Latest news with #financialPerformance
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Norwegian sovereign wealth fund invests €400 million in Kingspan
Norway's sovereign wealth fund has taken a stake worth more than €400 million in Dublin-listed insulation and building materials specialist, Kingspan Group, the Sunday Times reports. Norges Bank, which manages the Government Pension Fund Global, took a 3.06 per cent position in the company at a share price of €75.50 on Friday. The total central bank managed fund is worth around $1.8 trillion. In a trading update for the quarter ended March 31st, Kingspan said it overcame a slow start to the year to record a good financial performance. Group sales rose 9 per cent year on year to €2.1 billion, and were 'modestly ahead' on an underlying basis. Sales of its insulated panels rose 4 per cent, while underlying sales were broadly in line, while insulation sales saw a similar performance, and roofing and waterproofing sales were up 55 per cent on the acquisition of Nordic Waterproofing. Amazon Web Services discussing €3.5 billion Arklow data centre takeover Amazon Web Services (AWS) is in early takeover talks with Echelon Data Centres regarding its €3.5 billion data centre Arklow, the Business Post reports. Neither party in the discussions commented. READ MORE Echelon, which launched the Arklow site project last month, are also planning a second data centre on a near-by site. The site was the first Irish data centre to receive a grid connection and is situated close to the SSE Renewables Arklow Bank Wind Park 2, from which it is said to be planning to purchase energy to offset the power demand from the data centre. Four Star Pizza feels the heat during franchise tech tensions Tensions have risen between Four Star Pizza and some franchisees following the introduction of a new digital trading system to handle sales within stores, The Sunday Times reports. Franchised pizza delivery business, Four Star Pizza Ireland, which owned by the Fitzwilliam hotelier Michael Holland is currently going through an expansion. Franchisees are said to be unhappy with the operation of the new system, and have resisted its implementation. The Sunday Times said it understands that franchisees have consulted legal advisers and are seeking a meeting with management on the matter. A statement from Four Star Pizza management said that it had a forum for franchisees to 'air opinions' and outside of which its communication 'has never been better'. Ryanair flights grounded by GPS issues Up to 50 Ryanair aircraft were temporarily grounded last week due to global positioning system (GPS) issues across a number of airlines, the Sunday Independent reports. Newer aircraft such as the Boeing 737 Max and Airbus 320s were particularly impacted by the problems which left thousands of passengers facing significant delays over a number of days, peaking on Thursday, May 21st. While it is reported no passengers were ever put in danger by the issues, numerous flights from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Kerry and Knock airports faced issues.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF) Declares Dividends on Preferred and Common Shares
Raymond James Financial announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.50 per share on common stock, set for July, which potentially bolstered investor sentiment, contributing to a 13% increase in share price over the last month. Alongside, the company's solid second-quarter earnings report indicating improved revenue and net income over the previous year further supported the upward trajectory. This investor confidence in RJF was seen despite broader market fluctuations influenced by federal deficit concerns and fluctuating bond yields. While the Dow Jones showed a slight rebound, RJF's strategies and financial performance may have provided additional support for the positive price movement. Buy, Hold or Sell Raymond James Financial? View our complete analysis and fair value estimate and you decide. We've found 17 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free. The recent announcement of a US$0.50 quarterly dividend from Raymond James Financial potentially uplifted investor sentiment, aligning with the company's advantageous short-term share price increase. Over a five-year timeframe ending in May 2025, RJF shares delivered a total return of 229.14%, reflecting long-term resilience and growth. This return includes both share price appreciation and dividend payouts, suggesting a robust investment over that period. Comparatively, the 23.3% earnings growth over the past year surpassed the Capital Markets industry average of 17.8%, highlighting RJF's competitive position. The company's strategic recruitment of high-net-worth advisors and investment in AI are anticipated to enhance future revenue and efficiency. With analysts forecasting a revenue growth rate of 5.5% annually and a projected earnings expansion to US$2.5 billion by 2028, these initiatives could support long-term growth despite uncertainties from market volatility and tech investment risks. However, interest rate and economic fluctuations present potential challenges to achieving these targets. As of today's date, RJF's current share price of US$141.12 sits close to the consensus price target of US$152.50, reflecting a modest 7.5% upside potential, indicative of the market's perception that the company is relatively fairly valued at present. The slight discount to price target underscores the importance of these growth forecasts being realized to justify the anticipated valuations. Investors should consider these forecasts and their assumptions against personal insights when evaluating RJF's future prospects. Navigate through the intricacies of Raymond James Financial with our comprehensive balance sheet health report here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:RJF. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Economy ME
21-05-2025
- Business
- Economy ME
Etihad Airways posts record $187 million profit after tax in Q1 2025, highest-ever customer satisfaction
Etihad Airways delivered record-breaking financial performance and the highest-ever customer satisfaction performance in the first quarter of 2025, building on last year's momentum with further notable improvements across revenue, operational efficiency and fleet expansion. Profit after tax reached AED685 million ($187 million), marking a 30 percent year-on-year increase, driven by robust passenger demand and operational efficiencies. Total revenue saw a 15 percent rise compared to Q1 2024, supported by both the passenger and cargo businesses. 'We are proud to deliver a record-breaking quarter, both in profitability and in guest satisfaction. Achieving our highest-ever Q1 profit of AED685 million and our best-ever customer satisfaction scores reflects the strength of our business and the dedication of our people,' stated Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. Airline carries 5 million guests in Q1 2025 Etihad Airways continues to lead the region in passenger growth, carrying 5 million guests in Q1 2025, a 16 percent year-on-year increase, and maintaining strong momentum into Q2. With nearly 20 million passengers carried over the last 12 months, Etihad is the fastest-growing airline in the region. Customer satisfaction also reached a record high in Q1 2025, with scores improving by 20 percent year-on-year. Gains were recorded across key touchpoints, including check-in, boarding, inflight service, food and beverage, Wi-Fi and the updated website and mobile app. The quarter also saw the launch of a new lounge and inflight menus, alongside upgraded service standards. 'We're executing a clear strategy: grow sustainably, operate efficiently, and never lose focus on delivering remarkable experiences to our guests. From continued refinements to our onboard offering to improved airport services and the debut of our A321LR with a market-leading narrowbody product, we're raising the bar in every part of the journey,' Neves added. Carrier expands fleet amid record growth The Etihad Airways fleet continued to expand to support the guest experience. One additional A380 returned to service during the quarter, offering first apartments and the residence. In April, Etihad took delivery of another A350-1000, with another Boeing 787 Dreamliner to follow. These new aircraft feature ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi and updated in-flight entertainment systems. Etihad also advanced its premium offering, expanding first class to more routes and preparing new ground and inflight services for rollout from August. In April, the airline introduced its new A321LR cabin, becoming the first in the region to offer first class on a single-aisle aircraft. 'Our network continues to expand with 16 new routes announced for 2025 and additional aircraft joining our fleet. As we grow, we remain disciplined and focused on quality, efficiency and creating value for our customers and stakeholders,' Neves added. Passenger revenue hits AED5.5 billion Etihad Airways' passenger revenue grew by 16 percent, reaching AED5.5 billion, driven by increased capacity, continued network expansion and increased flight frequencies. Passenger growth was also boosted by a 14 percent rise year-on-year in available seat kilometers and an improved passenger load factor of 87 percent. Fleet expansion accelerated, with 98 aircraft in operation by the end of the quarter, including the reintroduction of Etihad's sixth A380. The operating fleet further grew in the month of April with the delivery of an additional A350-1000. Etihad operated 80 destinations as of March 2025, with 16 new routes launching this year to support continued growth and broaden access to key global markets. Read: Qatar Airways profit grows 28 percent to record $2.15 billion Cargo revenue grows 8 percent Improved cargo yield led to cargo revenue growth of 8 percent year-on-year, despite a 4 percent reduction in volumes. The airline's strong operational performance was evident in the EBITDA, which rose by 32 percent year-on-year, reaching AED1.4 billion, boosting the EBITDA margin to 21 percent. Further strengthening financial resilience, net leverage improved to 1.1x, down from 1.9x in March 2024, driven by scheduled debt repayments and strong cash generation. Cash flow from operations reached AED1.8 billion, reflecting an 11 percent increase year-on-year.
Daily Mail
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Will Nationwide pay a £100 Fairer Share loyalty bonus for 2025? Exact date we'll find out
Many Nationwide customers will have it in the back of their mind a Fairer Share payment announcement could be made soon. Last June, 3.85million Nationwide members received a £100 payment from the building society – 24 per cent of its 16million members. Nationwide paid out £385million to members, as part of its second annual Fairer Share offer it announced in May 2024. The £100 bonus was paid to eligible members who had a current account and at least £100 in a savings account or at least £100 outstanding on a mortgage as of 31 March 2023. The year prior, in June 2023, 3.4million Nationwide members received the £100 Fairer Share payment. Again, this was revealed in May. As a building society, Nationwide is owned by its members, who are meant to benefit from profits through better rates on savings, mortgages and other products. This year, it's likely that members will find out on 29 May whether the building society intends to pay out a Fairer Share bonus again or not - and if it does, that the payment is £100 per eligible customer. This is when it announces its full-year results for the financial year 2024/25, including pre-tax profit. Whether or not the mutual will pay out the bonus again to its members this year will depend on the profits it makes. A Nationwide spokesman said: 'Nationwide's Board will decide on a Fairer Share payment for 2025 and it will depend on our financial performance. The decision will be announced as part of our full year results 29 May.' In April, Nationwide said: 'We want to repeat [the Fairer Share payment] this year, although this will depend on our financial performance.' Could a payment be even higher this time? One financial expert believes a potential Fairer Share payment could be worth even more than £100 if Nationwide reports strong financial results in May. James Blower, founder of the Savings Guru says: 'I expect Nationwide to report strong results for 2024.' For this reason, he believes 'there will be a payout of at least £100, if not more.' Last year, Nationwide raked in £1.77billion in annual pre-tax profits in the year to April 2024. This was down from £2.2billion in the year to April 2023. Interim results in November revealed the mutual's profits tumbling by 43 per cent to £568million. Nationwide said this was mainly down to falling interest rates – as higher rates tend to mean bigger profits for lenders The mutual banked a gain of £2.3billion from its takeover of Virgin Money in November, resulting in a one-off £50 'Big Thank You' payment to over 12million members. This payment is 'completely separate' to the Fairer Share payment so '[they] would not impact one another,' a Nationwide spokesman said. James Blower says: 'I don't believe the Virgin Money takeover, and the £50 member payout from that, will have any negative impact on whether a Fairer Share payout is made.'
