The Centrepoint Alliance Limited (ASX: CAF) share price is soaring higher today, reaching a multi-year high. This comes after the company provided investors with a business update on the first-half of the 2021 financial year.
During morning trade, the financial advisory services company's shares have risen to a 52-week high of 29.5 cents, up 31.1%.
What did Centrepoint Alliance announce?
The Centrepoint Alliance share price is on the run after reporting a robust first-half performance and resumption of dividend payments.
In its release, the company announced that favourable trading conditions has led it to achieve growth across its key segments.
For the period ending 31 December, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)came to $2.1 million. This reflected a significant improvement compared to the loss of $400,000 realised in H1 FY20.
The higher EBITDA result was attributed to positive growth across all its key segments. In particular, the company noted continued strength in adviser recruitment and fee revenue. Its funds under management and administration portfolio saw above-budget increases.
At the end of the calendar year, Centrepoint Alliance recorded a healthy cash balance of $14.7 million.
The board proposed a fully-franked dividend of 4 cents to be paid to eligible shareholders on 26 February. This represents a 1 cent ordinary interim dividend and a 3-cent special dividend due to the company's outstanding performance. Centrepoint Alliance stated that it's within the best interest of the company to return excess capital to its shareholders.
What did management say?
Centrepoint Alliance chair, Mr. Alan Fisher, commented on the unaudited results:
Centrepoint Alliance has continued to improve its operating performance and is now well positioned to participate in industry consolidation and seek new strategic opportunities.
This financial year is about capitalising on the work conducted through our Strategic Refresh over the last two and a half years to establish a scalable, recurring revenue business model.
We have continued to focus on organic growth and refining our cost base, as is evident in the first half operating results. We are now actively pursuing opportunities to unlock the value of the business that can be achieved through scale.
Centrepoint Alliance share price summary
Over the past 12 months, Centrepoint Alliance share price gone from strength to strength, jumping more than 130%.
The company's shares hit a low of 8 cents in May, before storming higher to reach a multi-year high today.
Based on the current share price, Centrepoint Alliance has a market capitalisation of around $42 million.
