An interim dividend of 20.5 pence per share (H1 2018: 19.0 pence) has been declared and will be paid on 22 November 2019 to holders of ordinary shares on the register at the close of business on 27 September 2019.
The dividend reinvestment plan, introduced in 2012, gives shareholders the opportunity to reinvest their dividend.
Other financial highlights include:
- Record profits with profit before tax increasing by 20% to £72.4m
- Step up in profitability including 140 basis points improvement in operating margin to 16%
- 15% increase in private sales rate to 0.6 per site per week despite an uncertain market backdrop
- Further strong improvement in customer satisfaction with Group trending at 5-star HBF customer satisfaction score for the year to date
- High quality land acquisitions in the year to date totalling 2,007 plots across 12 sites
- Further strengthened balance sheet with increase in net cash as at 30 June 2019 to £102.4m
- Interim dividend up 8% to 20.5p per share reflecting confidence in the business
