Compass Launches Fresh Share Buyback, Lifts Dividend Despite Missing Market Views -- Update
November 20 2023 - 2:30AM
Dow Jones News
By Michael Susin
Compass Group lifted its dividend payout and announced a further
share buyback despite a weaker-than-expected rise in pretax profit
for fiscal 2023.
The U.K. catering contractor said Monday that it was launching a
further share buyback of up to $500 million to complete in 2024,
subject to merger and acquisition activity. The return to
shareholders follows a 750 million-pound ($934.6 million) share
buyback completed this month.
The board raised the dividend payout to 43.1 pence a share from
31.5 pence.
Compass reported pretax profit of GBP1.75 billion for the year
ended Sept. 30 compared with GBP1.47 billion a year earlier. This
compares with a consensus forecast of GBP1.84 billion taken from
FactSet and based on nine analysts' estimates.
Revenue rose to GBP31.03 billion from GBP25.5 billion,
reflecting a robust trading performance and favorable exchange
rates. However, it missed a company-provided market estimate of
GBP31.2 billion.
Underlying operating profit--which strips out exceptional and
other one-off items--came in at GBP2.12 billion from GBP1.59
billion while the underlying margin was 6.8% compared with 6.2%,
both in line with the company-compiled market estimate.
Looking ahead, Compass expects underlying operating profit
growth toward 13% for fiscal 2024, delivered through high
single-digit organic revenue growth and margin progression.
"The business is in great shape operationally and financially
and well positioned for a more focused growth phase. Despite some
macroeconomic uncertainty, favorable market dynamics continue and,
with a global market share of less than 15% and around 50% of the
market still self-operated, we have an exciting structural growth
opportunity," Chief Executive Dominic Blakemore said.
Write to Michael Susin at michael.susin@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 20, 2023 03:15 ET (08:15 GMT)
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