Listed businesses in the North of England issued five profit warnings in Q3 2021, down 44% from the nine recorded in Q3 2020, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report.
The number of warnings issued (5) between July and September is the lowest of any quarter since Q4 2014 (4) and a 38% decrease on Q2 2021. ‘Supply chain and cost-related issues’ were cited in four out of five of the warnings.
Sam Woodward, EY Parthenon UK&I Turnaround and Restructuring Leader in the North West said: “Although profit warnings issued by listed companies in the North have fallen, it’s clear that businesses are facing significant challenges with their supply chain and cash stresses that have cascaded through the economy.
“Over the last 18 months, government support has mitigated the impact of massive changes in the UK economy. These measures have now come to an end and the remainder of the year will reveal those surviving on life support, as the government removes most, but not all of its props.”
Those in FTSE Consumer Discretionary sectors – including Retailers and Travel and Leisure – issued the most warnings in the North in Q3 2021.
Total UK Profit Warnings
Whilst profit warnings in the North fell, the overall number issued by UK listed companies rose to 51 in the third quarter of the year, up 19 from Q2 2021, as threats to growth and profitability increased.
The report reveals that whilst a post-pandemic demand surge boosted sales for many businesses over the summer months, it has also exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains and energy and labour markets, with 43% citing these pressures as the reason for their profits warning.
Nearly two-fifths (39%) of companies warning were also affected by the fallout of COVID-19 – down from 72% in the previous quarter. Whilst the direct impact of the pandemic is waning, the increase in supply and cost pressures, and the end of government furlough support, will add to the challenge – especially for sectors where demand hasn’t yet returned to pre-COVID-19 levels.
Businesses with annual turnover of under £100m issued 50% of the third quarter’s profit warnings and almost 60% of the warnings were from AIM listed companies, typically small to mid-market companies which are less resilient to economic headwinds. New headwinds, including the impact of the steep rise in energy costs on a wide range of sectors, has also led to a high proportion of new companies warning for the first time.
Supply challenges dominate
The report revealed that profit warnings are rising in consumer-facing sectors as the impact of rising energy prices, supply bottlenecks and labour shortages spread across the economy. Consumer Discretionary FTSE sectors issued the most warnings in Q3 2021 with 11, followed by Industrials with 10.
The Consumer Staples sector – including food, drink, and household product producers – issued six warnings, its highest level of third-quarter profit warnings since 2014, with all but one of these six warnings blaming increasing costs or supply chain issues.
Meanwhile, supply chain issues remain acute in many FTSE Industrial sectors compounded by delayed or cancelled contracts, as companies suspended or limit production in response to the direct or knock-on impacts of rising costs or the lack of goods and labour.
Rising energy prices have also generated considerable stress in the retail energy supply sector, with EY expecting the number of UK suppliers to consolidate to 8-10, from 70 at the start of 2021. There is also a wider challenge in the transition to Net Zero that is also playing out in this and other sectors – including oilfield services and automotive – as companies move away from carbon intensive activities.
Alan Hudson said: “As this recovery develops, we expect the gaps to widen between and within sectors, depending on companies pricing power, their agility and capacity to adapt and capitalise on changing behaviours, and their ability to build a sustainable long-term value story.”
A sustainable recovery?
The research also explores how the trade-off between value and values is narrowing. Changing consumer behaviours, regulation and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) measurements are now all moving into the capital markets mainstream and companies will increasingly need to demonstrate their commitment to creating long-term value.
Adding to the challenge for companies is the lack of standardisation and regulation of ESG measurements. But, with the growth in green indices, green bonds, green investment funds and increasing fund manager differentiation, EY anticipates more consistent standards and scrutiny to emerge. This could effectively lead to companies issuing ‘purpose warnings’ in the future – for instance, if companies miss targets and their price of debt increases, or they miss out on contracts as a result.
Joanne Robinson, EY-Parthenon Partner, Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy, said: “Just as we’re seeing increased investor reaction to profit warnings in the wake of greater economic peril, we’re also seeing investors react to greater climate peril. There’s no doubt that companies face a potentially difficult transition period where they’ll need to manage and time new investments, whilst also maintaining some legacy businesses.
She added: “Companies need to strengthen their social licence to attract new customers and talent. The sustainability challenge will provide the impetus to innovate new products, services and business models that will be more valuable and resilient in the long-term. But the journey – as we can see in the UK energy market – won’t be easy.”
