Provident Financial : 2019 profit rises

Provident Financial on Thursday posted a 1.6% rise in 2019 adjusted earnings and raised its dividend payout, as a rebuilding of its home credit business bore fruit, but the doorstep lender flagged an uncertain outlook post-Brexit.

The company, which provides credit to people who do not meet the lending criteria of mainstream banks, said adjusted pretax profit rose to 162.6 million pounds in the 12 months ended Dec. 31, from 160.1 million pounds a year earlier.

GRAPHIC: Provident fares better than rivals in last two years https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/buzzifr/15/7111/7111/Pasted%20Image.jpg

(Reporting by Muvija M in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)