LONDON -- We have another busy week for company results ahead of us, with the full-year 2012 reporting season still in full swing. To give you time to examine your favorites in advance of their reports, we're bringing them to you in stages. Today we take a look at three FTSE 100 companies due to report on Monday and Tuesday.
HSBC (HSBA -1.00%) (HSBC 1.03%)
We should have results for the year to December 2012 from HSBC Holdings on Monday. HSBC shares are up nearly 30% over the past 12 months to 720 pence after the bank came out of the credit crisis with two years of strong profits.
At interim report time in August, HSBC reported approximately 8.2 billion pounds in pre-tax profit, which is looking comfortably ahead of the previous year. The earnings-per-share figure is expected to drop this year by 6% to about 56 pence, but we should still see a dividend rise of about 12% to 28 pence per share, which represents a yield of 3.9%.
The HSBC dividend was slashed by nearly half in the doom year of 2009, but since then it has been lifted steadily each year, with more rises expected to 2014. The 2012 payout should be twice covered by earnings, so it's looking safe at the moment.
Intertek (ITRK 0.49%)
We should also have full-year results from Intertek Group on Monday. Intertek's shares have done even better than HSBC's, gaining more than 45% over the past year to today's price of 3,322 pence. Following steady year-over-year earnings and dividend growth, we're expecting more of the same this year, with forecast EPS growth of 17% putting the shares on a P/E of 26.
At the time of its last interim update in November, the provider of safety, quality, and performance services told us of a 20% growth in revenue for the year to October, including 9.1% organic growth with acquisitions excluded.
All of the firm's divisions reported "strong organic revenue growth," and the company acquired nondestructive testing company NDT Services for 17 million pounds.
Meggitt (MGGT)
Meggitt is due to report on Tuesday, and the aerospace and defense engineer should have a good tale to tell for 2012. Apart from a minor slip in earnings in 2009, Meggitt has been providing steady growth, and the same is expected for 2012, with analysts forecasting a 6% rise in EPS and further rises for the subsequent two years. Meggitt's dividend is modest, with a thrice-covered yield of 2.5% predicted, but the payout has been steady and predictable -- even in 2009 it was merely held at the previous year's level.
The firm's November interim management statement told us the company expects revenue growth in 2012 to be around 10%, and looking ahead to this year we were told that "the Group expects to see percentage revenue growth in the mid single digits in 2013." Forecasts put Meggitt shares, currently priced at 448 pence, on a P/E of about 13, and that looks set to fall over the next two years if forecast earnings rises prove correct.
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