The infrastructure construction group Kier published full year numbers this morning which saw the company seeing the benefit of the long term government investment plans. Revenues are up 3% but profits have outperformed, rising 6% - which in itself may raise some comments – whilst shareholders are on track to benefit from a 38% increase in dividends. Adjusted operating margins are now at 3.9%, just shy of the 4% mid-term target, and the note adds that more than 90% of FY26 revenue has already been secured. The Kier share price was 7% higher in the first few minutes of trade.
Online review service Trustpilot issued half year numbers this morning, highlighting strong top line growth and cash generation thanks to its move into AI. Review volumes are up 22% year-on-year and revenues are 21% higher against the comparative. Full year EBITDA margin is expected to be sustained through the second half, delivering a full year result that will be ahead of expectations. Management also announced a £30m share buyback, again contributing to the Trustpilot share price which was trading more than 9% higher shortly after the bell.
Significant losses this morning for the specialist science and technology recruitment firm SThree in the company’s Q3 update. The sector has been broadly struggling so today’s headlines were far from surprising with a 12% decline in net fee income, but investors were seemingly quick to overlook the fact that the balance sheet remains robust and how the pace of decline is now slowing. That said, management have cautioned that the run-out here will last into FY26 which will in turn hit next year’s pre-tax profits, too. A further share buyback programme has been mooted for next year but despite this, the SThree share price was down 25% by 8.30am.
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