Elis shares tumble after reported bid for US uniform supplier Vestis By Reuters
Elis's Acquisition Approach: Elis has made a preliminary offer to acquire U.S. uniform supplier Vestis, leading to a significant drop in its stock price by 16%, as it confirmed the discussions may not lead to a finalized deal.
Market Reaction and Analyst Insights: The stock market reacted negatively, marking Elis as one of the biggest losers on the STOXX 600 index, with analysts suggesting that this move could pressure the share price in the short term, reminiscent of its past acquisition strategy.
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Analyst Upgrade and Financial Performance: Elis has been upgraded to "outperform" by Bernstein, following a strategic shift that includes a €150 million share buyback program and a focus on returning capital to shareholders. The company reported a 5.2% organic sales growth in 2024 and improved its adjusted EBITDA margin to 35.2%.
Future Outlook and Market Position: Bernstein raised its price target for Elis to €27.50, citing strong performance in key markets like France and Germany, while acknowledging challenges in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. The company plans to gradually reduce leverage and has announced a 5% increase in dividends, indicating a commitment to shareholder value amidst cautious acquisition strategies.
Vestis Share Decline: Shares of Vestis dropped over 3% after Elis announced it had ended takeover discussions, contributing to a 33% decline in Vestis's stock this year.
Elis's Strategic Focus: Elis terminated talks with Vestis and UniFirst due to financial discipline concerns but remains committed to organic growth and exploring new market opportunities.

Takeover Proposal: French company Elis SA has made an informal takeover proposal to U.S. workplace supplies provider UniFirst Corp, following a previous approach to rival Vestis Corp.
Market Position: Elis, valued at approximately 9.2 billion euros, specializes in workplace supplies and uniform maintenance services, while discussions with both UniFirst and Vestis are ongoing.

Analyst Downgrade: Bernstein downgraded Elis Services from "Outperform" to "Perform," lowering the price target from €27.60 to €21.40 due to concerns about the risks associated with its acquisition of Vestis, which may limit financial flexibility and dilute EBITDA margins.
Growth Projections: Despite solid revenue growth projections for 2024, Bernstein adjusted organic growth estimates down to 5.5%, highlighting potential long-term challenges in realizing benefits from the Vestis acquisition.
Elis's Acquisition Interest: The French company Elis has made a preliminary approach to acquire U.S. uniform supplier Vestis, aiming to expand its presence in the U.S. market.
Vestis's Market Position: Vestis, based in Roswell, Georgia, had a market capitalization of approximately $2 billion as of the last trading day.





