Atkins gains on strong revenue growth

WS Atkins, the engineering and design consultancy, has seen half yearly profits before tax rise 11.3% compared to the same period of 2010.

Total revenues at the company, which was responsible for designing much of the London 2012 Olympic site, were £842.9m, 26.9% up on the prior year. That revenue yielded profits before tax of £46.4m. The operating margin dropped from 7.3% last year, to 6.1% in 2011.

Atkins has increased its interim dividend from 9.5p per share to 9.75p.

Start your trial of MoneyWeek today

Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.

Start your trial

Sign up for MoneyWeek’s free twice-daily newsletter.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.

Sign up

Commenting on the results, Uwe Krueger, chief executive, said:

"The group has delivered solid half year results...with our diversified exposure to a range of end markets and geographies...our overall outlook for the year remains unchanged."

Shares in WS Atkins were up 2.59% in early trading although the firm has lost 20% in value since the beginning of 2011.

BS