Intertek forecasts further growth after 'record' results

(Sharecast News) - Testing and inspection specialist Intertek Group forecast further earnings growth on Tuesday, following a jump in annual sales and profits. Revenues in the year to December end rose 1.1%, or 4.3% on a constant currency basis, to £3.43bn, with like-for-like growth of 3.9%.

The underlying revenue growth was marginally below consensus for 4.4%. However, diluted earnings per share surged 10.1% on the same basis, at 253.5p, or by 5.4% at actual rates, ahead of estimates for 249.6p.

Nearly all divisions saw a rise in revenues, including a 6.2% hike in consumer products, Intertek's largest business unit, to £983.4m.

The exception was the World of Energy division, where revenues fell 1.3%. However, Intertek said it expected the business to deliver low-single digit like-for-like revenue growth in the current year.

Chief executive Andre Lacroix said: "Our 2025 results demonstrate, once again, Intertek's ability to consistently deliver quality growth, improving its performance on a sustainable basis and delivering another year of record performance."

Looking to the current year, Intertek said it expected to make further progress. It particular, it forecast single-digit underlying revenue growth and "strong" earnings growth and cash generation.

Lacroix said: "We are well placed to seize the exciting growth opportunities ahead, given the continued increased investments of our 400,000 clients in risk-based quality assurance to operate with ever-higher quality, safety and sustainability standards in each part of their value chain, triggering greater demand for our solutions."

However, despite the bullish tone, shares in Intertek came under pressure in morning trading, and by 0930 GMT had tumbled 12% at 4,188p.

RBC Capital Markets said there was "too much for the bears to get their teeth stuck into". In particular, the broker noted a possible marked deceleration in organic growth in November and December, and higher-than-expected restructuring costs.