Bellway Homes BWY claims another excellent financial performance for the half year to the 31st January but the effervescence and price rises, such regular features of previous years, appear to be moderating. Increases are well within single digit figures except for earnings per share which just managed to break through the 10% barrier. Revenue rose by 5.9% and profit before tax by 9.3%. One good sign for the future is that as at the 12th March, the order book is 18% higher than a year ago and 5% more houses are expected to be sold in the current year as against 6.5% more completed. Average price increases for private sales are expected to rise by over 4% but this is positively pedestrian compared to industry figures for previous years. Perhaps a sign of the times there.
888 Holdings 888 2016 was another year of outstanding progress, in fact “fantastic” is how the CEO describes it, with very strong organic revenue and profit growth. Revenue for the year to 31s December grew by 13%, or 18% on a constant currency basis. whilst basic earnings per share were up by 74%. Total dividends for the year are increased from 15.5 cents to 19.4 cents, after a final of 5.1 cents plus an additional dividend of 10.5%. trading for the current year so far, is already 11% ahead of a year ago.
Good Energy Group GOOD produced a robust performance in 2016 in an increasingly competitive UK energy market. Revenue rose by 41%, EBITDA by 39% and profit before tax was up from just above a break even point of £100,000 in 2015 to £1.4m. The total dividends for the year remain unchanged.
Mears Group MER produced strong organic growth in the year to the end of December, especially in the Housing Division. Like for like profit before tax rose by 13% and the dividend is being raised by 6% to 11.7p.
Fevertree Drinks FEVR enjoyed exceptional growth in the year to 31st December. Revenue rose by 73%, adjusted EBITDA by 97% and diluted earnings per share more than doubled. The final dividend of 4.71p per share makes a total for the year of 6.25p compared to 2015’s 3.08p.