SThree finishes year at top end of expectations

International specialist staffing business SThree announced its final results for the year to 30 November on Monday, describing it as a "robust" full year performance in the face of mixed trading conditions.
The London-listed firm posted adjusted profit before tax of £40.8m, slightly above the top end of the consensus range and precisely in line with the figure in 2015. Foreign exchange effects increased its reported operating profit by around £4.2m, and group gross profit was up 2% year-on-year to £258.7m, and up 10% on a reported basis. There was "robust growth" across ICT, up 12% year-on-year, and engineering up 9% year-on-year, although that was offset by more difficult trading in the Energy and Banking & Finance sectors.