Interim Management Statement
Marshalls plc (MSLH), the specialist landscape products company, today issued its Interim Management Statement for the ten months ended 31 October 2014.
Marshalls' revenue from continuing operations for the ten months ended 31 October 2014 was up 18 per cent at £312 million (2013: £265 million). The Group continues to experience strong order intake and sales growth in all its end markets. If the positive market conditions continue it is likely that the full year results will be above current market expectations.
Sales to the Public Sector and Commercial end market, which now represent approximately 63 per cent of Marshalls' sales, were up 21 per cent, on a continuing basis. The Group continues to target those parts of the market where higher levels of growth are anticipated, such as Rail, Home, Landscape Water Management and Internal Natural Stone Flooring.
Sales to the Domestic end market, which represent approximately 31 per cent of Group sales, were up 10 per cent compared with the prior year period. The survey of domestic installers at the end of October 2014 revealed order books of 11.9 weeks (2013: 11.0 weeks) compared with 11.5 weeks at the end of June 2014.
Continued progress has been made in developing the International business, where revenue has grown by 34 per cent in the ten months ended 31 October 2014 and has now reached 6 per cent of expanded Group sales.
Dividend
The 2014 interim dividend of 2.00 pence per share, announced on 28 August 2014, will be paid on 5 December 2014 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 24 October 2014.
Outlook
The Construction Products Association's Autumn Forecast predicts growth in UK market volumes of 4.8 per cent in 2014 and 5.3 per cent in 2015 which is an improvement on their Summer Forecast.
The Group continues to increase output to meet growing demand and to deliver benefits from its operational gearing. The Group remains focused on product innovation and service delivery initiatives to deliver continued sales growth and improve trading margins.