Europe Movers: Ashtead Group, Bilfinger, Continental, Flughafen Wien, Greggs, Intertek, Lindt & Sprüngli, Thales

Inga Muller
04 Mar, 2025
Frankfurt

Flughafen Wien AG surged 2.3% to €53.80 after the Vienna airport operator reported strong results for fiscal 2024.

Revenue increased 13% to €1.05 billion from €931.5 million, profit surged 27% to €239.5 million from €188.6 million, and earnings per diluted share rose to €2.58 from €2.01 a year ago.

The company’s management will propose a dividend of €1.65 per share to the annual general meeting, at an yield of 3.2%, which is up from €1.32 per share in 2023.

The airport operator guided for fiscal 2025 revenue of €1.08 billion, group net profit of €230 million, and EBITDA of approximately €440 million, compared to €442.3 million in 2024.

The company estimated about 42 million passengers are expected to arrive at three airports in the group and approximately 32 million passengers at Vienna Airport in 2025.

Lindt & Sprüngli AG gained 0.3% to CHF 11,430 after the Swiss chocolate maker reported increased sales in fiscal 2024.

Revenue jumped to CHF 5.55 billion from CHF 5.23 billion, net income climbed to CHF 672.3 million from CHF 671.4 million, and earnings per diluted share rose to CHF 2.90 from CHF 2.86 a year ago.

The company proposed a dividend of CHF 1.5 per share, up from CHF 1.4 per share a year ago, and a CHF 150 per participation certificate, an increase of 7.1% from CHF 140 per participation certificate a year ago.

In addition, the company’s buyback program of up to CHF 500 million of registered shares and participation certificates was launched in August 2024 and will end on or before July 31.

Registered shares and participation certificates to the value of CHF 145 million had been repurchased by December 31.

For fiscal 2025, Lindt & Sprüngli expects increased organic growth between 7% and 9% and an improved operating profit margin of 20–40 basis points.

Intertek Group Plc. gained 0.4% to 5,155 pence after the London-based quality assurance provider to industries worldwide reported higher earnings in fiscal 2024.

Revenue increased 1.9% to £3.39 billion from £3.33 billion, statutory profit before tax jumped 16% to £490.0 million from £422.3 million, and earnings per diluted share rose 16% to 212.7 pence from 183.4 pence a year ago.

The company’s dividend increased 40.1% to 156.5 pence per share from 111.7 pence in 2023.

In addition, Intertek announced an initial £350 million share buyback program.

For fiscal 2025, the company estimated “mid-single-digit comparable revenue growth at constant currency” and raised its medium-term margin target to 18.5%, compared to 17.4% in 2024.

Intertek proposed a final dividend of 102.6 pence per share, up from 74.0 pence in 2023, payable on June 20 to shareholders on the register as of May 30.

Thales surged 6.5% to €251.50 after the provider of advanced technologies in the defense, aerospace, and cyber and digital sectors reported strong results for fiscal 2024.

Sales increased to €20.58 billion from €18.43 billion, net income jumped to €1.42 billion from €1.02 billion, and earnings per diluted share rose to €6.89 from €4.89 a year ago.

The company guided for fiscal 2025 organic sales growth between 5% and 6%, corresponding to sales between €21.7 billion and €21.9 billion.

The adjusted EBIT margin is estimated between 12.2% and 12.4%, compared to 11.8% in 2024.

Thales also expects to maintain in 2025 a high cash conversion ratio of between 95% and 100%.

The company proposed a cash dividend of €3.70 per share, representing 40% of adjusted net income, compared to €3.40 per share in 2023.

The ex-dividend date will be May 20, the payment date will be May 22, and the dividend will amount to €2.85 per share, after deducting the interim dividend of 85 cents per share paid in December 2024.

Ashtead Group Plc. plunged 4.1% to 4,602 pence after the UK-based equipment rental company reported lower earnings in the third quarter ending in January.

Revenue declined 3% to $2.57 billion from $2.66 billion, profit dropped to $309.7 million from $332.3 million, and earnings per diluted share fell to 70.9 cents from 75.6 cents a year ago.

Rental revenue in the U.S. and Canada increased 1% and 6%, respectively, while in the U.K. the sales declined 2%.

The company guided full-year rental revenue to increase between 3% and 5%, capital expenditure to range between $2.5 billion and $2.7 billion, and free cash flow of $1.4 billion, in line with its previous estimations.

Aberdeen Plc. surged 11.9% to 181.23 pence after the investment and advisory company reported sharply higher earnings in fiscal 2024.

Net operating revenue declined to £1.37 billion from £1.47 billion, profit jumped to £237 million from £1 million, and earnings per diluted share rose to 13 pence from 0.1 pence a year ago.

The company proposed a final dividend of 7.30 pence per share, or a total of £130 million, payable on May 13 to shareholders on record as of March 28.

The dividend results in a total dividend for the year of 14.6 pence per share.

The total dividends paid on ordinary shares in 2024 amounted to £260 million, compared to £279 million in 2023.

Bilfinger SE dropped 0.5% to €58.20 after the industrial services provider for the process industry reported mixed results in the fourth quarter. 

Revenue jumped to €1.36 billion from €1.19 billion, profit fell to €52 million from €108 million, and earnings per share dropped to €1.38 from €2.89 a year ago.

The company guided for fiscal 2025 revenue between €5.1 billion and €5.7 billion, up from €5.04 billion a year ago, and an EBITA margin between 5.2% and 5.8%, compared to 5.2% in 2024.

Free cash flow is expected between €210 million and €270 million, up from €189 million in 2024.

Bilfinger proposed a dividend of €2.40 per share, compared to €1.80 per share in the previous year.

Greggs Plc. plunged 11.4% to 1,845 pence after the UK-based bakery reported a slowdown in sales growth driven by price increases. 

Total sales increased 11.3% to £2.01 billion from £1.81 billion, profit before tax jumped 8.3% to £203.9 million from £188.3 million, and earnings per diluted share rose 11.1% to 137.5 pence from 123.8 pence a year ago.

Same-store sales in the company-managed shops increased 5.5% to £1.56 billion from £1.44 billion a year ago.

Total revenue in retail company-managed stores increased to £1.78 billion from £1.61 billion, business-to-business sales jumped to £232.7 million from £198.7 million, and franchise comparable sales rose 7.4% to £280.1 million from £227.9 million in fiscal 2023.

The company proposed a final dividend of 50 pence per share (£50.9 million), or a total ordinary dividend of 69 pence per share for the year, up 11.3% from 62 pence in 2023, and £20.5 million will be shared with colleagues.

Stock came under heavy pressure after same-store sales in the first nine weeks of 2025 decelerated to 1.7% from 2.5% in the comparable period a year ago. 

Continental AG dropped 9% to €63.22 after the automotive parts and tire maker reported a decline in sales in fiscal 2024.

Sales fell 4.1% to €39.72 billion from €41.42 billion, net income increased 1% to €1.17 billion from €1.16 billion, and earnings per diluted share rose 1% to €5.84 from €5.78 a year ago.

The tire manufacturer proposed a dividend of €2.50 per share (€500 million), up from €2.20 per share in 2023.

The company guided for fiscal 2025 consolidated sales to range between €38.0 billion and €41.0 billion, compared to €39.7 billion a year ago, and an adjusted EBIT margin between 6.5% and 7.5%, compared to 6.8% in 2024.