Ebiquity

The mantra at marketing insights specialist Ebiquity (EBQ) is 'adding value to data', and it's an area that is gaining increasing traction from global advertisers.

Driven by social media, Ebiquity is helping clients to carefully monetise data that can be used for effective campaigns. It points to impressive statistics such as 30bn pieces of content shared on Facebook each month, as well as 40% growth in global data each year.

In the six months to October, sales increased 17% to £24m, as underlying pre-tax profits jumped 92% to £2.2m. The £17.9m acquisition of Xtreme in 2010 doubled its size and is still yielding useful benefits. Following the elimination of significant costs, it has managed to hike its operating margins 50% to a respectable 10.5% – but there is scope to increase this further.

Some 75% of revenues are now derived from international contracts, with Ebiqutiy servicing more than 900 clients across 70 countries. AIM-listed Ebiquity has acquired The Joined Up Media Company, which brings a good presence in Russia, and in October it picked up Faulkner Media, the leading benchmarking consultancy in Australia.

Both deals followed the £3.5m acquisition of reputation analysis group Echo, a move that delivered new clients and helped to enhance its product set. Chief executive Michael Greenless says, 'Though clients are cautious, we remain confident that we are operating in an attractive niche.'

House broker Numis forecasts full-year pre-tax profits of £7.6m and EPS of 7.4p. Ebiquity trades in a sweet spot and is enjoying both margin expansion and solid organic growth.