The middle of the week is shaping up to be somewhat quieter day this week, however, there will still be a few key names to draw the eye of some investors.
A trading update from construction and infrastructure group Balfour Beatty PLC (LON:BBY) is expected by analysts at UBS to include guidance on the group’s current full-year, from which the Swiss bank is predicting a 3% decline in revenues and a fall in profit from operations (PFO) to £58mln from £221mln in the prior year.
Analysts also expect the company to see declines in its core construction and support services segments, although they also forecast net cash at the top end of the firm’s August guidance range of £430mln-£450mln as well as unchanged 2021 earnings guidance of flat PFO compared to 2019.
Meanwhile, final results from polymer specialist Victrex PLC (LON:VCT) are forecast by UBS to show pre-tax profits of £77mln on revenues of £269mln.
The bank is also expecting the firm’s recovery prospects to be “a little brighter for 2021” given recent vaccine news, although they are cautious on planned capacity expansions in the UK and China, so shareholders may eye any commentary on this from the firm itself when it reports the figures.
Also in focus will be interims from transport operator Stagecoach Group PLC (LON:SGC), although with the UK government propping up the firm’s regional bus businesses investors may be more interested in the performance of the London bus division during the second wave of coronavirus.
The company’s outlook for UK public transport in the year ahead is also likely to be of interest as the start of a vaccination programme could herald the beginning of the end of the dearth of passengers that has characterised 2020.
Significant announcements for Wednesday December 9:
Trading update: Balfour Beatty plc (LON:BBY)
Interims: Stagecoach Group PLC (LON:SGC), Creightons PLC (LON:CRL), Duke Royalty Limited (LON:DUKE), SDI Group PLC (LON:SDI)
Finals: Victrex plc (LON:VCT)
