Dewhurst plc (DWHT.L) said its first-half pre-tax profit was up 45% to 2.9 million pounds from last year.
Earnings per share were 24.16 pence, higher than the previous year's 16.43 pence.
The first half profit includes a net gain of 0.4 million pounds from the sale of property offset by goodwill impairments.
Operating profit before exceptional items improved 25% to 2.6 million pounds from 2.1 million in the prior-year period.
Group turnover grew 34% year-over-year to 26.0 million pounds.
The company noted that sales improvements were broadly based with increases in all three major product groups and growth both in the UK and overseas. Part of the increase in sales in the keypad division is as a result of the change in product content previewed in last year's annual report.
The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 2.34 pence which amounts to 199 thousand pounds, compared with 2.23 pence last year. The interim dividend is payable on 28 August 2012 and will be posted on 23 August 2012 to shareholders appearing in the Register at 3:00 p.m. on 13 July 2012.
Currently sales remain healthy, but market confidence is fragile. The economic news in the press is remorselessly gloomy, so the company feels this must impact on its demand at some point.
Whilst Dewhurst is committed by the agreed funding plan to direct some of this cash towards the pension fund over the next few years, it is well placed to continue its investment in new products and take advantage of any other growth opportunities that arise.
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by RTT Staff Writer
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