While mid-market companies continue to fare better than their larger peers in the U.S., year-over-year revenue growth and job growth rates slowed in the final quarter of 2015, according to a report by the National Center for the Middle Market. Overall, mid-market companies reported revenue growth of 6.1 percent in Q4 2015 as compared with 7.2 percent in Q4 2014. What’s more, the smallest mid-market firms saw the biggest slowdown, reporting a 4.7 percent rate of growth for Q4 2015 compared with 6.3 percent at the end of 2014.
In view of this dampening, it’s not surprising that mid-market employment rate growth is also slowing. While nearly one-third of mid-market company survey participants expected to add jobs in 2016, that number is well below the 52 percent of companies that planned to hire at the end of 2014.
Business leaders also are not optimistic about the pace of growth picking up. On average, companies report foreseeing future revenue growth of just 3.7 percent over the next 12 months. A year ago, expectations were an optimistic 6 percent—and actual growth exceeded those expectations.
The tables and charts below offer a look at how 2015 played out for mid-market companies and what they expect from the year to come. For example, 25 percent of mid-market companies are actually holding on to their cash, while just 16 percent are using it for capital expenditures toward plants or equipment.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
