Europe Earnings: BT Group, Centrica, Enel, Munich RE, Sage, Supergroup

Nigel Thomas
08 May, 2014
New York City

BT Group net jumped 7% to

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – BT Group net jumped 7% to £2 billion and UK based energy provider Centrica fell after weak fiscal outlook. Italy based Enel net climbed 5% but revenue declined 11%. Munich RE profit dropped 5% to €919 million. Sage Group net swung to a profit £117 million.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index rose 0.3% or 22.51 to 6,818.95 and in Frankfurt the DAX index gained 0.4% or 35.11 to 9,556.41.

In Paris, CAC 40 index increased 0.5% or 21.08 to 4,467.52.

BT Group Plc jumped 2.4% to 385.80 pence after the U.K.-based communications service provider reported revenue in the year ending in March rose 1% to £18.29 billion from £18.10 million a year ago.

Profit in the year jumped 7% to £2.02 billion compared to £1.95 billion and diluted earnings per share increased to 24.50 pence from 23.70 pence a year earlier.

In the quarter, the company said net fiber or high speed connections climbed 28% to 347,000 and 1.3 million net connections in the year, an increase of 45%.

Centrica Plc declined 3% to 316.96 pence after the U.K.-based energy company lowered its adjusted earnings per share forecast for the year in the range of 22 pence to 23 pence a share.

The company said average residential gas and electricity consumption for the first four months of 2014 dropped by 25% and 10% respectively and in the year to date, number of residential accounts on supply decreased by 180,000 compared to same period of a year ago.

Enel S.p.A gained 2.9% to €4.13 after the Italy-based electricity and gas supplier reported revenue in the first-quarter ending in March declined 11.1% to €18.18 from €20.44 billion a year ago.

Net income in the quarter climbed 5% to €895 million compared to €852 million and earnings per share rose to €0.10 from €0.09 a year earlier.

Munich RE was halted at €157.10 after the Germany-based reinsurance company reported group gross written premiums in the first-quarter ending in March dropped 2.7% to €12.92 billion from €18 billion a year ago.

Net profit in the quarter dropped 4.6% to €919 million compared to €963 million in the same quarter a year ago.

The reinsurer forecasted gross premium revenues for the year to achieve €48 billion compared to earlier guidance of €50 billion and reiterated net profit in the year of €3 billion.

The Sage Group Plc plunged 5.5% to 398.60 pence after the U.K.-based enterprise software service provider reported revenue in the first-half dropped 7% to £657 million from £708 million a year ago.

Net for the period swung to a profit £117.1 million compared to a loss of £74.6 million and diluted earnings per share swung to 10.56 pence from a loss of 6.27 pence a year earlier.

Supergroup Plc plunged 12.4% to 1,181 pence after the U.K.-based clothing and accessory retailer said group sales in the fourth quarter jumped 12.4% to £97.81 million and annual sales climbed 19.6% to £431 million from a year ago.

The fashion retailer said total retail sales soared 13.3%, while wholesale sales increased 11.2% from a year earlier.