EARNINGS UPDATES: Mission swings to profit; S&U doubles profit

Tue, 29th Mar 2022 13:50

(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Mission Group PLC - Devon, England-based creative and marketing technology agency - Swings to pretax profit of GBP5.3 million in 2021 from a loss of GBP2.1 million the previous year. Mission says this was ahead of market expectations. Revenue rises 18% to GBP72.5 million from GBP61.5 million. Dividend for the year totals 2.40 pence per share, up from nil in 2020. Says 2022 trading has started well and in line with expectations. Chair Julian Hanson-Smith says Mission is "optimistic" for 2022 despite the implications of rising general costs.

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S&U PLC - Birmingham, England-based motor finance and property bridging lender - Reports pretax profit of GBP47.0 million in the year ended January 31, more than double the previous year's figure of GBP18.1 million. Revenue rises 4.9% to GBP87.9 million from GBP83.8 million. Dividend for the year rises to 126.0p per share, up 40% from 90.0p in 2020. Chair Anthony Coombs says he has "quiet but determined confidence" in S&U's future moving forward.

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Artisanal Spirits Co PLC - Edinburgh-based owner of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society - Widens pretax loss in 2021 to GBP3.4 million from a loss of GBP1.6 million the previous year. Artisanal Spirits adds this figure includes the GBP900,000 exceptional costs of its IPO in June. Revenue rises 21% to GBP18.2 million from GBP15.0 million, ahead of market expectations. Notes strong start to 2022 with revenue ahead 30% year-on-year and in line with expectations. Company says it is "cognisant" to the unpredictability of the pandemic, the Ukraine crisis and cost of living increases moving forward.

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Personal Group Holdings PLC - Milton Keynes, England-based employee benefits and services provider - Reports a 49% drop in pretax profit in 2021, falling to GBP4.3 million from GBP8.6 million. Revenue rises 4.2% to GBP74.5 million from GBP71.5 million. Says current trading is "strong" and in line with expectations. Notes "good" momentum in insurance and policy sales. 2021 dividend totals 10.6p, down from 18.4p in 2020 which Personal says reflects reduced profit. Chair Martin Bennet says he is "confident" about group's prospects.

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Good Energy Group PLC - Chippenham, England-based renewable energy supplier - Pretax profit surges to GBP1.8 million in 2021 from GBP2,000 the previous year. Revenue rises 12% to GBP146.0 million from GBP130.6 million. Company says revenue increase driven by "significant" price rises through the year in response to rising wholesale costs. Proposes final dividend of 1.8p, leading to full-year dividend of 2.55p. In 2020, the company did not declare a dividend. Looking forward, company says it will shift its capital allocation towards growth and investment.

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Ergomed PLC - Guildford, England-based service provider to the biopharmaceutical industry - Pretax profit rises 8.1% in 2021 to GBP14.3 million from GBP13.5 million the previous year. Revenue increases 37% year-on-year to GBP118.6 million from GBP86.4 million. Revenue growth in Clinical Research Services rises 86% in the year while pharmacovigilance rises 9.9%. Company finishes the year with an GBP239.7 million order book of future contracted revenue, up 24% from the beginning of the year. Says company has started 2022 in "strong position".

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By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com