Kentz poised to beat forecasts

IRISH construction and engineering company Kentz is expecting to beat analyst expectations when it reports its full-year results for 2008 at the end of March.

Analyst forecasts suggest the company’s pre-tax profits will amount to about $38.5 million (€29m), with earnings per share of around 25c.

However, the it said yesterday it has a backlog of contracts worth $1 billion (against $596m at the end of 2007), net cash reserves of $123.7m, a positive outlook for this year and next, and should see profit and revenue for last year “marginally ahead” of market expectations.