Nordisk Warns on the U.S. New Legislation, Next Lowers Outlook

Sarla Buch
01 Nov, 2017
New York City

Criteo declined on weak forecast. Geberit said profit plummeted 11%. Next tumbled on volatile sales update but lifted pretax profit forecast. Novo Nordisk profit increased on strong demand in diabetic drugs. Weir estimated a slight weakness in profit estimate.

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Criteo declined on weak forecast. Geberit said profit plummeted 11%. Next tumbled on volatile sales update but lifted pretax profit forecast. Novo Nordisk profit increased on strong demand in diabetic drugs. Weir estimated a slight weakness in profit estimate.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index increased 15.41 or 0.2% to 7,508.11 and in Frankfurt the DAX index jumped 244.22 or 1.8% to 13,473.57.

In Paris, CAC 40 index advanced 28.60 or 0.5% to 5,531.88.

Criteo SA declined 5% to €34 after France-based advertiser and marketing services provider said revenues in the nine-month ending in September soared 32% from a year ago to $1.6 billion.

Net income in the period plunged 11% to $38.2 million from $42.9 million in a year ago nine-month period and diluted earnings per share decreased to 56 from 66 cents.

Criteo forecasted fiscal fourth-quarter 2017 adjusted revenue between $260 million and $263 million and operating profit between $106 million and $109 million.

Geberit AG slumped 1.8% to 443.30 Swiss francs after Switzerland-based plumbing and sanitary products provider reported net sales in the nine-month ending in September increased 1.4% from a year ago to 2.2 billion francs

Net income in the period plummeted 11.2% to 416.7 million francs from 469.1 million francs in a year ago nine-month period and diluted earnings per share dropped to 11.32 francs from 12.73 francs.

Geberit said operating profit in the period fell 1% to 568.5 million francs and as planned, net debt increased to 550 million francs from 461.2 million francs as of December 31, 2016.

The plumbing material supplier forecasted fiscal 2017 sales to jump 3%

Next Plc tumbled 9.3% to 4,464 pence after the clothing, footwear, accessories and home products retailer said retail sales in the third-quarter ending on October 29 plunged 7.7% and brand total increased 1.3%.

The retailer lifted fiscal 2017 pretax profit forecast between £692 million and £692 million from the earlier estimate of £687 million to £747 million and sales in the fourth quarter would fall by 0.3% while online sales jumped 9.4%.

Novo Nordisk A/S fell 0.5% to 316.10 Danish kronor after Denmark-based diabetes drugs maker reported revenues in the nine-month ending in September rose 2% from a year ago to 83.7 billion kronor.

Net profit in the period advanced 2.4% to 29.9 billion kronor from 29.2 billion kronor in a year ago nine-month period and diluted earnings per share increased 12.03 kronor from 11.50 kronor.

The drugs-maker said gross profit in the period rose 1.2% to 70.8 billion kronor and operating profit jumped 5% to 38.9 billion kronor from same period a year ago as sales in diabetes and obesity care segment advanced 7% to 69.7 billion kronor and sales in Victoza® business soared 15% to 16.9 billion kronor.

The diabetes drugs maker warned that draft legislation on pricing transparency in the U.S. may impact the business with increased transparency

Weir Group Plc jumped 2.3% to 1997 pence after the U.K.-based industrial machinery and equipment provider said fiscal 2017 operating profits is forecasted to be slightly lower than previously estimate but strong growth in the revenues and profits.

Weir said as of September 30, group orders soared 21% and oil and gas orders surged 59% and minerals orders jumped 12%.