Compass Q3 margins improve as sales deteriorate
23rd Jul 2009 07:30
Catering giant Compass said operating profit, margins and free cash flow continued to grow in the third quarter while revenue growth slowed. The group, which provides catering for schools and offices, said continued cost cuts and the weaker pound helped it through 'more challenging economic conditi
Read moreThursday preview: Kingfisher, Capita, Compass
22nd Jul 2009 16:10
Thursday looks like being the busiest day of the week with three FTSE 100 companies making announcements plus updates from some second liners recently demoted from the blue-chip index. B&Q owner Kingfisher said at the beginning of June that favourable weather had boosted outdoor seasonal product sa
Read moreSunday tips round-up: SSE, Compass, Tate & Lyle
24th May 2009 10:17
Shares in Scottish & Southern Energy are not going to leap and make you rich. There is likely to be a slow progression in its share price. There is one reason and one reason alone to hold the shares - and that is for a steady income stream and because of its commitment to a progressive dividend, S
Read moreThursday tips round-up: FirstGroup, Compass, Land Securities
14th May 2009 06:02
Worsening trends in employment mean that FirstGroup's UK rail business is not out of the woods - but merely in a better position than the rail operations of unprotected peers, such as National Express. However, at 365p, up 5¾p, or less than nine times earnings, and yielding 5.1 per cent, First is wo
Read moreDevro non-exec takes a meaty stake
13th May 2009 17:07
Stuart Paterson, a non-executive director at Devro has beefed up his holding in the sausage skin manufacturer, soon after the company issued a bullish trading update. He bought 20,000 shares at 91.8p a time, and now has 50,000. Last week Devro said that it has performed in line with expectations s
Read moreFTSE 100 movers: Profit rise points Compass higher
13th May 2009 13:44
Caterer Compass is bucking the general downward trend after it reported a stronger-than-expected 41% rise in half-year profits thanks to new contract wins and cost cuts. Another food related stock, Unilever, whose range includes Pot Noodles and Persil, is boosted by a positive note from Charles Sta
Read moreLondon open: Footsie slips on big results day
13th May 2009 08:40
It's a big day for company announcements, but investors seem unimpressed so far with Footsie off a few points despite good numbers from J Sainsbury, Compass and L&G. Strong demand for its 'basics' range has helped supermarket giant J Sainsbury deliver better than expected full year profit. Underlyi
Read moreCompass profit jumps 41%
13th May 2009 07:32
Catering giant Compass Group reported a stronger-than-expected 41% rise in half-year profits thanks to new contract wins and cost cuts. The group said it made 'significant progress in a challenging environment' as it reported underlying operating profit of £455m in the six months ended 31 March 20
Read moreWednesday preview: Compass, Sainsbury, FirstGroup
12th May 2009 15:40
Supermarket giant J Sainsbury seems to have recovered its poise and purpose in recent years, despite being overtaken in terms of UK market share by first Tesco and then Asda. Though widely assumed to be at the posher end of the supermarket spectrum, it has more than held its own in terms of market
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