EQ, a Gartland Whalley Barker spin-off, has not wrapped itself in glory since it launched onto the market (as e-quisitor) in 2000. Prior to its name change, it was mostly known for buying Stateside media group TVI for $10m cash, a few months before that business hit the rocks. Since then, however, it has wholly transformed itself and the TVI entity. Indeed, in its present guise, it is beginning to look attractive. TVI, for instance, now focusses on delivering a range of television programming to enable pharmaceutical companies to recruit patients for clinical studies. Last year sales at TVI hit $4.6m and operating profits $335,000. Its Broadnet outfit delivers advertising scheduling software for the UK radio market (it has a 55% market share). On sales of £650,000 Broadnet made operating profits of £350,000. Buckingham Research, acquired in 2001, is its highly respected (and again highly profitable) quantitative research venture. The marketing expertise of this outfit complements TVI's interests, and the interests of Quaestor, a business acquired recently for £1m. Another addition was the Lead Agency, a small telemarketing venture. Last year EQ made profits of £392,000 (pre-amortisation) on sales of £5.1m. Earning per share hit 0.99p. This year, with all of its marketing-led engines roaring, it expects to make at least 8p of earnings. Speculative buy.