U.S. stocks edge higher; solid earnings season continues
Investing.com -- Travis Perkins (LON:TPK) reported a 24% decline in first-half adjusted operating profit, as the prolonged weakness in the U.K. construction sector continued to weigh on performance. However, the company’s like-for-like (LFL) trends improved in the second quarter.
The slowdown, driven by elevated interest rates and fragile consumer sentiment, has dampened both commercial and residential activity, as well as demand for large-scale home renovations.
Adjusted operating profit for the six months to June 30 fell to £63 million from £83 million a year earlier, excluding discontinued operations. The figure missed the £65 million forecast cited by RBC Capital Markets.
"The first quarter was difficult, with a continued trend of market share loss and revenue decline in Merchanting," Chair Geoff Drabble said.
Still, the company’s shares rose 1.3% in London trading as of 07:29 GMT.
The company expects full-year adjusted operating profit, including property gains, to come in broadly in line with the consensus estimate of £141 million.
Travis Perkins’ LFL growth in the second quarter improved slightly from a 3.2% decline in the first quarter to a 0.5% drop.
In the key Merchanting division, Q2 like-for-like sales were down 1.0%, better than the 2.8% decline expected and a modest improvement from the 3.2% drop in Q1. Pricing stabilized over the first half, while volumes saw a slight decline.
While the full-year outlook remains broadly in line with expectations, RBC cautioned that this now reflects increased property profits.
As a result, the broker trimmed its fiscal 2025 (FY25) and FY26 EBITA forecasts by 3.5% and 5%, respectively. Still, the analysts remain constructive on the name, seeing signs that "markets are troughing" and pointing to "significant self-help potential."