Vodafone PLC (LON:VOD) has seen its share price perform terribly since the end of 2017 and investors will want some of the fears to be allayed by management when the mobile phones giant issues a third-quarter trading update on Friday.
They will want to hear that competition in Italy and Spain has not become anymore fierce and that organic growth numbers still look reasonably good as the FTSE 100-listed firm’s broadband service expands.
As Vodafone’s new CEO Nick Read beds into his role, investors will also want to hear how progress is being made in making the organisation improve its commercial execution and how it is gearing up for a digital future.
Last time around some assurances were given over Vodafone’s generous dividend, helping lift the share price unfortunately most of those gains have already been given up so far in the new year.
UBS expects Vodafone to re-iterate its full-year guidance organic growth in underlying earnings (EBITDA) of around 3%.
AG Barr due up, too
Elsewhere, 2018 was a challenging year for drinks makers, but AG Barr PLC (LON:BAG) investors will be hoping to see the Irn Bru maker come through relatively unscathed in Friday’s pre-close trading update.
There has been radio silence for the past few months, but the signs looked good during a strong first half, when the company posted 5.5% jump in revenue.
That performance came despite the Beast from the East and a CO2 shortage denting sales.
Back at those results in September, AG Barr said it expected margins to dip slightly as it continues to invest, although it remained confident in hitting full-year targets.
Significant events expected on Friday 25 January:
Trading updates: Vodafone PLC (LON:VOD), AG Barr PLC (LON:BAG)
AGMs: Regency Mines PLC (LON:RGM)
Economic data: CBI monthly distributive trades survey; US durable goods orders; US news home sales; University of Michigan final consumer sentiment index