Recent articles for private investors with a focus on dividend announcements
Daily Mail and General Trading Statement
Summary- Solid Group revenue performance, up 2% underlying#- Good underlying# growth from B2B operations- Resilient revenue performance at Associated; circulation and digital revenue growth largely offsetting print advertising weakness- Active portfolio management; targeted acquisitions and disposal of non-core assets- Outlook for the year remains unchanged.
Hays Q1 IMS
HAYS PLCINTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENTQUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 201212 April 2012Financial summaryGrowth in net fees for the quarter ended 31 March 2012 (Q3) Growth(versus the same period last year) Actual LFL*By region Asia Pacific 17% 9% Continental Europe & Rest of World 27% 26% United Kingdom & Ireland (5)% (5)% Total 12% 10%By segment Temporary 16% 14% Permanent 8% 5% Total 12% 10%* LFL (like-for-like) growth represents organic growth at constant currency.Highlights· Good Group net fee growth of 10%* versus prior year· International business delivered strong growth of 18%* and represented 70% of net fees in the quarter· Strong growth of 26%* in Continental Europe & Rest of World, driven by continued excellent performance in Germany which grew by 36%*· Good growth of 9%* in Asia Pacific, with 9%* growth in Australia & New Zealand, and 5%* growth in the rest of Asia· Net fees decreased 5% in the UK & Ireland, with private sector declining 6%. Public sector net fees declined 2%· Based on the Group's year-to-date performance and our current view on outlook, we expect full year operating profit to be towards the top of the current range of market estimatesCommenting on the Group's performance in the third quarter, Alistair Cox, ChiefExecutive, said:"We have made an encouraging start to the second half with good performances inmany parts of the Group. In our International business, which now accounts for70% of total net fees, growth accelerated to 18%*. 13 countries around theworld grew by over 20%* and our market-leading German business was amongst 7countries that delivered record performances. In the UK, markets remaindifficult, especially in Banking and the public sector.Looking ahead, many parts of the Group continue to grow, but ongoinguncertainty about the global economic outlook means that our markets around theworld remain complex and far from uniform. Against this backdrop, we willcontinue to invest selectively in growth areas whilst at the same time reactingto changing conditions in each of our countries and specialisms to maximisefees and profitability. Our unrivalled global footprint, sectoraldiversification and market leadership in so many countries positions us well tocapitalise on today's complex markets as well as the long-term opportunitiesfor growth which remain undiminished."
Vedanta Resources Full year production release
Vedanta Resources plcProduction Release for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended 31 March 2012
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust IMS April 2012
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc Interim Management Statement for the three months to 31 March 2012Investment ObjectiveThe investment objective of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc (ASCoT) is to achieve a net asset value total return (with dividends reinvested) greater than on the RBS Hoare Govett Smaller Companies Index (Excluding Investment Companies) (RBS HGSC (XIC)) over the long term.Aberforth Partners LLP are contracted as the Investment Managers and Secretaries to the Company.Features
James Halstead Interims
James Halstead plc, the AIM listed manufacturer and international distributor of commercial floor coverings, reports:
First Group Pre-close trading update March 2012
PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATEOverall tradingThe Group provided an update on trading in respect of the third quarter of its financial year on 12 January 2012. Since then overall trading for the Group has been in line with management's expectations and we remain on course to achieve overall earnings and cash targets for the year.Our portfolio continues to provide diversity with separate businesses moving at different stages through the economic cycle. Our three North American businesses continue to demonstrate progress and the US macro economic outlook is showing positive signs. In UK Rail, against a background of robust revenue growth we are now at an inflection point in the Government's re-franchising programme. Lower economic activity, particularly in Scotland and the North of England, is creating pressure on the performance of our UK Bus business.During the year we have continued to drive cash generation to support capital investment, debt reduction and dividend growth of 7%, in line with our current commitment. As previously indicated, we expect cash generation for the year to be within the range of £100m to £115m and a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2.5x at 31 March 2012.
3i pre-close trading statement - March 2012
Commenting on the statement, 3i's Chief Executive, Michael Queen, said:
Tui Travel pre-close trading update March 2012
Peter Long, Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC, commented
Dominos Pizza Q1 2012 IMS
Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc announces its Interim Management Statement in conjunction with its Annual General Meeting which is to be held at 1pm today [28 March 2012]. Financial data relates to the 13 week period to 25 March 2012 ("the period") unless otherwise stated.
Kazakhmys Final Results
This preliminary results announcement includes the audited consolidated financial results of the Kazakhmys Group for the year ended 31 December 2011, including the Group's proportionate share of the unaudited earnings of ENRC PLC (ENRC), in which the Group has a 26% shareholding, on an equity accounted basis.
United Utilities Trading statement March 2012
UNITED UTILITIES TRADING UPDATEUnited Utilities remains on track to deliver a good underlying financial performance for the year ending 31 March 2012. The company's operational and efficiency initiatives continue to progress well and it remains on course to meet its regulatory outperformance targets.United Utilities is continuing to implement a wide range of business improvement initiatives, which are delivering benefits for customers. This is being recognised through an improvement in Ofwat's service incentive mechanism (SIM) assessment and this positive trend is continuing through the second half of 2011/12. United Utilities expects to meet its 2011/12 regulatory leakage target, reflecting strong year round operational focus, and the company's reservoir stocks remain in excess of 90%.Revenue for the full year is expected to increase by between 3% and 4%. This increase is slightly below the allowed regulated price rise, principally reflecting the ongoing impact of customers switching to meters and lower commercial volumes in the second half of the year.
Kingfisher Final Results
Kingfisher reports full year adjusted pre-tax profits up 20% to £807 million and dividends up 25% in its final year of 'Delivering Value'. Provides details of the next phase of its development 'Creating the Leader'
Motley Fools Article on dividend stocks
http://www.fool.co.uk/news/investing/2012/03/16/5-reasons-to-buy-high-yield-shares.aspx?source=ufwflwlnk0000001
Premier Farnell Final Results
Commenting on the results, Harriet Green, GroupChief Executive, said:`Despite the sharp contraction last year inglobal industrial and technology markets, we continued to demonstrate theresilience of our balanced strategy and operating model. We increased salesdespite the previous year's record levels, we maintained full-year operatingprofit and we achieved an industry-leading return on sales for the fourthsuccessive year. The successful execution of our strategy generated strongcash flow. As a result of this performance, we were able to maintain returnsfor our shareholders.We remain cautious on the economic outlook as themarket continues to be uncertain and the nature of our business gives uslimited forward visibility. However, as comparators become easier from themiddle of the year and we benefit from a 53rd week, we expect growth to returnthis year. As such we will continue to invest in support of our strategy andour people.'
Home Retail end of year trading statement
Terry Duddy, Chief Executive of Home Retail Group, commented:
IG Group IMS March 2012
IG Group Holdings plc ("IG" or the "Group") today issues the following Interim Management Statement for the period from 1 December 2011 to 12 March 2012. Unless otherwise stated, trends and figures highlighted below refer to the three months ended 29 February 2012 and the corresponding period last year. The commentary below excludes the Sport business which was discontinued as of June 2011.
Reuters Dividend Article
LONDON (Reuters) - Global investors in search of high-dividend equity plays are heading to emerging markets, abandoning their view of these stocks as a predominantly growth-based investment.
Aggreko Final Results
Group revenue
£1,396m
£1,230m
14%
22%
Group revenue excl pass through fuel
£1,288m
£1,156m
11%
Trading profit (2)
£341m
£314m
8%
26%
Profit before tax
£327m
£307m
6%
Pre-exceptional diluted earnings per share (4)
87.72p
79.69p
10%
Post-exceptional diluted earnings per share
98.83p
79.69p
24%
Dividend per share
20.79p
18.90p
10%
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