In This Article: (Reuters) -IT services provider Softcat on Wednesday raised its full-year operating profit growth forecast, supported by increasing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. Softcat said its operating profit jumped 10.4% to 73.7 million pounds ($95.5 million) in the six months ended January and the company expects full-year growth in the low double-digit percentage range. That is higher than its previous forecast of high single-digit profit growth. Based on brokerage estimates in a company-compiled poll, analysts were expecting Softcat's operating profit to increase between 3% and 12% for the full year. "Our existing capabilities and continued investment mean we are well positioned to support the evolving technological needs of our customers, enabling us to sustainably grow market share," Softcat's CEO, Graham Charlton, said in a statement. Technology firms across the board have benefited from a surge in demand for artificial intelligence applications and automation as organizations wade into more efficient internal systems. ($1 = 0.7715 pounds) (Reporting by Raechel Thankam Job; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
Softcat is an England-based IT firm that provides services including cyber security and infrastructure management for industries such as education, healthcare and defense.