Finance

Serco sees profit ahead of market view through 2026; CFO to retire next year

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on December 17, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 20, 2026

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Dec 17 (Reuters) - British outsourcing firm Serco on Wednesday forecast profit ahead of analyst expectations for this year and next, boosted by a strong order book of defence contracts in the UK and

Serco's Profit Forecast Exceeds Market Expectations Until 2026

Dec ‌17 (Reuters) - British outsourcing firm Serco on ‍Wednesday ‌forecast profit ahead of analyst expectations ⁠for this year ‌and next, boosted by a strong order book of defence contracts in the ⁠UK and North America.

The company, which delivers defence, ​security, immigration, health and transport ‌services to governments, ⁠has benefited from a surge in contracts as countries boost defence spending ​amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Serco expects its underlying operating profit to be around 270 million pounds ($359.91 million) for 2025 ​and ‍300 million ​pounds for 2026.

Analysts, on average, estimate 263 million pounds for 2025 and 285 million pounds for 2026, according to a company-compiled poll.

Separately, Serco said its ⁠finance chief, Nigel Crossley, would retire after 11 years ​with the firm and be replaced by the CFO of Belgian telecoms group Proximus Mark Reid ‌next year.

($1 = 0.7502 pounds)

(Reporting by Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

Key Takeaways

  • Serco forecasts profits above analyst expectations through 2026.
  • Strong defence contracts in the UK and North America drive growth.
  • Serco's CFO, Nigel Crossley, to retire next year.
  • Mark Reid from Proximus will replace Crossley as CFO.
  • Geopolitical tensions boost defence spending and contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an operating profit?
Operating profit is the amount of money a company makes from its core business operations, excluding deductions of interest and taxes. It reflects the efficiency of a company's management in generating profit.
What is a strong order book?
A strong order book refers to a significant number of confirmed orders for a company's products or services, indicating robust demand and future revenue potential.

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