Compass Group PLC released its full-year results for the year ended September 30, 2024, reporting strong operational and financial performance. The companys underlying operating profit grew by 16.4% to $2,998 million, with an underlying operating margin of 7.1%. Revenue increased by 10.8% to $42.0 billion, driven by strong trading performance. The company also reported a net loss of $203 million on the sale and closure of businesses, including exit costs of $92 million. Compass Group PLCs basic earnings per share decreased by 10.7% to 82.3c, due to higher operating profit offset by the impact of currency translation differences, higher finance costs, and a higher effective tax rate. The companys cash flow generation remains robust, with underlying operating cash flow of $2,642 million and underlying free cash flow of $1,740 million. The companys dividend policy is to pay out around 50% of underlying earnings through an interim and final dividend, with the final dividend for 2024 proposed at 39.1c per share.
| | 2024 | 2023 | % Change |
|---|---|---|
|Revenue | $42.2bn | $38.1bn3 | 10.6%4 |
|Operating profit | $2,998m | $2,576m3 | 16.4%3 |
|Operating margin | 7.1% | 6.8% | 30bps |
|Earnings per share | 119.5c | 104.3c3 | 14.6%3 |
|Operating cash flow | $2,642m | $2,228m | 18.6% |
|Free cash flow | $1,740m | $1,516m | 14.8% |