(Adds quote, details)
LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Vodafone, the world's
second largest mobile operator, said organic service revenue
returned to growth in its third quarter, with a rise of 0.4%
soundly beating analysts' expectations for a fall of 0.1%.
Chief Executive Nick Read said there was momentum across the
business, including in its largest market Germany.
"Our good trading performance underscores our confidence in
the outlook for the full year," he said on Wednesday.
The company reiterated its guidance for adjusted earnings
for the year to end-March of 14.4 billion to 14.6 billion euros,
compared to 14.5 billion for the previous year, and to generate
at least 5 billion euros in free cash flow.
Read said the listing of the group's new towers
infrastructure company Vantage Towers was firmly on track for
early this year.
(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton and James
Davey)
Vodafone (VOD)