Standard Life (LSE: SL.) has shown resilient progress during 2012.
Standard Life (LSE: SL) has advanced 29% to 266p so far during 2012, making the share one of this year's best performers in the FTSE 100 (UKX).
The financial institution, which boasts six million customers and looks after assets of more than £200 billion, has defied the wider economic gloom with a series of resilient statements.
During March, Standard Life reported annual results that showed assets under administration up 3% and total income rising 5% to £1,579 million. However, operating profits before tax advanced 28% to £544 million in part due to cost efficiencies of £45 million. The dividend was raised 6% to 13.8p per share as well.
During April, Standard Life issued a trading statement that confirmed assets under administration had increased 4% during the first three months of the year. David Nish, chief executive, said at the time:
"Inflows into our long-term savings businesses and strong performance from Standard Life Investments have helped to increase both our Group assets under administration and Standard Life Investments third-party assets to record levels, driving growth in fee based revenue while we continue to improve the efficiency of our business."
Then in August, Standard Life revealed first-half operating profits before tax had advanced 15% to £302 million. Furthermore, the interim dividend was raised by 6.5% to 4.9p per share. The majority of progress was delivered by operations in the UK, which Standard Life said should "continue to perform well".
Standard Life's third-quarter trading update will be published on October 31, and may provide further resilient news.
More blue-chip outperformers of 2012 are revealed in "Neil Woodford's Favourite Large-Caps", an exclusive Fool report that names the FTSE shares the market-trouncing City investor is backing today, and the investing logic behind them.
You can discover the potential winners Mr Woodford favours right now by downloading this free report while it remains available.
Are you looking to profit from this uncertain economy? "10 Steps To Making A Million In The Market" is the very latest Motley Fool guide to help Britain invest. Better. We urge you to read the report today -- it's free.
Further Motley Fool investment opportunities:
> Maynard does not own any share mentioned in this article.
