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British American Tobacco PLC first-quarter profit rose 21 percent
(Associated Press WorldStream Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) LONDON_British American Tobacco PLC on Wednesday reported a 21 percent jump in first-quarter profit, with rising global sales more than compensating for declining volumes in the United States.
The company reported a net profit of 599 million pounds (US$1.18 billion; ?761 million) for the period, up from 495 million pounds in the same period a year ago.
Revenue rose 16.4 percent to 6.77 billion pounds (US$13.4 billion; ?8.6 billion).
Net profit from Reynolds American, in which BAT holds a 42 percent stake, fell 11 percent excluding exceptional items, the company said.
"The benefits from higher cigarette pricing was more than offset by a number of factors that lowered volumes, including higher prices, wholesale inventory shifts and continuing weakness in the U.S. economy," the company said.
BAT shares rose 2.9 percent on the London Stock Exchange to 1994 pence (US$39.34; ?25.35).
Richard Hunter, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, said the company had reported "another extremely strong set of numbers."
"Not only is the group increasing sales in the emerging economic regions to counterbalance the threats to its traditional marketplaces (and at generally higher prices), it is also looking to use the lower cost wages of such regions," Hunter said.
"Its cost-saving program remains firmly on track, whilst it has also benefited from favorable foreign exchange movements. For the moment at least, the 17 percent earnings growth is comfortably ahead of its own targets."
BAT chairman Jan du Plessis commented: "While the normal caveats about not reading too much into any particular quarter still apply, the group's unrivaled spread of business between developed and developing markets should continue to serve shareholders well."
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