Whitbread PLC results for the 53 week financial year to 3 March 2016
Financial Highlights |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
Change |
Total revenue (£m) |
2,921.8 |
2,608.1 |
12.0% |
Underlying profit1 before tax (£m) |
546.3 |
488.1 |
11.9% |
Hotels and Restaurants underlying operating profit (£m) |
446.9 |
401.4 |
11.3% |
Costa underlying operating profit (£m) |
153.5 |
132.5 |
15.8% |
Profit for the year |
387.3 |
366.1 |
5.8% |
Underlying basic EPS1 (pence) |
238.65 |
213.67 |
11.7% |
Total basic EPS (pence) |
215.66 |
204.81 |
5.3% |
Full year dividend (pence) |
90.35 |
82.15 |
10.0% |
Group total sales growth of 12.0% and like for like sales2 growth of 3.0%
Premier Inn total sales growth of 12.9% and like for like sales up 4.2%
Costa total sales growth of 15.9%, system sales up 15.3% and UK like for like sales up 2.9%
Group return on capital3 of 15.3% (2014/15: 15.7%) includes investments in future hotel openings
Strong cash generated from operations of £782.2 million which funded capital investment4 of £724.9 million
Strong balance sheet with year-end net debt of £909.8 million (2014/15: £583.2 million)
Richard Baker, Chairman, said:
"With another good set of results, that continue to show the strength of Whitbread's brands, the Board is pleased to announce an increase in the full year dividend of 10%.
This is a very exciting time for the Company; with our recent senior appointments, we now have a refreshed leadership team, and I am delighted it is being led by Alison Brittain as CEO, to take us on the journey to building a bigger as well as a better Whitbread."