CONTINUED growth in profits and, consequently, in earnings per share, combined with an optimistic boardroom trading outlook for the current year, has put more money in the pocket of shareholders at Heiton Holdings, the builders' merchants and Atlantic DIY stores grouping.

Heiton's half yearly results for the period to the end of October last detail a 22 per cent surge in pre tax profits from £3.8 million to £4.6 million a creditable performance as turnover only grew 8 per cent to £72 million.

Managing director Richard Hewat says the results reflect "a strong performance in all the core businesses", assisted by lower interest costs on reduced borrowings, which have fallen sharply from £6.5 million to £2.2 million. The builders' merchants and steel division pushed up sales 11.5 per cent to nearly £58 million but, in contrast, the DIY side saw turnover contract from £8.8 million to £7.5 million although profits improved.

With earnings per share up from 5.36p to 6.47p, shareholders pocket an interim dividend raised from 0.95p to 1.65p a share, a 21 per cent increase. Heiton anticipates good trading ahead and will be pushing to expand market share helped by anticipated growth in private and non residential construction spending this year.