Bayer, Deutsche Telekom, Thales Net Surge; RBS Net Loss Narrows

Nigel Thomas
26 Feb, 2015
New York City

Ahold net tumbled 77% to

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Ahold net tumbled 77% to €594 million. Bayer profit climbed 7% to €3.4 billion. British American Tobacco net plunged 19% to £3.4 billion. Deutsche Telekom surged three-fold to €2.9 billion. RBS net loss narrowed to £3.5 billion. Thales profit climbed 25%.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index slid 0.02% or 1.31 to 6,934.07 and in Frankfurt the DAX index increased 0.7% or 78.73 to 11,289.

In Paris, CAC 40 index rose 0.3% or 16.33 to 4,898.37.

Koninklijke Ahold N.V dropped 2.5% to €16.60 after the Netherlands-based retail group said net sales in the year ending in December edged up 0.5% to €32.8 billion from €32.6 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the year tumbled 76.6% from a year ago to €594 million compared to €2.54 billion and diluted earnings per share declined to €0.67 from €2.39.

The supermarket operator announced a new buyback program of €500 million in the next 12 months.

Bayer AG climbed 3.6% to €131.95 after the Germany-based conglomerate reported sales in the year ending in December jump 5.2% to €42.24 billion from €40.16 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the year climbed 7.4% from a year ago to €3.43 billion compared to €3.19 billion and diluted earnings per share increased to €4.14 from €3.86.

The company added sales from health care group in the year increased 5.6% to €19.98 billion and sales from crop science segment €9.49 billion. Sales from material science rose 3.7% to €11.65 billion.

The conglomerate forecasted sales in the region for the year of about €46 billion and anticipated special charges in fiscal 2015 of €700 million.

British American Tobacco Plc increased 1.8% to 3,796 pence after the U.K.-based financial service provider stated revenues in the year ending in December declined 8.4% to £13.97 billion from £15.26 billion a year ago period.

Net profit in the year plunged 19.3% from a year ago to £3.39 billion compared to £4.20 billion and diluted earnings per share dropped to 166.6 pence from 204.6 pence.

British American Tobacco said group cigarette volume declined 1.4% to 667 billion.

The group declared total dividend per share for the year of 148.1 pence, an increase of 4%.

Deutsche Telekom AG fell 0.7% to €131.95 after the Germany-based telecom company said revenues in the year ending in December climbed 4.2% to €62.66 billion from €60.13 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the year surged 214% from a year ago to €2.92 billion compared to €930 million and diluted earnings per share advanced to €0.65 from €0.21.

For the fiscal 2015, the telecom operator forecasted adjusted EBITDA of about €18.3 billion and planned free cash flow of €4.3 billion.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plunged 5.8% to 379.90 pence after the U.K.-based financial service provider stated revenues in the year ending in December plunged 9.7% to £13.08 billion from £14.49 billion a year ago period.

Net loss in the year narrowed from a year ago to £3.47 billion compared to £8.99 billion and diluted earnings per share decreased to 30.6 pence from 80.3 pence.

Separately, today the bank signed an agreement with Japan-focused Mizuho Bank, Ltd for the sale of a portfolio of U.S. and Canadian loan commitments.

The transaction is expected to close before the end of second-quarter.

Thales SA slipped 1.2% to €50.96 after the France-based radars and electronic-warfare system provider reported revenues in the year ending in December rose 2% to €12.97 billion from €12.70 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the year climbed 25% from a year ago to €714 million compared to €573 million and diluted earnings per share jumped to €3.47 from €2.84.

The company expects orders in the Middle East may jump 50% to €3 billion this year as the company and ASELSAN of Turkey signed a new cooperation agreement in Abu Dhabi to continue joint development of a Missile Launcher System.