Story
Kingfisher Shares Surge on Profit Beat, Upgraded Guidance, and New Buyback
Summary
The UK-based home improvement retailer raised its full-year profit forecast after reporting better-than-expected interim results, driven by strong performance at its B&Q and Screwfix brands.
Shares of Kingfisher plc (KGF.L) surged after the home improvement retailer reported interim profits that significantly beat analyst expectations, raised its full-year outlook, and announced a new share buyback program.
The company's stock climbed 8.7% to 332.2 pence in London trading, making it the top performer on the FTSE 100 index.
Strong Earnings and Upgraded Outlook
For the six months ending July 31, Kingfisher reported an adjusted pre-tax profit of £404 million, according to its latest financial release. Profit attributable to shareholders rose 22.6% to £290 million, exceeding the Visible Alpha consensus estimate of £273.1 million. The company attributed the strong performance to a 70 basis point expansion in gross margin, disciplined cost management, and a £14 million business rates refund.
Reflecting growing confidence in its second-half performance, Kingfisher raised the lower end of its full-year guidance. The company now expects adjusted pre-tax profit for the full year to be in the range of £595 million to £625 million, up from a previous forecast of £565 million to £625 million.
Capital Returns and Operational Strength
AdKingfisher also confirmed the third tranche of its share repurchase program, committing up to £50 million for share buybacks. The company stated that Morgan Stanley will execute the purchases no later than December 15, 2026, a move that reinforces investor confidence in the company's balance sheet.
The positive results were underpinned by solid trading in the UK, a key market for the retailer. Key operational highlights from the report include:
- Like-for-like sales at its B&Q banner increased by 4.4%.
- Like-for-like sales at its Screwfix trade-focused chain grew by 3%.
- E-commerce sales now represent 22% of total group sales.
Investor sentiment had already been improving ahead of the report, following a recent stock upgrade from Deutsche Bank, which moved its rating from Sell to Hold. The strong performance from Kingfisher also provided a lift to sector peers, with shares of Travis Perkins and Wickes trading higher.
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