The group swung to a profit for the six months to May 28, posting core earnings (EBITDA) of 16.6 million pounds ($21.7 million), ahead of a consensus forecast for a loss of 16 million pounds, and reversing a loss of 13.6 million pounds in the year-earlier period.
Ocado (OCDO.L) said its Technology Solutions division made a profit for the first time, while its Ocado Retail business, the online supermarket joint venture it operates with Marks & Spencer (MKS.L), returned to profit in the second quarter.
Shore Capital analyst Clive Black, a long term Ocado sceptic, focused on Ocado's losses at the pretax level, which widened to 289.5 million pounds.
It maintained its guidance for Technology Solutions to deliver "positive" EBITDA over the full 2022-23 year, with Ocado Retail making "marginally positive" EBITDA, and its UK Logistics unit making "stable" EBITDA.
The group's shares soared much as 47% on June 22 after the Times newspaper reported possible takeover interest from more than one U.S. suitor including Amazon (AMZN.O).
Persons:
Spencer, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs, Tim Steiner, Ocado, Clive Black, Steiner, James Davey, Kate Holton, Jason Neely, Mike Harrison
Organizations:
Technology Solutions, Marks, Kroger, Casino, Shore Capital, Ocado, UK Logistics, Times, Thomson
Locations:
Ocado, United States, Japan, France, U.S