Data#3 notches 3.6% rise in 1H profit, lifts interim dividend

The news: IT services provider Data#3 reported a 3.6% lift in first-half net profit after tax to $23.2 million, as growth in its infrastructure business offset impacts to its software solutions division from changes to Microsoft’s incentive program.

The numbers: The result topped market estimates of $22.3 million, according to Visible Alpha data.

Gross sales rose 9.2% year on year to $1.54 billion, compared to average forecasts of $1.47 billion.

The company declared an interim dividend of 13.5 cents per share, up from 13.1 cents per share a year earlier.