Preliminary results
HIGHLIGHTS
Business highlights
● 53 new stores opened in the UK, including 9 relocations to large, modern Homestores, and 19 new stores in Germany
● Strong pipeline of 40-50 new stores planned in the UK and a further 15 in Germany this financial year
● Revised UK store target from 850 to at least 950 stores
● New warehouse capacity in both the UK and Germany now working efficiently
● Delivery of consistent in-store retail standards, strong product offering and great value for money supporting trading momentum
Financial overview
● Group revenues increased by +19.4% to £2,430.7m (2016: £2,035.3m)
● UK full year like-for-like sales¹ +3.1% (2016: + 0.9%), including Q4 like-for-like sales +2.9% and an excellent start to 2018
● Group Adjusted EBITDA³ increased by 22.0% to £234.9m (2016: £192.5m)
● Group EBITDA² increased by 18.1% to £231.5m (2016: £196.1m)
● Adjusted profit before tax increased by 25.6% to £190.1m (2016: £151.4m)
● Profit before tax increased by 18.4% to £182.9m (2016: £154.5m)
● Adjusted diluted earnings per share 14.9p (2016: 12.2p)
● Diluted earnings per share 14.3p (2016: 12.4p)
Strong cash generation
● Operating cash flow £210.9m (2016: £170.9m)
● Year-end net debt £401.9m and net debt to Adjusted EBITDA³ 1.71x (2016: 1.84x) after payment of the £100m special dividend in July 2016
● Recommended final dividend of 3.9p per share to be paid on 4 August 2017, bringing the full year ordinary dividend increase to 20.8%