2.40 a fair price4 Apr 2016 19:47
(ShareCast News) - An earnings miss in volatile market conditions is a sure recipe to send your stock price tanking.
On 5 November, aerospace and defence engineering group Cobham told shareholders they could expect full-year earnings per share of between 20.1p and 21.7p.
In the event, the company delivered 19.5p, sending its shares duly lower by 19.75p to 239.75p, with profits weighed down by further weakness in several markets and a "small technical overshoot" because of a couple of disposals, The Times's Tempus said.
A drop in shipping weighed on the marine side of the business and there are less flights around Australia because of low commodity prices.
Slowing orders also dragged on cash-flow and sales are expected to be "flattish", scant improvement on the 1% drop in organic revenues seen in 2015.
Non-recurring provisions also flattered the bottom line, with profits before tax up by 9% to £280m.
Lost orders from telecoms providers will come through but the commercial side is set to remain weak.
On the upside, geopolitical concerns should feed strong demand for its missile control systems.
At 13 times earnings the valuation on the stock seems "fair", Tempus said.