Skip Header
Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

VP delivers 'solid' H1 despite 'challenging' macro conditions

(Sharecast News) - Equipment rental firm VP reported a "solid first half" performance on Friday, against a "challenging macro-economic backdrop". VP said areas of particular strength in the period included activities in Germany and Ireland, where it continued to take advantage of supportive market conditions. Activity levels in transmission were said to have remained "strong", particularly in Germany, while prospects in water remained "extremely positive" and activity levels in rail remained subdued.

In VP's smaller end markets, performance in housebuilding benefited from operating model changes made in the prior financial year, and energy activity levels were said to be "satisfactory", with projects expected to be weighted towards the second half of the year.

Looking ahead, the London-listed group continues to expect its full-year performance to be in line with market expectations of £386.1m in revenues and pre-tax profits of £37.3m, with both revenue and profit expected to be "modestly weighted" towards the second half.

Chief executive Anna Bielby said: "Despite challenges in some of our end markets, the first half of the financial year has again demonstrated the strength and resilience of our diverse business model.

"We remain optimistic about the second half of the financial year and expect to see increased activity levels across areas such as rail and water as long-term investment programmes gain traction, with infrastructure, in particular, being further supported by the UK Government's revitalisation initiatives."

As of 0825 BST, VP shares were up 3.21% at 594.47p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Share this article

Related Sharecast Articles

Macfarlane FY adjusted operating profits seen in line with expectations
(Sharecast News) - Packaging company Macfarlane said on Thursday that it anticipates its full-year performance will be in line with expectations, with the firm set to report adjusted operating profits of roughly £19.1m.
TT Electronics reconfirms 2025 outlook despite heavy year‑end profit requirement
(Sharecast News) - Engineered electronics group TT Electronics reconfirmed its full‑year guidance on Monday, despite acknowledging it needs to deliver around £12m in adjusted operating profit over the final two months of the year to meet expectations.
Ceres Power inks manufacturing licence agreement with China's Weichai Power
(Sharecast News) - Clean energy technology developer Ceres Power said on Wednesday that it has signed a manufacturing licence agreement for the production of its proprietary solid oxide fuel cell technology with Weichai Power, a global original equipment manufacturer and power systems developer headquartered in Shandong, China.
Amigo Holdings taps Craig Ransley to help explore strategic options
(Sharecast News) - Subprime lender Amigo Holdings has appointed Craig Ransley as a board consultant as part of an effort to explore strategic options for the firm to remain a listed company, specifically by identifying and pursuing a reverse takeover in the mining sector.

Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Award-winning online share dealing

Search, compare and select from thousands of shares.

Expert insights into investing your money

Our team of experts explore the world of share dealing.