Blue Label expects slight uplift in headline earnings Blue Label co-CEOs Mark and Brett Levy Blue Label Telecoms will report slight growth in headline earnings per share of between 0% an 4% for the six-month reporting period ended 30 November 2020. In a trading statement on Wednesday, the group – which owns 45% of Cell C, and to which it has attached a nil carrying value – said basic earnings per share will rise by between 41% and 45%, mainly because of the sale of its 47.6% stake in Blue Label Mexico and its decision a year ago to cease operations of its WiConnect retail stores. Core headline earnings will come in at R376-million, of which R351-million is related to continuing operations and R25-million to discontinued operations. Excluding non-recurring income from foreign exchange gains of R22-million, core headline earnings from continued operations amounted to R329-million, equating to core headline earnings of 37.35c/share, a decline of 13.5% compared to a year ago.