Huntsworth's share price doubled in 2017

BLOCKLEY, U.K. - Dec. 13, 2017 - PRLog -- Shares in the international public relations group Huntsworth more than doubled in value in 2017 and have recovered to the price last achieved in 2010.

The company topped this year's table of publicly listed marketing company share price performances  – a year in which more shares lost value than improved.

Even the mighty WPP saw its shares fall by 21.6% in the year as it grappled with global economic uncertainties as well as facing a threat to its investment in Japan.

Nevertheless the stock market performance of the sector as a whole has been positive, with the MSFI Index improving by 18.4% in the period while the FTSE All-Share Index grew by a more modest 9.9%.

Huntsworth's price recovery followed a period of extensive boardroom changes, including the appointment of Paul Taaffe as chief executive in succession to Lord Chadlington and the hiring of new chief financial officer Neil Jones.

The board overhaul was not entirely trouble free, as the welcome arrival of Lord Myners came to an abrupt end within four months. He has been succeeded by Derek Mapp. A trading update is expected tomorrow although the results for 2017 will not be known until 6 March.

At the online advertising and app distribution company Crossrider, the 98.5% improvement in share price in the year is less obviously justified as it continued to report losses, albeit on a smaller scale.

By contrast, the 74.2% rise in share price of the email marketing company dotDigital Group reflected a continuation of healthy growth in revenue and profit as it reported a 33.1% increase in post-tax profit in the year to 30 June 2017 on a 16.9% rise in gross income.

The full report may be found in the industry's research publication Marketing Services Financial Intelligence (www.fintellect.com).