Gooch & Housego backs guidance but shares falter after strong run
Gooch & Housego PLC on Tuesday reported double-digit growth in profit and sales at the half-year stage boosted by a jump in Aerospace & Defence revenue.
The Somerset, England-based photonic components & systems maker said pretax profit rose 16% to £3.3 million in the six months to March from £2.9 million the year prior.
Revenue also grew 16% to £81.9 million from £70.9 million, or by 9.1% on an organic, constant currency basis. Sales were in line with a trading statement released in April.
Aerospace & Defence revenue increased by 52% to £35.6 million, reflecting ‘strong demand, enhanced capabilities and benefits from recent acquisitions.’
Revenue in the Industrial segment was broadly flat on prior year or 4.6% higher on an organic, constant currency basis. While sales in the Life Sciences segment was down by 7.7% or 5.8% on an organic, constant currency basis.
Earnings per share increased 14% to 9.2 pence from 8.1p or by 9.3% to 16.4p from 15.0p on an adjusted basis.
The order book increased to a record £167.3 million at the end of March from £142.4 million at the end of September, up 17% on a constant currency basis, providing near full cover for expected full-year 2026 revenue.
Despite the financial progress, shares in Gooch & Housego were marked down 13% to 970.00p each in London on Tuesday. However, they have risen 94% in the last 12 months and are up 57% year-to-date.
Full-year expectations are unchanged and the firm remains confident in ‘further profitable growth and progress towards mid-teens returns over the medium-term.’
Chief Executive Charlie Peppiatt said: ‘The record order book growth in the period demonstrates the increased confidence our customers have in G&H to provide them with their most complex photonics and optical systems requirements. This enlarged order book gives us stronger forward visibility than we have had historically and reflects the benefits of our strengthened positions in structurally attractive end-markets.’
The firm said it has been able to re-source a supply of certain key raw materials where availability has been restricted and continue to hold higher stock levels.
An unchanged interim dividend of 4.9p per share was declared.
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