Ocado's latest financial update has sent shockwaves through the market, with its share price plummeting by as much as 18% on Thursday morning. Despite showing some signs of improvement in its annual results, the company's decision to cut research and development (R&D) spending and streamline operations has failed to reassure investors.
Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) shares have tumbled almost 20% even though results looked pretty good for the grocery delivery group, with analysts saying the outlook looked a little thin and that more investors may be getting impatient with the continued lack of cash flow. Broker Peel Hunt hailed "robust" 14.1% revenue growth, a 197% improvement in adjusted EBITDA and a £249 million improvement in underlying cash outflow "due to enhanced operational efficiencies from growing revenues, operating leverage, and reduced capex".
Ocado , the British online supermarket and technology group, reported a smaller annual loss and said it was on track to hit its key target of turning cash flow positive in its 2025-26 year.
Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) reported an increase in underlying profit and trimmed its statutory losses for last year, saying it remains confident of producing positive cashflows by 2026. Results for 2024 from the grocery delivery group show revenues of £3.2 billion, down 14.1%, as its Technology Solutions arm saw a decline of 18%, Ocado Logistics 7.6% and the Ocado Retail joint venture with Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) fell 14%.
OCADO GROUP (OCDDY) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.
Ocado Group plc (OTCPK:OCDGF) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call January 14, 2025 3:00 AM ET Company Participants Hannah Gibson - CEO Mat Ankers - CFO Conference Call Participants Manjari Dhar - RBC Luke Holbrook - Morgan Stanley William Woods - Bernstein Sarah Roberts - Barclays Tintin Stormont - Deutsche Numis Operator Good morning, and welcome to the Ocado Q4 2024 Analyst Call. I will now hand over to Chief Executive Officer, Hannah Gibson.
Ocado Retail's bumper Christmas and fourth quarter trading has split opinion among analysts. The Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) and Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS)-owned online supermarket on Tuesday flagged a “record” Christmas and full-year revenue of £2.69 billion, up 13.9%.
British online supermarket Ocado Retail's relationship with shareholder Marks & Spencer is strong, its boss said on Tuesday.
Ocado Retail has said it enjoyed a record Christmas to close out a strong year, aided by appetite for a growing range of Marks and Spencer Group PLC (LSE:MKS) goods. Revenue surged by 17.5% to £715.8 million in the fourth quarter, taking the figure up 13.9% to £2.69 billion over the year, the Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) and M&S-owned joint venture said Tuesday.
British online supermarket Ocado Retail, a joint venture between Ocado Group and Marks & Spencer , reported a 17.5% rise in fourth quarter revenue, saying it won more customers from rivals, helped by more competitive pricing.
For all its UK grocery market share gains, Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) share price continues to trundle along near historic lows. Fans say the grocery performance shows it is moving in the right direction boosted by the tie-up with Marks & Spencer.
Ocado and Tesco grabbed more grocery market share last month, data from Nielsen IQ showed. Overall, four-week UK grocery sales were up 3.2% up to 28 December, with analysts saying it implied modest volume growth as prices climbed.