UDG says Q1 profits 'well ahead' of 2018

UDG Healthcare said first-quarter pretax profit was “well ahead” year on year, driven by acquisitions and growth across its businesses.

The company, which provides outsourced sales and marketing, drug distribution and packaging services to healthcare companies, forecast full-year adjusted profit per share at 4% - 6% compared with 45.9 cents in 2018.

All estimates were on a constant currency basis, the company said.

“The group's strong balance sheet leaves it well placed to make further strategic acquisitions as those opportunities arise, complementing its continued underlying profit growth,” UDG said in a statement.