Regardless of the train strikes in Britain, it was growth in Italy and Spain that helped Trainline make a big jump in annual sales and profits.
The online train ticket sales platform saw its full-year turnover rise 21 percent to £396.7 million, while ticket sales rose 22 percent to £5.3 billion, above £5 billion for the first time, and at the top end of previous expectations. . International net ticket sales surpassed £1 billion, with combined growth in Spain and Italy of 43 percent.
For the new financial year, Trainline forecast that net ticket sales will grow between 8 and 12 percent, with revenue increasing between 7 and 11 percent.
Trainline also announced a £75 million share buyback program, having recently completed a £50 million buyback program that started in September. Trainline shares rose 6.6 per cent, or 19.8p, to 320.8p.
The FTSE 100 rose for the first time to a record level above 8,200, at 8,248.73, and closed up 0.5 percent, or 41.34 points, at 8,213.49 – still a record.
Full steam ahead: For the new financial year, Trainline forecast net ticket sales to grow between 8 and 12 percent, and revenue to increase between 7 and 11 percent
Early strength on Wall Street fueled a rebound after weaker-than-expected payroll data kept US interest rate cuts in play. Meanwhile, the FTSE 250 added 0.6 percent, or 112.21 points, to 20164.54.
Investors welcomed a new finance boss at Diageo, which rose 0.02 percent, or 0.5 cents, to 2,729 cents. The maker of Guinness and Johnnie Walker appointed Nik Jhangiani as Chief Financial Officer, and Lavanya Chandrashekar left after three years. Jhangiani has been financial director of bottling company Coca-Cola Europacific Partners since 2016.
Holiday Inn owner InterContinental Hotels Group fell 2.1 per cent, or 162p, to 7726p. It reported a decline in revenue growth per available room in the first quarter. Weakness in America and a slowdown in China limited progress.
Paper and packaging company Mondi was also a FTSE decliner, down 0.6 percent, or 9.5p, to 1,563.5p.
A weak first-quarter trading update showed sales prices were low and underlying profits fell, the company said.
TGI Fridays restaurant operator Hostmore saw its shares temporarily suspended from trading at the previous session’s closing price of 20.2p as it missed the April 30 deadline for publishing its annual financial report as the company’s accountant requested extra time had requested to complete a review of non-cash items.
However, full year 2023 results were released during the session and showed a much improved operating loss in a transition year, of £11.1 million against £95.8 million in 2022, with total revenue of £190.7 million, down from £195.7 million .
Shares closed down 3.6 percent, or 0.73p, to 19.48p.
On AIM, surveyor Fletcher King rose 27.1 per cent, or 9.5 cents, to 44.5 cents after reporting a strong performance in the second half of the year – a reversal from the more cautious outlook the company had in December gave. Sales for the year ending April 30 are expected to be significantly higher than management’s expectations.
Marketing technology group Electric Guitar disappointed in its AIM debut. Shares fell 14.3 per cent, or 0.3p, to 1.8p, from a subscription price of 2.1p.