Legrand Thursday posted results for 2010 up sharply and said target for 2011 adjusted operating margin of at least 20%, including acquisitions.
The infrastructure specialist electrical and building digital said in a statement it was also for the current year organic growth in sales of 5%, which will be supplemented by acquisitions.
A "medium term", Legrand wants to achieve "a total average annual increase in turnover of 10%, supported by a growing exposure to emerging economies, which account for half of group sales in five years against third today ' hui.
It has also supported the development of new market segments that represent already nearly 20% of its turnover and "a strategy of targeted external growth, self-financing."
Always in the medium term the company aims an adjusted operating margin averaged 20% after taking into account acquisitions.
Over the whole of 2010, Legrand has recorded a net income of 418.3 million euros (44.3%), adjusted operating profit of 784.1 million (+35.5%) and turnover of 3,890.5 million (+8.7%).
According to the Thomson Reuters consensus I / B / E / S, analysts on average expected a net profit of 456 million euros and sales of 3.856 million.
The group proposed a dividend of 0.88 euro per share, up 26%.
Emerging markets have largely contributed to the acceleration of the activity of Legrand in 2010 as the group's turnover has increased by 10.6%.
In 2010, free cash flow reached 645.5 million euros, down 1.4% yoy, and net debt fell from 10.6% to 1.2 billion euros.
The stock closed Wednesday at 30.15 euros. Since the beginning of the year, the stock has lost nearly 1% after a gain of more than 56% throughout 2010.