Recent articles for private investors with a focus on dividend announcements
UK Commercial property trust maintains its 2014 interim dividend
Financial Highlights
* NAV per share of 78.1p (31 December 2013: 73.1p), a rise of 6.8% mainly due
to a 6.0% like-for-like increase in the capital value of the property
portfolio, which is now £1.1billion;
* NAV total return of 10.1% in the six month period to 30 June 2014, ahead of
the IPD benchmark (8.3%) and the FTSE All-Share Index (1.6%) and in-line
with the FTSE REITs Index (10.2%);
* Strong share price performance with a total return of 9.0% in the period
resulting in the Company's shares continuing to trade at a premium toNAV
(4.5%);
* Consistent longer term outperformance with 5 year share price total return
ahead of the IPD benchmark;
* Issue of 40,755,022 treasury shares raising proceeds of £32 million which
has been used for acquisitions;
* Gross gearing of 19.1% continues to be the lowest in the Company's peer
group;
* Attractive dividend yield of 4.5%, underpinned by quality portfolio of diversified properties and above that of the FTSE REIT Index (3.3%) and the FTSE All-Share Index (3.3%).
John Wood posts a 25% 2014 interim dividend increase in dollar terms
Half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2014
Benefitting from strong US shale activity; overall growth outlook for 2014
unchanged
Financial Summary
Total revenue1 of $3,801.2m up 10% and Total EBITA in line with H1 2013 at $243.9m
Continue to anticipate full year Total EBITA to be in line with expectations and up on 2013
Revenue from continuing operations on an equity accounting basis up 16% at $3,224.4m (2013: $2,788.7m)
Profit from continuing operations on an equity accounting basis before tax and exceptional items up 15% at $182.4m (2013: $159.0m)
Adjusted diluted EPS of 44.4 cents (2013: 44.5 cents)
Interim dividend of 8.9 cents (2013: 7.1 cents) up 25%
Bovis Homes posts massive 200% interim dividend increase for 2014
54% increase in legal completions to 1,487 homes (H1 2013: 963 homes)
Serco maintains 2014 interim dividend at 3.1p
Adjusted Operating Profit of £50.7m, equivalent to £59.9m at constant currency, and after charging a loss of £14m in relation to the COMPASS contract
Balfour Beatty maintains its 2014 interim dividend at 5.6p
Overall first-half results are in line with our most recent trading update.
Synthomer increases its 2014 interim dividend by 25%
Europe and North America: Reported operating profit slightly down but 1.9% up on a constant currency basis, with higher volumes and cash margins firming from H2 2013 levels.
Alent increases its 2014 interim dividend by 3.8% and pays special dividend of 15p
Modest improvement in key markets, underpinned by early signs of improved global consumer confidence
Direct line increases its 2014 interim dividend by 5% and pays special dividend of 10p
Paul Geddes, CEO of Direct Line Group, commented
Countrywide increases its 2014 interim dividend by 250% and pays special
Double-digit underlying EBITDA growth across all divisions within the Group
Schroders increases 2014 interim dividend by 50%
Profit before tax and exceptional items up 15 per cent. to £261.5 million (H1 2013: £228.0 million)
Diageo increases 2014 final dividend by 9%
Net sales, up 0.4%, reflecting mixed performance; growth in North America, stability in Western Europe and weakness in emerging market economies
BG Group increases 2014 interim dividend by 10%
Business Performance EPS up 22% to 35.5 cents; Total EPS up 64% to 40.1 cents
AstraZeneca maintains its 2014 interim in $ terms
Revenue in the second quarter was $6,454 million, up 4%* - second consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Half year revenue up 3%, driven by the five growth platforms.
Weir group increases its 2014 interim dividend by 70% in a rebasing exercise
10% order growth year on year and 9% up on H2-2013
Positive aftermarket momentum across the Group: 15% order input growth
Strong growth in upstream Oil & Gas: divisional input up 40% year on year
Adverse foreign currency exchange rate movements: £23m (11%) operating profit impact
Mining market remains challenging, margins impacted by industrial action in South Africa
New products performing well: £51m input from HPGRs and premium fluid ends
Dividend rephased: Interim up 70% to represent approximately one-third of full year dividend
International personal finance increases its 2014 interim dividend by 10.5%
Delivering profitable growth
Profit before tax and exceptional items increased 11% to £47.1M - a record half-year profit
Strong underlying growth in profit before tax and exceptional items of 32% (£13.5M) offset by new market investment of £4.8M and £3.9M from weaker FX rates
Effective credit quality management - impairment to revenue ratio in target range at 28.2%
Further improvement in cost-efficiency - cost-income ratio improved to 38.4%
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Top-line growth increased
7% increase in customer numbers
Credit issued growth of 13%
Strong increase in revenue of 17%
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Continuing geographic expansion in current markets delivering growth
Approaching national coverage in Lithuania and Bulgaria
Mexico City progressing well
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New market entry into Spain: trading planned early 2015
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Successful refinancing supports further returns to shareholders
Core Eurobond funding refinanced at half the rate of original 2010 issue
£50M share buyback progressing to reduce equity to receivables ratio to around 45%
Interim dividend increased by 10.5% to 4.2 pence per share
Rightmove increases its 2014 interim dividend by 18%
Financial and Operational Highlights for the six months ended 30 June 2014
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