Halma (LSE:HLMA) has loved one other spectacular 12 months in 2024. The FTSE 100 inventory — which manufactures security gear and hazard detection gear — continues to ship report performances regardless of the robust financial backdrop.

One other glowing buying and selling replace on Thursday (21 November) has pushed Halma shares 8% larger. This takes whole positive aspects for the reason that begin of the 12 months to twenty%.

Is that this the Footsie‘s finest progress inventory to purchase at present?

£1bn gross sales landmark

Halma’s a grasp of figuring out profitable acquisitions and squeezing each drop of worth from them. It’s why the M&A-driven enterprise has delivered 21 consecutive years of report earnings.

Thursday’s replace confirmed that the technique continues to repay splendidly. Revenues soared 13% between April and September to contemporary all-time peaks of £1.07bn. Natural revenues had been up 11.5% within the interval, with new acquisitions making up the rest.

Halma’s adjusted EBIT margin rose 70 foundation factors, to twenty.7%, due to energy at its Environmental & Evaluation unit. Mixed with these booming gross sales, adjusted EBIT soared 17% to £222.5m.

Pre-tax revenue was up 16% at £174m, additionally a brand new all-time peak.

Causes to be cheerful

Unsurprisingly, this record-setting efficiency — one which beat even Halma’s lofty expectations — has bought the market buzzing. However that is solely half the story.

In addition to delivering spectacular revenues and earnings progress, the Footsie agency additionally reported exceptional money creation for the primary half.

Money conversion clocked in at 108%, surging from 96% in the identical 2023 interval. It was additionally method forward of the corporate’s 90% goal.

That is important for 2 causes. Firstly, it offers Halma further energy to make extra earnings-boosting acquisitions. By the way, the agency’s net-debt-to-adjusted-EBITDA ratio additionally fell to 1.27 occasions from 1.42 occasions, additional inside its aim of two occasions and beneath.

Secondly, Halma’s money enhance has enabled it to ship one other spectacular dividend improve.

At 9p per share, the interim payout has been raised 7% 12 months on 12 months. This reinforces the corporate’s enchantment as one of many FTSE 100’s finest dividend progress shares (annual dividends have risen for 45 straight years).

A prime purchase?

There’s clearly quite a bit to get enthusiastic about over at Halma then. However would I purchase its shares at present? I’m not so certain.

That is clearly a high-quality firm with a brilliant outlook. It has loads of monetary firepower to capitalise on what it’s described as its “wholesome pipeline of potential acquisitions“. It additionally has appreciable progress alternatives throughout its developed and rising markets.

Nevertheless, I really feel that a lot of that is now baked into Halma’s share price. Following at present’s positive aspects, the corporate now trades on an enormous ahead price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 30.2 occasions.

That is greater than double the Footsie common of 14.2 occasions.

Halma’s excessive valuation might restrict any additional share price positive aspects. It might even immediate a share price reversal if the blockbuster buying and selling updates dry up. This may occur, as an example, if the worldwide economic system takes a contemporary downturn.

I’ll give Halma an in depth look if it falls in worth. However for the second I’m comfortable to sit down on the sidelines.