Halma PLC (LSE:HLMA) shares jumped almost 10% on Thursday after the safety equipment firm hiked its dividend on record first-half results.
Revenue jumped 13% to £1.07 billion in the six months to September, aiding a 17% increase in adjusted pre-tax profit to £222.5 million, the FTSE 100-listed group said on Thursday.
This was a record performance, and included four completed acquisitions for £85 million (and a further three post period), prompting a 7% hike in the interim dividend to 9p per share.
Guidance was reiterated on the back of the results, with adjusted pre-tax earnings margins expected to sit around 21% over the full year, against 20.7% in the first half.
“These results further extend our track record of delivering strong and compounding revenue and profit growth, substantial cash generation enabling continued investment,” chief executive Marc Ronchetti commented.
“We are well positioned to make further progress in the remainder of the year and in the longer term.”
Shares climbed 9.8% to 2,749p.