Aggreko Revenues Boosted by North America, Thomas Cook Profit Surges

Sarla Buch
22 Nov, 2017
New York City

Aggreko said revenues surged in North America unit but warned on Argentina and Africa business. The Biffa net swung to profit and declared a maiden interim dividend. Sage annual profit soared 44%. Thomas Cook benefited from strong demand in Northern Europe.

[R]4:00 PM Frankfurt – Aggreko said revenues surged in North America unit but warned on Argentina and Africa business. The Biffa net swung to profit and declared a maiden interim dividend. Sage annual profit soared 44%. Thomas Cook benefited from strong demand in Northern Europe.[/R]

In London trading, FTSE 100 index increased 36.56 or 0.5% to 7,447.83 and in Frankfurt the DAX index slipped 17.11 to 13,150.43.

In Paris, CAC 40 index gained 15.58 or 0.3% to 5,382.06.

Aggreko Plc gained 0.1% to 863 pence after the U.K.-based temporary power generator said revenues in the third-quarter ending in September advanced 8% from a year ago.

The power generator said revenues in rental solutions segment soared 9% and in the North America business surged 10% but the company said business conditions in Argentina remain challenging and in Africa slow payment and liquidity remains a challenge.

Aggreko estimated fiscal 2017 capital expenditure to match the previous year spending of £300 million.

Biffa Plc advanced 2.7% to 257 pence after the U.K.-based waste management services provider said revenues in the first-half ending on September 22 jumped 7.5% from a year ago to £534.6 million.

Net in the period swung to profit £23.7 million from a loss of £5 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share swung to 9.5 pence from diluted loss per share of 50 pence.

Melrose Industries Plc slid 0.1% to 204.40 pence after the U.K.-based manufacturing businesses buyer reported revenues for Nortek in the first-half ending on October 29 increased 3% from a year ago period and the company said margin continue to improve and cash generation remains strong.

The new order inflow in Brush unit is indicating a low single-digit margin during 2018.

The Sage Group Plc increased 1% to 783 pence after the U.K.-based accounting software developer reported revenues in the year ending in September soared 19.2% from a year ago to £1.7 billion.

Net profit in the year surged 44.2% to £300 million from £208 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share jumped to 23.78 pence from 17.33 pence.

The software developer said software subscription revenue growth declined 30.3% from 32.1% but free cash flow jumped 9% to £276 million from £254 million in the same period a year ago.

Thomas Cook Group Plc plunged 8.1% to 111.80 pence after the U.K.-based leisure travel reported revenues in the year ending in September surged 15.4% from a year ago to £9 billion.

Net profit in the year jumped to £12 million from £1 million in a year ago period and diluted earnings per share advanced to 0.8 pence from 0.03 pence.

The tour operator said profit from operations soared 17.3% to £231 million from £197 million in the same period a year ago and profit increased in Continental Europe and in Northern Europe.

""We can see real momentum in our Group Airline, and expect our Continental Europe and Northern Europe tour operator businesses to continue their good performance,"" said chief executive officer Peter Fankhauser.