Financial

Desjardins Group has agreed to acquire Guardian Capital Group in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.67 billion. The transaction follows Desjardins’ earlier acquisition of Guardian’s Worldsource businesses and will result in the combined organization managing roughly $280 billion in client assets. Guardian shareholders will receive $68.00 per share, representing a significant premium to recent trading levels. The transaction has been unanimously approved by both boards and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary approvals. [more]

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) has announced an agreement to acquire CyberArk Software (NASDAQ: CYBR) for approximately US$25 billion, marking its first entry into the identity security market. CyberArk shareholders will receive US$45 in cash and 2.2005 shares of Palo Alto Networks common stock, representing a 26% premium to the prior 10-day VWAP. The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately US$24.6 billion, or 20.5x revenue, and is expected to be accretive to revenue growth and gross margin immediately, with free cash flow per share accretion projected in F2028. [more]

We have written a 9-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it announced preliminary fiscal 2024 financial results, with revenue expected between $478M and $480M, slightly below prior estimates. Adjusted EBITDA is projected at $62M to $64M, in line with expectations. The Company also introduced a dividend program, including a special dividend of $0.20 per share and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share. Revenue was impacted by project timing shifts, the exit from low-margin accounts, and the Canada Post strike, but cost efficiencies from the Moore Canada Corporation integration supported profitability. Final results will be released on March 12, 2025. [more]

We have written a 16-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it released its Q3/2024 financials. DCM is a Canadian-based communications, DAM, marketing, MarTech, and social media analytics solutions provider. Revenue increased 14.5% YTD driven by the Moore Canada Corporation (MCC) acquisition. Despite a 11.4% decline in quarterly revenue due to reduced client spending and strategic account exits, DCM continued to focus on operational efficiencies and cost reductions. Adjusted EBITDA rose 6.6% Y/Y to $12.6 million, supported by MCC synergies and restructuring efforts. The company launched ASMBL and acquired Zavy Limited to expand tech-enabled solutions. DCM remains optimistic about revenue recovery and targets an improved EBITDA margin of over 14% in the coming quarters. [more]

We have written a 10-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it acquired Zavy Limited, a New Zealand-based provider of social media analytics. This acquisition enables DCM to expand its MarTech offerings, enhancing capabilities in social media performance analytics, audience sentiment, and data-driven marketing. Zavy’s platform provides tools like social media benchmarking and AI-driven insights, aligning with DCM’s strategic goals to shift towards digital solutions. The acquisition also allows DCM to extend Zavy’s services to North American markets, meeting the demand for social media analytics among both large enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses. [more]

We have written a 17-page Update Report on DATA Communications Management (DCM) after it released Q2/2024 financials. DCM is a Canadian-based communications and marketing solutions provider. Revenue increased 5.7% to $125.8 million, though below our estimate due to deferred client projects. The company remains focused on completing the integration of Moore Canada Corporation by year-end and achieving annualized cost savings of $30 to $35 million. DCM‘s strategic initiatives target improved gross margins and revenue growth, particularly through technology-enabled solutions, including its new Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution called ASMBL. Focused on the merger integration, DCM reported a 22.2% increase in Adjusted EBITDA to $16.9 million. [more]

Former President Donald Trump has outlined significant cryptocurrency policies aimed at positioning the U.S. as a global leader. Central to his platform is the creation of a “strategic Bitcoin stockpile,” filled with Bitcoin acquired through legal seizures. Trump also proposes a pro-crypto regulatory environment, including the establishment of a presidential advisory council on cryptocurrency and the appointment of a crypto-friendly SEC chairman. These proposals align with Trump’s broader economic agenda and have garnered support from key Silicon Valley figures. However, they also raise concerns about market volatility and the potential risks of reduced oversight. [more]

In this short video, Chris Thompson of eResearch discusses DCM and eResearch’s 16-page Equity Research Report that covers an in-depth analysis of DCM’s Q1/2024 financial results. [more]