Admiral

Investors are hoping the insurer doesn’t deliver the scale of bad news served up by Direct Line

Over the past year, a nasty profit warning by Direct Line (DLG), the cancellation of its dividend and suspension of a share buyback programme have put the shivers into anyone holding shares in the general insurance sector. The company was hit by a rise in claims and an increase in costs associated with fixing cars and homes.

Admiral (ADM) was understandably caught up in the sector worries and its shares have been in the doldrums for months. Suffice to say, expectations are low for its full year results, to be published on 8 March.

However, the Association of British Insurers says motor insurance pricing went up by 8% quarter on quarter in the last three months of 2022, providing some rays of hope for the sector. [DC]

Ashtead

There is a construction boom in the US which is good and bad news for tool hire firm

Theoretically, a boom in spending on infrastructure and clean energy developments in the US should be fantastic news for construction equipment rental group Ashtead (AHT).

The Associated Builders and Contractors industry group says there is a shortage of construction workers in the US, meaning delays to building work. Delays could benefit Ashtead if it just means that projects take longer to be completed as its equipment would be on loan for extra time. But a project’s start date might be delayed if there are not enough workers on day one, and that could mean companies wait before hiring equipment.

We might get an insight into this issue when Ashtead reports third quarter results on 7 March. In December, the company reported a ‘strong’ first-half performance and said full-year results would beat previous expectations. [DC]

Brown-Forman

Jack Daniels maker has high hopes for ready-to-drink product that is mixed with Coca-Cola

Third quarter numbers from Jack Daniels producer Brown-Forman (BF.B:NYSE) are out on 8 March. The Louisville-based spirits maker reported organic sales and profit growth of 17% for the first six months of its financial year.

However, second quarter earnings were below expectations. The company was hit by the strong dollar which effectively increases the cost of its range of drinks to those outside the US, and rising costs.

This period benefited by comparison with one impacted by Covid restrictions. Guidance for organic growth in the high single digits suggests a second half slowdown.

Investors will be looking for an update on overseas sales of the ready-to-drink Jack Daniels & Coca-Cola product, from which the company was expecting big things ahead of its late 2022 launch in Mexico. It hits US shelves in March. [TS]

Crowdstrike

Investors will have an eye on a recurring revenue metric when the cybersecurity firm reports

Strong results from sector peer Palo Alto Networks (PANW:NASDAQ) have helped lift the mood ahead of fourth quarter earnings from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike (CRWD) on 7 March.

Crowdstrike is a leader in endpoint security – protecting desktops, laptops and mobile devices from digital threats.

In its third quarter the company said net new annual recurring revenue was below expectations thanks to macro-economic headwinds and saw its shares plunge. Investors are likely to be watching this metric closely again. [TS]

UK

Full-year results

3 March: Rightmove, IMI, Vesuvius, Pearson, Faron Pharmaceuticals

6 March: BATM, Clarkson

7 March: Fresnillo, Foxtons, Greggs, Johnson Service, H&T, STV, Elementis, Reach, IWG, Just Group, Keller

8 March: Admiral, Legal & General, Ibstock, Quilter, Bakkavor, Spirent, Breedon, Headlam, Tullow Oil, TT Electronics, CLS, TClarke, Hill & Smith, Hiscox, Somero

9 March: Aviva, Pagegroup, Network International, Robert Walters, Entain, Harbour Energy, Forterra, Spirax-Sarco, M&G, Oakley Capital Investments, Franchise Brands, Informa, Convatec

Half-year results

6 March: Craneware, Seeing Machines

7 March: Revolution Bars, DotDigital

8 March: Netcall, Darktrace, Galliford Try

9 March: Kier, Volution

Quarterly results

7 March: Ashtead

US

Quarterly results

3 March: Marvell

8 March: Brown Forman, Campbell Soup

9 March: Crowdstrike, Ulta Beauty

EUROPE

Quarterly results

7 March: Eurofins Scientific, Traton

8 March: Thales, Vivendi

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