Computacenter cheers 'strong' Q4
Channel bellwether will post growth for its full-year 2014 thanks to uptick in sales in final quarter
IT channel bellwether Computacenter says it enjoyed a "strong" Q4, with its UK business yet again a star performer.
The London-listed services and resale giant said in a trading update that it will top its 2013 revenue tally of £3.07bn by one per cent for full-year 2014 thanks to a strong uptick in Q4 sales.
Across the group, Q4 sales leapt seven per cent, with UK revenues hiking eight per cent, German sales clambering 11 per cent and French sales falling back three per cent.
For its full year ending 31 December, UK sales grew by 10 per cent – meaning they will come in at about £1.42bn.
However, overall growth for the year was dragged back by its second-largest operation, Germany, which – despite mounting a Q4 recovery – saw revenues fall three per cent in constant currencies during the year. Group sales growth will be a muted one per cent, rising to four per cent in constant currencies, Computacenter said.
France, which saw new local management installed during the year, saw revenues rise six per cent in constant currencies.
2013 was a bravura year for Computacenter as the firm's renewed growth prompted a 43 per cent rise in its share price over the course of the period.
Although 2014 has been solid rather than spectacular, Computacenter said it was "pleased" that UK services growth – at nine per cent – exceeded that achieved the previous year.
UK supply chain revenues rose 11 per cent for the full year thanks partly to a glut of Windows upgrades in the first half, with growth slowing to six per cent in Q4.
"While there will be a headwind to [UK] services growth in 2015, due to the significant reduction of one particular contract... we have also achieved a number of significant renewals during the year, particularly in the fourth quarter, which will underpin the contractual services revenue base," Computacenter stated.