One UK engineering giant, Rolls-Royce, has repaired its reputation this month; can BAE Systems get a similar turbo boost from its results?
Performance at the halfway point was promising, with sales up 11% year-on-year, and currency movements should have been helpful.
“Last time around BAE Systems mentioned that orders from the UK have good visibility, are stable and long term in nature and the prospect of further contracts from the US is good; however, while Middle Eastern orders were robust, many investors are wary that lower oil prices have been hurting government budgets and could subsequently impact orders from this region,” wrote Graham Spooner, an investment research analyst at The Share Centre.
The market is expecting revenue of £17.38bn and profit before tax of £1.4bn. The stock is a favourite of income investors and the dividend is expected to be nudged up to 20.84p from last year's pay-out of 20.5p.
British Gas owner Centrica recently announced price cuts for its electricity customers, with some cynics observing that just as the sound of the first cuckoo marks the onset of spring, so energy price cuts mark the end of winter.
The winter was a mild one so the fourth quarter numbers might not be so warming for Centrica shareholders.
Significant announcements expected
Interims: Go-Ahead Group (LON:GOG), Invidior (LON:INDV)
Finals: BAE Systems (LON:BA.), Centrica (LON:CNA), First Quantum Minerals (LON:FQM), JSC TB Bank (LON:TBCB), Lancashire Holdings (LON:LRE), Rexam (LON:REX)
Trading statement: Darty (LON:DRTY).
The following widely-held stocks are going ex-dividend: Redrow, Royal Dutch Shell, PZ Cussons, GlaxoSmithKline, Carnival, AstraZeneca
Economic: EU – ECB Monetary Policy Meeting Accounts. US – Crude Oil Inventories