By Rhiannon Hoyle
Australian rail-freight operator Aurizon Holdings on Monday reported an 82% lift in first-half net profit, reflecting higher earnings from its rail network and coal-haulage businesses.
The company reported a net profit of 237 million Australian dollars (US$155 million) for the six months ended Dec. 31, up from A$130 million in the year-earlier period.
Aurizon said revenue totaled A$1.97 billion, up 16% on-year, and that underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, or Ebitda, totaled A$847 million, 26% higher than the year-prior period.
Directors declared a interim dividend of 9.7 Australian cents a share, up from 7.0 cents a year ago.
“The cashflow that Aurizon is generating provides more flexibility to increase shareholder returns in FY 2025,” said Chief Executive Andrew Harding.
Aurizon reiterated its estimate for underlying Ebitda of between A$1.59 billion and A$1.68 billion for fiscal 2024.
Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at [email protected]
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