Forsyth Barr broker Andrew Rooney expected all regions where the global carrier is based will be contributing to growth, forecasting a 22% gain in after-tax profit for the half at $36.4 million.
''We expect improving fortunes in international operations beyond Australasia will be a key feature of the result,'' Mr Rooney said.
Craigs Investment Partners broker Peter McIntyre said Mainfreight believed Europe operations were improving and also expected Australia to eclipse New Zealand in terms of profitability.
''One risk at a performance level could well be Australian operations based around a slower export economy,'' Mr McIntyre said. Mainfreight's first quarter trading results had shown an improvement and Mr McIntyre said he expected that trend to continue, and also a better result out of Europe.
For its previous full year result, to the end of March, Mainfreight underpinned its strong result in booking a record $89.6 million after-tax profit.
Its sales revenue was up 2.1% to $1.92 billion and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation hit a record $149.1 million, up 8.5% on the previous year.
Sales for the half year from Asia are estimated by Mr Rooney to be up almost 15%, from $22.9 million to $26.3 million, followed by New Zealand sales up 7.2%, from $243.1 million to $260.6 million, and Europe up 2.2%, from $202.7 million to $207.3 million.
The US sales are expected to be up 2.8%, from $220.1 million to $226.3 million, while Australia has the smallest expected increase of 0.9%, up from $220.1 million a year ago to $226.3 million.
Overall, Mr Rooney estimated total sales up 3.6%, from $952.7 million a year ago to $986.7 million.
''Market share opportunities abound for Mainfreight as it continues to leverage its tried and tested quality-orientated approach to securing and maintaining customer relationships,'' Mr Rooney said.
There were still ''macro pressures'' persisting in Europe, but the backdrop elsewhere was still favourable.
There was ''encouraging progress'' in the US, driven by domestic, air and ocean freight, while in Australia revenue growth was expected to feature, but possibly offset by increased building costs related to new facilities. Capital expenditure in Australia during full year 2015 was estimated at $137 million.
In New Zealand, Mr Rooney said while the domestic business was maturing, Mainfreight continued to win market share; including the business of competitor Bullet Freight which went into receivership.
Mr Rooney said Mainfreight maintained several ''key attributes'', including as high profit margin return on equity, leveraging growth from its existing network and its earnings growth was outpacing the market and Mainfreight's peers.
''Mainfreight has substantial global growth prospects,'' he said.
