On-aim Smurfit Kappa shares rise 4%

Shares in Smurfit Kappa rose almost 4% in Dublin trade, as the international packaging firm stayed on course to deliver continued earnings growth, despite currency challenges and an uncertain world economy.

Detailing results for the three months to the end of September, Smurfit said demand for its corrugated packaging grew 3%, in volume terms, in the latest quarter, and by 5% since the start of the year.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation — known as Ebitda — rose 6%, to €323m, in the quarter, from a year earlier. It posted an Ebitda margin of 15.7% in the quarter and a basic-earnings-per-share of 56.4 cent, up 22% from a year earlier.