Babcock International PLC (LSE:BAB) shares rose 3.5% after the defence contractor said trading for the five months to 31 August has been encouraging and in line with the board's expectations.
Positive momentum has continued into 1H, and the group has delivered good organic revenue growth, particularly in civil and naval Nuclear and in the Land Sector.
The FTSE 250-listed group said its full-year expectations and medium-term guidance were unchanged.
Highlights from the period included the H&B Defence nuclear-powered submarine joint venture with Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc (NYSE:HII) HII) to accelerate the development of Australia's AUKUS programme; the reopening of a key Devonport dry dock last week after an extensive regeneration project to help extend the operational life of HMS Victorious; and a contract extension with Polish armaments group PGZ SA to continue support on the Miecznik frigate programme out to 2031.
Analyst Joe Brent at Panmure Liberum noted that there was "profit growth despite non-recurrence of license profit and contract settlements".
Their first-half estimates suggest a "weak" free cash flow in the period but maintained full-year earnings estimates, with only "small changes" at the divisional level.
"We suspect that recent negativity on the sector is overdone, but UK budget pressures remain," Brent added, though he sees "limited earnings upside" for coming years.