A strategy encompasses its principles of sustainability. The Plan entails 100 commitments to tackle five big issues – climate change, waste, resources, fair partnerships and health.

• The Plan is implemented by building partnerships with communities, councils, charities, NGOs and businesses to collectively solve problems and scale-up solutions.

• Since the introduction of the Plan the Group has saved more than £750 million in costs and won over 240 awards.

• The 2025 goals outlined in the plan include the establishment of the Group as a leader in sustainable living, transforming 1000 communities, addressing in-work poverty and modern-day slavery, and ensuring that 100% of the Group’s products address 100% of their material social and environmental impacts.

MARKET PERFORMANCE OF MARKS & SPENCER PLC

• Marks & Spencer Group plc currently trades on the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE), where investors can buy shares under the stock symbol MKS.

• Data from the Group’s 2019 financial analysis showed Group profit before tax up by 26.6% to £ 84.6 million, with basic earnings per share up by 31.3% to 2.1p, with total dividends for the period 2018/19 at 13.9p.

• The Group’s restructuring strategy has seen a steady turnaround in market perception, with its emphasis on value drawing positive consumer sentiment.

• This should result in a good long-term buy-in for investors who choose to purchase shares.

Buy MARKS & SPENCER PLC stocks / shares – A Step by Step Guide how to Buy / Purchase MARKS & SPENCER PLC Stocks or Shares online.

Before buying any stock or share one has to consider a few factors.

STEP 1: PROPER RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL

Upon deciding you want to buy MARKS & SPENCER PLC Stocks / Shares, it is critical for the serious investor to do proper research into the said company. Its values should align with those of the investor’s current portfolio. An investor needs to familiarise himself with the basics and history of the company, as well as its leadership and performance in the market. Its company reports should also be scrutinized.

Consultation with a brokerage firm can also assist in determining whether investing in a specific company will complement the investor’s current portfolio. The investment “risk ladder”, which identifies asset classes based on their relative riskiness, is another useful tool when determining which company’s stock / share is the best to buy.

STEP 2: CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN MARKS & SPENCER PLC STOCKS / SHARES

It is important for an investor to monitor his total investment in stock in order to keep his portfolio aligned to his investment strategy. The overall value of his holdings will change with the fluctuation in stock prices, which can throw his portfolio off balance. To determine the amount to invest, multiply the number of shares of each stock by its current market price to determine the total investment in that specific stock. For example, if you own 100 shares of a US Dollar 5 stock, multiply 100 by US Dollar 5 to get US Dollar 500.

STEP 3: DECIDE ON THE STOCK / SHARE ORDER TYPE

Investors can choose from a market order, a limit order, a stop order (also referred to as a stop-loss order) or a buy/sell stop order. It is important to familiarise yourself with each type’s pros and cons before deciding which one will suit your current stock profile best. An investor should be guided in this choice by his investment objective.

STEP 4: OPEN A BROKERAGE ACCOUNT

A brokerage account – also known as taxable investment account – is similar to a retirement account, but more flexible. Where a retirement account has limitations on the amount of money that can be contributed annually, and restrictions on when funds can be withdrawn, a brokerage account is more flexible. The latter has no income or contribution limit and the investor can withdraw his money at any given time. This flexibility, together with its potential investment gains, makes a brokerage account more attractive to serious investors. Brokerage accounts are ideal for goals or savings that are further than five years away, but closer than retirement. It can also supplement an investor’s emergency savings.

STEP 5: COMMIT AND PURCHASE MARKS & SPENCER PLC STOCKS / SHARES

Lastly, commit to the stock. Pro Tip: Monitor the value of your stock to ensure you have a growing stock value and dividend pay-out.  Regularly check the share price online to ensure your investment delivers a positive return on investment. You are now a proud owner of MARKS & SPENCER PLC stocks / shares.

5 Questions to ask yourself before purchasing any stocks or shares.

1. Is it the best time to buy this stock / share?
2. Should I buy MARKS & SPENCER PLC stocks / shares in the current economic climate?
3. Can I afford to buy this stock / share?
4. What is the forecast of the stock / share growth?
5. What is the current price per earning ration on the stock / share?