Next week sees results from Kewill and Micro Focus, transport giant Stagecoach, and telecoms tiddler Daisy
Company reports have been thin on the ground of late, but there are a few interesting ones coming up next week.
Software
Two computer software companies will report results next week. First comes Kewill (LSE: KWL) on Monday, with results to March. Kewill, which provides software systems for major logistics management, including handling and integrating shipping, transport, and supply chains, suffered badly in the economic slump. But after capital raising, an acquisition, and with a bid for the company in progress, the shares have bounced back.
Meanwhile, Micro Focus International (LSE: MCRO), reporting results to April on Thursday, has had a much smoother ride. Known to programmers for its implementation of the COBOL language, Micro Focus provides a number of applications for software and engineering development. Apparently unaffected by the downturn, Micro Focus has just kept rising.
Trains and tellies
Transport group Stagecoach (LSE: SGC) is going through a rocky patch. After a couple of years of nicely rising earnings, April's trading update suggested we'll see a fall of over 20% when its full-year results are announced on Wednesday. Stagecoach has built up a bit of debt over the past couple of years, and while it's not at worrying levels, it would still be nice to see it coming down.
Electronics retailer DSG International (LSE: DSGI) has had a few bad years, with pre-tax profits last year slumping to around 12% of 2007's figure. Better known in the UK for its Currys, Dixons, and PC World outlets, DSG has been hit hard by online competition, but is starting to fight back with its own Pixmania.com online brand. Full-year results on Thursday are expected to show a bit of a recovery, with a more dramatic rebound forecast fro 2011. But with 2009's end of year debt at around 50% of today's market cap, there's still a lot of work to be done.
Technology
Electrical and electronics developer Halma (LSE: HLMA) will deliver its full-year figures on Tuesday, and we're expecting another steady increase in profits and dividends. Halma specialises in health and safety equipment, making products for hazard monitoring, health and analysis, and industrial safety. The bulk of Halma's business comes from Europe, the USA and UK, but it has a growing presence in developing parts of the world, like China and the Asia region.
There are one or two interesting small telecommunications companies around at the moment, one of which is Daisy Group (LSE: DAY), which will be reporting on Tuesday. Previously known as FREEDOM4 Group, Daisy is one of a handful of small companies offering fixed line telephony and broadband internet to the small-to-medium business market. Daisy is expected to turn a small profit this year, with substantial growth next year. If it pulls it off, the shares, on a P/E based on 2011's forecast results of under 10, could prove to be a bargain.
Notable announcements next week:
Monday: Kewill, Domino Printing Services
Tuesday: Daisy Group, Halma, Whitbread
Wednesday: Imagination Technologies, Kesa Electricals, Stagecoach
Thursday: Dart Group, DS Smith, DSG International, Micro Focus International, Polar Capital Holdings, Petrofac
Friday: Berkeley Group Holdings
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