20 September 2018 – interim results

The company has announced interim results for the half year to 30 June, noting that it anticipates further year-on-year growth in 2018 and that trading results will be more evenly spread over the two halves of the financial year than in previous years.  Revenue was up 13% to £28.7m (2017: £25.3m restated).  Adjusted operating profit was £2.5m (2017: £1.2m restated) and adjusted basic earnings per share 6.1p (2017: 1.4p).  The order book is approaching £100m (2017: £64m) and net debt was reduced to £3.3m versus £9.0m at the same stage a year earlier.  The interim dividend has been increased to 0.65p per share (2017: 0.59p).  This is a solid business but it is difficult to see the share price pushing much higher in the near term.  BUY ON WEAKNESS.