Billington shares hit as divi drought goes on
Shares in construction safety firm Billington Holdings fell on Tuesday as revenues dropped and the company again said it would pay no dividend.
Shares in construction safety firm Billington Holdings fell on Tuesday as revenues dropped and the company again said it would pay no dividend.
For the second year in a row the firm "reluctantly" decided there would be no interim dividend, pushing shares down 10% in morning trading.
The company said the decision was taken in order to maintain cash reserves "in what continues to be an unstable market".
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Group revenue fell by 12% on the equivalent period in 2011 to £20.1m, primarily as a result of reverting back to a single shift arrangement in its main business, Billington Structures.
However, the company cut its losses back to £200,000 from the £555,000 it made in the first half of last year.
This resulted in a reduced loss per share of 1.3p, an improvement on the 3.5p loss it made in the first half of 2011.
Chief Executive Steve Fareham said the firm was looking to the future with cautious optimism and expected a medium-term recovery.
"Although the markets in which we operate remain challenging, the board feels that the actions taken this year and last, in response to the strategic review that the group carried out, have resulted in a more efficient business that is well placed to build on the strong position we hold in the structural steel market," he said.
"Our focus now turns to restoring the group to post-tax profitability by gaining market share and seeking additional, alternative markets that offer our group growth potential," he added.
-
Boost for over 100,000 families on Child Benefit as new HMRC payment system rolled outThousands of households will no longer have to pay the dreaded High Income Child Benefit Charge through self-assessment
-
Are you being haunted by the ghost of Christmas past? How festive cutbacks could boost your long-term wealthThe average family spends around £1,000 over the Christmas season. Here’s how much you could have gained if you had invested some of the money instead.
