Shares in Fletcher Building have jumped over 6 per cent after the company today reported a larger than expected half year profit and upped its forecast for the full year.
Thursday, February 10th 2005, 5:38PM
by The Landlord
By 10.40am today the share price had surged 46c to $7.25, almost double the $3.69 it was fetching this time a year ago. Fletcher Building today reported a 45 per cent rise in net profit for the half year ended December, up to $161 million, from $111 million for the same time the previous year.
Earnings before interest and tax were up 33 per cent from the year earlier to $288 million.
The earnings exceeded analyst expectations, who according to a Dow Jones poll had tipped a net profit of $140 million and ebit of $258 million.
Fletcher Building also upped its full year profit forecast, saying it now expected to post earnings in the range of $525-545 million before interest and tax. This was up from its last forecast in November that full year earnings would be between $475-$500 million.
