Altron reported a 105% y-o-y increase in operating profit before capital items in H125, with margin expansion of 5.1pp to 9.8%. The Platforms businesses were particularly strong, with Netstar and FinTech achieving material revenue and profit growth. Altron Digital Business, still in the integration phase, saw some non-recurring costs and the shift of several project starts into H225, but has seen indications that performance should improve in FY26. Management raised its FY26 operating profit target, partly to reflect the inclusion of Altron Document Solutions (ADS) in continuing operations. We have upgraded our forecasts for continuing operations and the group, partly reflecting better performance in the Platforms business and partly factoring in reduced losses from discontinued operations.

Altron has provided an H125 trading update pointing to a more than doubling of headline EPS from continuing operations and an even larger increase in reported EPS. Having restated comparatives to reflect the move of Altron Document Solutions back to continuing operations, the improving performance of the remaining discontinued operation has become clearer, showing significantly reduced losses year-on-year. We maintain our forecasts pending the H125 results on 4 November.

Altron’s AGM trading update confirmed that the positive momentum seen in H224 has continued so far in H125. The company also announced that it had decided to stop the sale process for Altron Document Solutions (ADS) and bring the business back into continuing operations within the IT Services segment. We maintain our forecasts pending further clarity on ADS financials, noting that the business returned to profitability in H224 and is self-funding.