Carrefour Lowered Outlook, Pernod Ricard Net Jumps on Strong U.S. Sales

Sarla Buch
31 Aug, 2017
New York City

Bouygues net swung to profit on new international contracts. Carrefour lowered fiscal sales outlook after net declined 40%. Eiffage net soared 26%. Hays declared first special dividend after profits surged. Pernod Ricard profit jumped on strong the U.S. sales

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Bouygues net swung to profit on new international contracts. Carrefour lowered fiscal sales outlook after net declined 40%. Eiffage net soared 26%. Hays declared first special dividend after profits surged. Pernod Ricard profit jumped on strong the U.S. sales.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index jumped 70.05 or 0.9% to 7,435.11 and in Frankfurt the DAX index gained 68.46 or 0.6% to 12,014.26.

In Paris, CAC 40 index advanced 44.08 or 0.9% to 5,100.41.

For the month, FTSE 100 index gained 0.8%, the DAX index fell 0.2% and the CAC 40 index rose 0.1%.

Bouygues SA jumped 2.5% to €38.14 after France-based construction and telecom conglomerate said total revenues in the first-half ending in June rose 3% from a year ago to €15.2 billion.

Net in the period swung to profit €240 million from a loss of €28 million in a year ago six-month period and diluted earnings per share swung to €0.67 from diluted loss per share €0.08.

As of June 30, backlog in the construction businesses jumped 5% to €31.2 billion and operating profit in the period surged 22.3% to €981 million from €802 million in the same period a year ago.

On international markets, Colas won contract worth about €200 million in Canada and Bouygues Construction division secured contract of €319 million in Switzerland.

Carrefour SA tumbled 13.8% to €16.80 after France-based hyper and supermarkets operator reported total revenues in the first-half ending in June jumped 6.1% from a year ago to €39.6 billion.

Net income in the period declined 39.5% to €78 million from €129 million in a year ago six-month period and diluted earnings per share slumped to €0.10 from €0.18.

Carrefour said sales in the rest of Europe jumped 6.2% and sales in Latin America surged 25.1%.

Operating income plunged 15.4% to €484 million from €572 million in the same period a year ago.

The retailer lowered fiscal 2017 sales forecast in the range of 2% to 4% from earlier estimate of 3% to 5%.

Eiffage SA advanced 3% to €86.72 after France-based civil engineering services provider stated sales in the first-half ending in June increased 7.6% from a year ago to €7 billion.

Net income in the period soared 25.7% to €308 million from €245 million in a year ago six-month period and diluted earnings per share slumped to €0.10 from €0.18.

As of June 30, the orders booked increased 7% to €13 billion from a year ago period.

Hays Plc increased 2.5% to 176.20 pence after the U.K.-based recruitment services provider said revenues in the first-half ending in June jumped 18% from a year ago to £954.6 million.

Net profit in the period surged 11.7% to £139.1 million from £124.5 million in a year ago six-month period and diluted earnings per share advanced to 9.54 pence from 8.60 pence.

The recruitment services provider said turnover in the period soared 20% at £5.08 billion.

Hays declared a regular dividend of 3.22 pence per share, up from 2.90 pence in 2016 and recommended its first special dividend of 4.25 pence each as it ended the year.

Pernod Ricard SA dropped 2.9% to €113.70 after France-based wine maker said revenues in the first-half ending in June advanced 4% from a year ago to €9 billion.

Net income in the period jumped 13% to €1.4 billion from €1.2 billion in a year ago six-month period and diluted earnings per share increased to €5.58 from €5.20.

The liquor producer said sales in the home region Europe rose 2% and sales in Asia and rest of world regions increased 5% and sales in the U.S. jumped 6%.

The Absolut vodka and cognac maker forecasted fiscal 2018 profit to jump between 3% and 5%.