oOh!Media Ltd (ASX: OML) shares are in the spotlight today after giving an update.
oOh!Media is one of the largest out of home media advertising businesses with 37,000 digital and static advertising boards that are placed on roadsides, retail centres, airports, train stations, bus stops, office towers, cafes, bars and universities.
Trading update
The advertising company said that there has been a strong recovery in out of home audiences after the COVID-19 lockdowns.
In Australia, road and retail out of home audience volumes were tracking in late November at 87% of their 2019 levels, up from a low of approximately 50% in the middle of April 2020. New Zealand is now at, or above, FY19 levels.
Over this period, SMI reported that total Australian advertising market spend improved from a decline of 44% in May to a 5% decline in October compared to the prior corresponding period.
Overall, oOh!Media’s third quarter revenue was approximately 43% lower than the prior corresponding period, which has improved to a decline of between 28% to 34% in the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter is expected to finish strong, with Australian road, retail, street furniture and New Zealand revenue expected to represent an approximate 11% to 18% decline compared to a very healthy fourth quarter in the prior corresponding period.
The advertising business is now expecting full year revenue to be in a range of $420 million to $430 million, depending on how much volume is written in the last two weeks of December.
The company also said its net debt is expected to be between $120 million to $130 million at 31 December 2020.
What it tells us about the economy
oOh!Media CEO Brendon Cook said: “While Out of Home was clearly the most impacted media during the COVID-19 period from March to September, it is rebounding strongly.
“We are proud of the role we have played during COVID-19, with our assets used to convey public health messaging across the country.”
oOh!Media could be seen as a gauge for the whole economy. A business won’t do as much advertising if management don’t feel confident about the recovery. The fact that it is seeing a recovery is positive for confidence and the earnings trajectory of many other businesses.
However, it seems the market has priced in a decent amount of the recovery. There are ASX growth shares that I think look like great long term opportunities that are going through a tough time such as A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M).
