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Investing.com -- Shares of British retailer Travis Perkins PLC (LON:TPK) climbed 7.8% on Tuesday after the company reported first-quarter trading that exceeded analysts’ expectations.
The building materials supplier saw a like-for-like (LFL) sales decline of 2.1%, which was better than the forecasted 4.0% drop and an improvement from the 4.8% decline in the fourth quarter of the previous year.
The company’s merchanting segment experienced a 3.2% drop in LFL growth, which was also ahead of the predicted 5.0% decline. Despite a modest decrease in volumes, pricing has stabilized.
Toolstation, the company’s retail division, continued to perform well with a 3.7% increase in LFL growth, including 2.5% volume growth. This success is attributed to the ongoing delivery of maturity benefits and actions to enhance operating margin.
The update provided by Travis Perkins did not include new commentary on the company’s outlook, but it reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting ’adjusted operating profit excluding property profits to be broadly in line with FY24.’
Analysts have not altered their forecasts since the full-year results were announced just four weeks prior. The consensus remains at an EBITA of £140 million for FY25, aligning with management’s guidance.
Analysts remain positive on Travis Perkins, citing the slowly improving U.K. construction market, particularly in housebuilding and infrastructure, as well as the company’s significant potential for self-improvement.
These factors are expected to lead to better free cash flow and return on invested capital over time. Despite the recent departure of the CEO and the ongoing search for a new CEO and Head of Merchanting, analysts believe the opportunity for the company remains substantial.
RBC noted that while March and April trends may be difficult to interpret due to weather and the timing of Easter, they view price stabilization in Merchanting, ongoing progress at Toolstation, and slightly improved like-for-like growth as encouraging, especially considering the current share price.
The firm maintained its Outperform rating with a price target of 1,050p.