Maersk, Hochtief, UniCredit Net Surge; Henkel, Vodafone Profit Fall

Nigel Thomas
11 Nov, 2014
New York City

Maersk net surged 25% $1.50 billion. BMW October sales soared 11%. Henkel fell 4% to

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt –Maersk net surged 25% $1.50 billion. BMW October sales soared 11%. Henkel fell 4% to €440 million but kept sales and earnings outlook. Hochtief net profit rose 3% to €155 million. UniCredit surged 79% to €722 million. Vodafone profit plunged 70% to £5.5 billion.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index slid 0.07% or 4.41 to 6,606.84 and in Frankfurt the DAX index fell 0.1% or 11.07 to 9,340.80.

In Paris, CAC 40 index rose 0.2% or 9.38 to 4,232.20.

AP Moeller - Maersk A/S declined 3.5% to 12,530 Denmark-based ocean freight liner and port terminals operator reported revenue in the third-quarter ending in September increased 0.7% to $12.17 billion from $12.08 billion a year ago period.

Net profit in the quarter surged 25% from a year ago to $1.50 billion compared to $1.20 billion and diluted earnings per share jumped to $67 from $52.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG rose 0.3% to €84.15 after the Germany-based luxury car and motorcycle maker said worldwide sales in October soared 11.1% to 184,297 vehicles including MINI and Rolls-Royce brands from 165,854 vehicles in the same month a year ago.

BMW branded vehicle sales in the month climbed 10.8% to 155,120 units from 140,060 in the year ago month.

For the year-to-date, group sales jumped 7% to 1,714,197 vehicles from 1,602,020 vehicles a year ago and Sales of BMW brand in the period surged 9.3% to 1,474,632 vehicles.

Henkel AG & Co KGaA climbed 4.8% to €83.39 after the Germany-based consumer goods and laundry products maker reported sales in the third-quarter ending in September rose 1.2% to €4.24 billion from €4.18 billion a year ago period.

Net profit in the quarter declined 3.9% from a year ago to €440 million compared to €458 million and diluted earnings per share slipped to €1 from €1.05.

The company said sales in all three units and emerging markets were stronger than a year ago, despite lower North American sales.

The company lifted its profit margin forecast while maintained sales and earnings per share growth.

Hochtief AG gained 0.9% to €58.93 after the Germany-based €83.39 after the Germany-based reported net profit in the nine-month ending in September increased 3.3% from a year ago to €155.4 million from €150.4 million and earnings per share climbed 8.7% to €2.24 from €2.06.

New orders in the period declined 13.3% to €17.51 billion compared to €20.19 billion a year ago period.

UniCredit SpA slipped 3.6% to €5.40 after the Italy-based financial service provider said revenues in the third-quarter ending in September dropped 3.2% to €5.55 billion from €5.66 billion a year ago period.

Group net profit in the quarter surged 79% from a year ago to €722 million compared to €204 million and earnings per share jumped to 0.42 from €0.22.

Vodafone Group Plc surged 6.7% to 221.81 pence after the U.K.-based mobile company reported group revenue in the first-half ending in September climbed 8.9% to £20.75 billion from £19.06 billion a year ago period.

Profit in the period plunged 69.5% from a year ago to £5.50 billion compared to £18.06 billion and diluted earnings per share dropped to 20.37 pence from 67.23 pence.