Ryanair Holdings Plc (RYAAY, RYA.L) posted full-year pre-tax profit of 633.0 million euros, higher than 420.9 million euros last year.
Earnings per share were 37.94 cents versus 25.14 cents in the previous year.
Pre-tax profit, excluding exceptional items, was 567.7 million euros versus 450.6 million euros last year.
Total operating revenues - continuing operations grew to 4.39 billion euros from 3.63 billion euros a year ago.
Announcing these profits Ryanair's, Michael O'Leary, said,
"This 25% profit increase to a new record of €503m and 5% traffic growth during a year of higher oil prices, and deep recession in Europe was a commendable result. Our fuel bill rose over €360m as oil prices increased 16% from $73 to $85pbl. Excluding fuel, adjusted unit costs were flat during the year due to aggressive cost control, despite a modest company-wide pay increase, higher Eurocontrol fees and increased airport costs. Ancillary revenue outpaced traffic growth, rising by 11% to €886m or 21% of total revenue."
The company's board believe it is opportune to propose a second special dividend of 0.34 euros per share payable in Nov 2012 subject to AGM approval. If paid, the company's 2nd special dividend will mean Ryanair has returned 1.53 billion euros in dividends and share buybacks to shareholders over the past 5 years.
Looking forward, Ryanair expects traffic in FY13 will grow by 5% to just over 79 million passengers. H1 traffic will grow 7% while H2 will grow by 3%.
The company anticipates that fuel bill will rise by 320 million euros in FY13 with most of this increase skewed into H1, and as a result it expects to report a Q1 profit fall due to these higher prices.
Ryanair remains concerned about next winter as it has zero yield visibility but expect recession, austerity, currency concerns and lower fares at new and growing bases in Hungary, Poland, Provincial UK, and Spain will make it difficult to repeat this year's record results. Ryanair expects that any increase in fares will only partially offset higher fuel costs, and accordingly it is guiding net profit in FY13 subject to final yield outturn will be lower than FY12 in a range of between 400 million euros to 440 million euros.
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