Europe Earnings: Alstom Plunges 12%, Unilever Net climbs 9%

Nigel Thomas
21 Jan, 2014
New York City

Alstom plunged 12% after it lowered fiscal outlook and revenue declined 2%. IMI will return

[R]3:40 PM Frankfurt – Alstom plunged 12% after it lowered fiscal outlook and revenue declined 2%. IMI will return £620 million to shareholders from the sale of beverage and merchandise divisions. Unilever net climbed 9% to €5 billion. Wirecard said quarterly revenues climbed 23%.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index rose 0.3% or 17 to 6,854.73 and in Frankfurt the DAX index jumped 0.6% or 59.33 to 9,775.23.

In Paris, CAC 40 index gained 0.5% or 21.31 to 4,344.17.

Alstom SA plunged 12.3% to €24.34 after the France-based transport and energy infrastructure developer reported revenue in the third-quarter declined 2.4% to €4.80 billion from €4.92 billion a year ago.

Alstom said orders booked soared 11% to €5.62 billion from €5.05 billion a year ago period.

As of December 31, the company added backlog was €51 billion, represented 30 months of sales.

For fiscal 2014, the group maintains its forecast of low-single digit sales growth. For the fiscal 2015 the operating margin are expected to be affected by lower sales in thermal power unt.

IMI Plc slid 2% to 1,548.40 pence after the U.K.-based engineering company said it will return £620 million or $1.02 billion to shareholders from the sale of its beverage-dispense and merchandising divisions.

Melrose Industries Plc, the private investment company said the board intends to use part of the net proceeds of these disposals following recent sale of £600 million businesses in cash to shareholders.

Unilever Plc gained 2.7% to 2,504 pence after the U.K.-based consumer goods maker reported revenue in the year ending in December dropped 3.2% to €49.8 billion from €49.8 billion a year ago.

Net profit in the year climbed 9% to €5.3 billion compared to €4.8 billion and diluted earnings per share jumped 11% to €1.66 from a year earlier.

The company added revenue in the fourth-quarter dropped 6% to €11.8 billion from €12.6 billion a year ago period.

Wirecard AG climbed 4.8% to €32.01 after the Germany-based electronic payment services provider said revenues in the fourth-quarter ending in December climbed 23% to €141.1 million from €115.1 million a year ago period.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the quarter jumped 16% to €36.2 million compared to €31.1 million a year earlier.

The company expects 2014 EBITDA between €160 million and €175 million.