Sales rise but profits fall for top 50 firms

摘要

Analysis of the CN100 from this year and a decade ago shows contractors are now achieving higher sales for less financial reward.rnThe top 50 contractors in 2009 turned over ￡56.1 billion, a 52 per cent increase on the elite of 1999's ￡36.9bn.rnBut despite the ￡19.2bn hike in sales, the top 50 contractors' combined pre-tax profit in 2009 was ￡340 million less than in 1999.rnIn 1999 the top 50 enjoyed an average pre-tax profit margin of 4.2 per cent on a total pre-tax profit of ￡1.55bn. But this year's top 50's pre-tax profit was ￡l.52bn, leaving an average pre-tax profit margin of 2.71 per cent.