Investing.com -- AJ Bell ’s (LON:AJBA) shares jumped more than 9% on Friday after the company raised its FY25 guidance following stronger-than-expected third-quarter results.
The financial company reported a 6% beat in EPS, driven by a 7% outperformance in profit before tax compared to consensus estimates. AJ Bell also announced a £25 million share buy-back program.
Revenues for the period increased 17% year-over-year, largely driven by exceptionally strong transactional revenues, which were 21% higher than consensus.
This helped AJ Bell achieve a 4% top-line beat, with operational leverage amplifying the growth to a 6% beat at the operating profit level.
PBT rose 12% year-over-year, while net income and EPS increased by 11%. The company reported a PBT margin of 44.9%, surpassing its initial guidance of 40%+.
Despite higher-than-expected spending on transaction costs, AJ Bell’s operating profit margin remained higher than anticipated.
The company raised its FY25 PBT margin guidance to above 42%, up from the previous forecast of 40%+. AJ Bell also declared a 4.5p interim dividend and a £25 million share buy-back.
Transactional revenues were the standout performer, exceeding both consensus and AJ Bell’s own expectations.
Although higher trading volumes incur additional dealing costs, the high-margin nature of these revenues helped offset the increased spending, resulting in a higher-than-expected PBT margin.
Analysts at Jefferies noted the 21% outperformance in transactional revenues, compared to their 12% estimate.
Foreign exchange margins are profitable for the company in overseas securities where it reported continued strong trading in April.
A £20 million gain will be recognized from the sale of AJ Bell’s non-core Platinum SIPP and SSAS business around the end of the year.
Following the results, analysts at Jefferies raised their FY25 PBT forecast by 3% and FY26 forecast by 2%.
They also adjusted their estimates to account for the £20 million gain on the sale of the non-core business.
The EPS forecast saw a smaller increase, reflecting the already factored-in share buy-back and ongoing costs.
Jefferies analysts maintained their target price of £5.65 for AJ Bell, noting the stock still has 20% upside.
They pointed out that if the momentum from the first half of FY25 continues, there is potential for further upside, particularly if trading flows exceed expectations.
However, they cautioned that transactional revenues remain a key factor in driving the company’s outlook.