By Elena VardonImperial Brands posted net revenue growth slightly below expectations for fiscal 2023 but a better adjusted operating profit growth for the year as it continues to offset volume declines with strong pricing. The group had guided for low-single-digit organic growth while analysts polled in a company-compiled consensus had expected the figure to improve 1%, and to report GBP8.04 billion, from the previous year's GBP7.79 billion result. It guided for growth at the lower end the of mid-single-digit range while consensus had seen 3.5% organic growth against the GBP3.69 billion reported for the year-prior period. The board declared a dividend 146.82 pence per share, compared with the previous year's 141.17 pence payout while analysts had expected a 145.1 pence per share return. Write to Elena Vardon at elena.vardon@wsj.com(END) Dow Jones NewswiresNovember 14, 2023 02:43 ET (07:43 GMT)Copyright (c) 2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Source: Wall Street Journal November 14, 2023 07:46 UTC