Greencore optimistic on earnings

GREENCORE’S diversification and disposal strategy has enabled the food company to predict that it will meet stockbroking analysts’ forecasts on full-year earnings this year.

Initially, the market reacted to the news by knocking more than 4% off the share price in early morning trade, but by close of business the share price stood at €2.84, a rise of one cent, 0.35%, on the day.

In a brief pre-close trading statement, Greencore chief financial officer Patrick Kennedy said: “in accordance with its usual practice, Greencore will be meeting with stockbrokers’ analysts before entering its close period for the year ended September 26 2003.