14th Jan 2025 11:43
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of earnings for London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Knights Group Holdings PLC - London-based professional services company - Revenue in the six months that ended October 31 improves 5.4% to GBP79.4 million from GBP75.3 million a year before, helping push pretax profit 30% higher to GBP9.0 million from GBP6.9 million. Knights ups its interim dividend by 9.3% to 1.76 pence per share from 1.61p. "Knights has delivered a strong performance in the first half, with a significant increase in profitability, supported by strong recruitment, significant client wins, contributions from prior year acquisitions and excellent cost discipline," Chief Executive Officer David Beech says. "The second half of the year has started in line with our expectations, with important recent client wins, and continued recruitment momentum, underpinning our confidence in delivering further organic growth in the second half."
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Ramsdens Holdings PLC - Middlesbrough, England-based financial services provider and pawnbroker - Revenue in the financial year that ended September 30 rises 14% to GBP95.6 million from GBP83.8 million the year prior, lifting pretax profit by 12% to GBP11.4 million from GBP10.1 million. Ramsdens ups its final dividend by 7.0% to 7.6 pence per share from 7.1p. Its total annual dividend is 7.7% higher at 11.2p from 10.4p. "Ramsdens' record performance in FY24 - with profit before tax increasing by 12% to more than GBP11 million - once again reflects the strength of the group's diversified business model. We are pleased with the positive momentum achieved across each of the group's income streams, with a particularly strong performance in our precious metals segment where we continued to benefit from the high gold price," Chief Executive Peter Kenyon says. "The increase in sales of foreign currency indicate we are taking market share and - in its first full year of use - our multi-currency card has had a very encouraging start with opportunities for further growth in FY25 and beyond." Trading early in the new financial year has been "pleasing", the company says, helped by a robust gold price. "Whilst the economic outturn for the rest of the year is uncertain, the group's diversified business model, strong cash generation and cost management gives the board confidence that the group will continue to grow and create value for all stakeholders," Ramsdens adds.
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GlobalData PLC - London-based analytics and consultancy firm - Expects 2024 revenue of GBP286 million, rising around 4.7% from GBP273.1 million in 2023 and landing within the GBP285.5 million to GBP288.1 million range of market expectations. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation also are expected to be within the market view and up 6% from 2023's GBP110.8 million. The range of market expectations for adjusted Ebitda is GBP117.0 million to GBP123.3 million. "The board is confident in GlobalData's outlook for 2025, underpinned by high levels of revenue visibility, good execution of the growth transformation plan and a strong financial position that allows continued investment in strategic growth opportunities," company says.
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Journeo PLC - Leicestershire-based provider of information systems and technical services to transport firms - Journeo expects revenue of GBP50 million for 2024, a rise from GBP46 million in 2023. It will be an outcome in line with market expectations. Adjusted pretax profit is to rise to GBP5.0 million from GBP4.0 million, slightly ahead of market expectations. It puts market expectations for adjusted pretax profit at GBP4.8 million. "On the basis of recent trading and strong order intake, the group is continuing to perform ahead of management's expectations and FY2025 is viewed with confidence," Journeo adds. It expects adjusted pretax profit for 2025 to be slightly ahead of the market view of GBP5.0 million, after accounting for the taxation changes in the 2024 UK autumn budget.
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Steppe Cement Ltd - cement producer in Kazakhstan - Records revenue of KZT39.24 billion, around USD84 million, in 2024, up 5.2% from KZT37.29 billion in 2023. Cement sales volumes rise 5% to 1.7 million tonnes and the average price is KZT22,916 per tonne, largely unmoved from KZT22,927 in 2023. Cement market consumption in Kazakhstan is 11.8 million tonnes in 2024, up from 11.5 million tonnes in 2023, the company says, with Steppe Cement's local market share improving to 14.5% from 14.2%.
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Atalaya Mining Copper SA - copper producer in Spain - Copper production in final quarter of 2024 is 12,078 tonnes, down from 12,775 a year prior, but up on-quarter from 11,901. For the whole of 2024, output fades to 46,227 tonnes from 51,667 tonnes in 2023, "as a result of lower grades and recoveries", Atalaya says. Output guidance for 2025 stands at 48,000 to 52,000 tonnes.
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Caledonia Mining Corp PLC - Zimbabwe-focused exploration, development and mining firm - Output at the Blanket mine in 2024 is in line with expectations, Caledonia says. Annual output of 76,656 ounces met guidance of 74,000 to 78,000 and topped 2023's 75,416. "Blanket production for 2024 excludes an estimated 700 ounces of unrecovered gold contained in an 8,400-tonne stockpile, which provides a strong start for 2025," Caledonia adds. Output guidance for 2025 is 73,500 to 77,500 ounces. It provides an on-mine cost forecast of USD1,050 to USD1,150 per ounce, rising from USD950 to USD1,050 for 2024. All-in sustaining costs between USD1,690 to USD1,790 per ounce are predicted, rising from USD1,450-USD1,550 for 2024. "Cost guidance for 2025 reflects higher labour, HR and IT expenses and increased sustaining capital expenditure. Increased expenditure in these areas is part of the ongoing modernisation of the business, building a foundation for the extended operating life at Blanket, growth arising from Bilboes and Motapa, and future profitability," Caledonia says.
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Onward Opportunities Ltd - investment firm focused on UK smaller companies - The investor hails "another encouraging period of NAV outperformance". NAV per share at the December 31 year-end is 131.37 pence, which it says equates to an annual total return of 23% for 2024. Its NAV per share a year prior is 106.50p. It "significantly" outperforms the UK AIM All Share Index in 2024, which declines 3.9% over the period. "Onward Opportunities has successfully navigated a tough backdrop and outperformed tougher competition this year," Laurence Hulse, the lead fund manager, says. "To have delivered this year both in terms of our investment performance and the growth of the fund, provides the best possible way by which to thank our supportive and expanding shareholder base."
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Comptoir Group PLC - London-based operator of Lebanese, Middle Eastern and North African inspired restaurants - Revenue in the financial year that ended December 29 climbs 9.5% on-year to GBP34,5 million. "The group had its most successful Christmas trading period to date as a result of the investment in people, systems, food quality and service providing its guests with great value and a differentiated experience," Comptoir says. Total sales for the six-week festive trading period to January 5 amount to GBP4.6 million, a rise of 19% on-year. Annual adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation are expected to have totalled GBP500,000. Comptoir estimates that the increase in national minimum wage and the changes to employers national insurance contributions in the UK will be around 10% of total labour costs, amounting to GBP800,000 in financial 2025 and GBP1.1 million on an annualised basis. It adds: "Given the general economic background of continuing high interest rates and other ongoing cost pressures this increase in labour cost puts pressure on all businesses in the sector to further increase pricing. We believe that we can achieve some labour cost savings through our excellent skilled teams and maintaining our high team retention rates together with the tactical use of technology. This, alongside modest price increases and a rigorous focus on costs, means we are confident that the group will continue to deliver in 2025 despite these additional headwinds."
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XP Factory PLC - Crawley, England-based leisure and entertainment company - XP Factory hails "very strong seasonal performances" for its Escape Hunt and Boom Battle Bar brands. Boom's like-for-like sales in the five weeks to January rise 17% and Escape Hunt's surge 14%. Group like-for-like sales over the 14 weeks to January 5 rise 8.5%. "20 Boom sites and 8 Escape Hunt sites delivered record sales weeks over the Christmas period," XP says. "The strong recent performances from both brands have offset the relatively softer period of trading in the summer and the group is currently on track to meet current year market expectations. The board is cognisant of the continuing macroeconomic uncertainty and associated nervousness in consumer confidence and remains focused on optimising performance in the final quarter of the financial year, whilst laying the foundations for the accelerated openings programme to come."
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By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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