What timing! Evraz PLC (LSE:EVR), the large vertically-integrated steel, mining and vanadium business with operations in the Russian Federation and Ukraine, is set to release its full-year results to the soundtrack of Russian tank tracks as they rumble across Ukraine.
If the company does not pass comment on how the hostilities could affect the business there will be a lot of curious/furious shareholders, given the shares cratered on Thursday.
Things were looking up for British Airways owner International Airlines Group PLC before the latest events in Ukraine.
According to analysts at UBS the airline is currently positioned for the company to enjoy a better 2022 than 2021.
The market will be keen to see whether Friday’s results keep the British flag carrier on course.
Omicron was the big threat to travel through the fourth quarter though the holiday season will have presented something of an imperative for a certain volume of passengers.
Eyeing up the airline group’s statement UBS said it anticipates improved traffic levels for the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the third quarter, where levels were running at just 56% of the pre-pandemic level.
UBS forecasts fourth-quarter revenue to be around €3.5bn, up almost three times from the same period a year earlier, along with much smaller losses of €306mln at the underlying earnings (EBTIDA) level and a €398mln net loss, compared to the massive €4.2bn and €1.3bn losses a year ago.
Rightmove PLC (LSE:RMV) will publish preliminary results on Friday, having reported 58% revenue growth and an 86% jump in operating profits for the first-half of 2021.
Compared to pre-pandemic 2019 revenues were up 4% and profits 6% higher, thanks to its pricing power with estate agents.
Nevertheless, Sophie Lund-Yates at Hargreaves Lansdown thinks there are a few clouds on the horizon.
“Rising interest rates and soaring inflation could take the heat out the very buoyant property market, [which] may have a knock-on effect for the total number of estate agents, which is already falling.
“This isn’t the end of the world while Rightmove can pump up prices for remaining agents, but severe pressure would limit its ability to do this,” Yates commented.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel for Pearson PLC (LSE:PSON), the academic and scientific publisher.
Deutsche Bank thinks the focus in Friday’s results will switch to the growth plan.
“In line with the robust Q4 trading update, we factor in underlying revenue growth of 8%. We forecast revenue of £3,456mln (post FX), adj. operating profit of £385mln and adj. EPS of 34.3p. We expect the focus at results to be on commentary around 2022 guidance and any update on the strategy. The presentation will include more detailed updates from each of the five divisional managers and we anticipate that further details around strategic priorities across the group could be shared, including a roadmap for Pearson+ and a growth plan for Workforce Skills following the Credly acquisition,” the broker said.
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