FTSE 250 movers: Bank of Georgia surges on buyback; Empiric's strong start pleases

(Sharecast News) - Bank of Georgia on Thursday reported a 33.5% jump in half year profits, driven by a sharp rise in net interest income and also unveiled a share buyback of 62m Georgian lari (GEL). The bank posted a GEL 688.8m (£207m) profit, adjusted for one-off income compared with GEL 516m a year ago. First-half net interest income rose 39% to GEL 767.8mn. Shares in the company rose 14% on the London Stock Exchange.

Net interest margin, a key measure of profitability and the difference between the rates on savings and loans, rose to 6.5% from 5.3%.

Empiric Student Property boasted a "very strong start" to 2023 as it raised its full-year guidance and pumped up its interim dividend.

The company, which owns and operates studio-led student accommodation across the UK, reported a 16% year-on-year jump in first-half revenues to £41.3m, while earnings per share rose 18.5% to 2.3p

"Following our best ever re-booker campaign, the booking cycle for academic year 2023/24 has tracked significantly ahead of the prior year," said chief executive Duncan Garrood. "Our accommodation is now effectively full for the forthcoming academic year with occupancy at 98 per cent, a level achieved earlier than ever before."

The company said its strategy to actively shift its portfolio away from non-core locations to prime, undersupplied cities with top-tier universities has paid off.

Looking ahead, Garrood said he expects "another record year" for Empiric, and said that like-for-like rental growth would now be around 9%, up from previous guidance of 7% - which had already been upgraded in May from earlier forecasts.

The company declared a dividend for the first half of 1.625p per share, up 30% year-on-year.







Market Movers

FTSE 250 (MCX) 18,484.30 -0.52% FTSE 250 - Risers

Bank of Georgia Group (BGEO) 3,645.00p 13.55% Empiric Student Property (ESP) 88.40p 3.27% Marshalls (MSLH) 264.00p 2.48% Balfour Beatty (BBY) 315.60p 1.81% Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 146.80p 1.66% Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 577.00p 1.41% Direct Line Insurance Group (DLG) 164.05p 1.33% Genuit Group (GEN) 310.00p 1.31% Synthomer (SYNT) 73.90p 1.23% Fidelity China Special Situations (FCSS) 209.00p 1.21%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

TI Fluid Systems (TIFS) 128.40p -4.18% Investec (INVP) 447.00p -3.56% Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) (BPT) 179.20p -3.14% 4Imprint Group (FOUR) 4,940.00p -2.76% NextEnergy Solar Fund Limited Red (NESF) 89.20p -2.73% Wetherspoon (J.D.) (JDW) 655.50p -2.60% Future (FUTR) 765.00p -2.55% Rotork (ROR) 285.80p -2.52% Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited NPV (SONG) 76.00p -2.44% Dunelm Group (DNLM) 1,161.00p -2.11%