LONDON -- Carillion (LSE: CLLN.L), the integrated support-services company, remained relatively flat this morning (currently up just 0.5%) on mixed results. There were significant increases in pre-tax profit, up 68% to 64.1 million pounds, and basic earnings per share, up 70%, to 13.4 pence. However, revenue was down 12%, at 2.17 billion pounds. The fall is being attributed to the continued rescaling of U.K. construction and the timing of project awards in the Middle East.

Chairman Philip Rogerson commented:

Carillion delivered a robust first-half performance, in line with the Board's expectations, despite market conditions remaining challenging. Given the strength of our business model, order book and pipeline of contract opportunities, we remain on track to deliver full-year results in line with expectations and to achieve our medium-term targets, namely to deliver growth in support services and to double our annual revenues in the Middle East and in Canada in the five-year period to 2015, in each case to around 1 billion pounds.

Despite gains in recent weeks, Carillon remains 15% down for the year and 33% down from its 2011 high. Long-term shareholders will have to console themselves with the impressive yield, which currently stands at 6.3%, based on last year's dividends -- something that might promise an attractive opportunity for income-seeking investors.

If you're looking for above-average returns in your portfolio, you should know that ace stock-picker Neil Woodford delivered an impressive 347% total return during the 15 years to Dec. 31, 2011. What's more, you can discover the shares he now holds -- and which losers he's avoided -- within "8 Shares Held By Britain's Super Investor," a special free report by The Motley Fool. You can download this report today, but hurry -- it's available for a limited time only.

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: