Seven Group dives on earnings-fall forecast of 40pc
Seven Group owns the WesTrac Caterpillar dealerships in Australia and China, a 45 per cent stake in equipment hire firm Coates Hire, and a 35 per cent stake in Seven West Media.
The result was boosted by a $50 million gain on the sale of its investment in Consolidated Media Holdings last year for $491 million.
Seven West Media's free-to-air network, Channel Seven, was also allocated $13.2 million from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, to help it to acquire new equipment to move to digital news gathering.
The other free-to-air TV stations, Nine and Ten, received $14.5 million and $13.2 million each, according to a grant report from the department on June 28.
Seven Group said it was cautious about trading conditions, with WesTrac dragged down by falling commodity prices and a subdued coal sector.
"As highly publicised, 2013 was a story of two halves, with our industrial services business delivering an exceptional performance in the first half of the year, followed by a softening in the second half," new chief executive and managing director Don Voelte said.
"We are undertaking significant restructuring to address the downturn, but assuming current market [conditions] continue we expect underlying EBIT to decline between 30 and 40 per cent in 2014 from the exceptional result that was delivered in 2013."
Shares in the Kerry Stokes-chaired company fell by 7.5 per cent, or 58¢, to close at $7.12, well below analysts' average target price of $8.84, according to Bloomberg. Tuesday's slide takes the year-to-date decline to 15.7 per cent.
For the year to June 30, the company reported a 193 per cent rise in full-year profit to $486.4 million.
Revenue grew by 6 per cent to $4.75 billion, and underlying net profit was $399 million - within the forecast range provided at its half-year results.
WesTrac's second half was "expected to have lower activity levels as a result of declining commodity prices. While there has been a recovery in the iron ore price, which has improved activity from WesTrac's iron ore customers, the coal sector remain subdued, impacting the second-half result".
WesTrac China and AllightSkyes were weaker due to slowing mining and construction markets in China and a slowdown in mining in Australia. The media arm was down 9 per cent to $106 million, due to the "softer advertising market and the sale of the Consolidated Media stake". The company recorded $54.3 million in restructuring and redundancy costs in the second half.
It declared a steady 20¢ fully franked dividend.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Shares plunged after Seven Group forecast a fall of up to 40% in earnings for the financial year, citing a weak start to calendar 2013 and cautious trading conditions. The stock fell 7.5% to $7.12, pushing the year‑to‑date decline to 15.7% and leaving the price below analysts' average target of $8.84 (Bloomberg).
The downgrade is largely driven by WesTrac (the Caterpillar dealerships) being hit by falling commodity prices and a subdued coal sector, weaker performance in WesTrac China and AllightSkyes due to slower mining and construction markets, and a softer media arm affected by a weaker advertising market and the sale of the Consolidated Media stake.
Assuming current market conditions continue, Seven Group said it expects underlying EBIT to decline between 30% and 40% in 2014 compared with its exceptional 2013 result, and it is undertaking significant restructuring to address the downturn.
For the year to June 30, Seven Group reported a 193% rise in full‑year profit to $486.4 million, revenue grew 6% to $4.75 billion, and underlying net profit was $399 million—within the forecast range it provided at its half‑year results.
The prior sale of its investment in Consolidated Media Holdings for $491 million boosted results with a $50 million gain, although the media arm was still down 9% to $106 million due to softer advertising and that sale.
Yes. Channel Seven was allocated $13.2 million from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy to help acquire new equipment for digital news gathering. The report also shows Nine received $14.5 million and Ten received $13.2 million.
Seven Group recorded $54.3 million in restructuring and redundancy costs in the second half as part of the measures to address weaker trading conditions across its businesses.
Yes. The company declared a steady 20 cents fully franked dividend.
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