Smiths News delivers 'good' trading performance in H2

Adjusted operating profits for the 52 weeks ended 26 August were expected to be at least in line with market expectations of £38.3m, reflecting year-on-year growth, while overall revenues increased by 0.2%, driven by strong cover price rises and additional sales from the World Cup and one-off news events.

Smiths also said the securing of sustainable operational efficiencies and an improved contribution from adjacent categories had mitigated the impact of inflation.

As a result, Smiths expects to recommend a final full-year dividend of no less than 2.7p per ordinary share, taking the total dividends for the year up to the full distribution permissible under its current banking facilities.

Chief executive Jonathan Bunting said: "In what has been a challenging period for the wider economy, our strategy of securing operational efficiencies, while enhancing core operations and developing adjacent revenues, has been central to mitigating the impacts of inflation."

As of 0935 BST, Smiths shares were up 6.13% at 43.30p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com