The Sainsbury's Board has proposed a final dividend of 7.4 pence per share. This brings the full year dividend to 10.6 pence per share, which is in line with last year (when treating the Special dividend announced in November 2020 of 7.3 pence as part of 2019/20), despite lower underlying profits. This diverges from their policy of a dividend covered 1.9x by underlying earnings, reflecting strong underlying cash generation and consistent with the commitment the Board made in November to protect shareholder income from the full impact of COVID-19 on profits.
Other financial highlights include:
Strong operating performance, with grocery sales up 7.8%, general merchandise sales up 8.3% and digital sales up 102%, offset on a statutory basis by materially reduced fuel sales; changes have been made through the pandemic that are creating good momentum as we move into the new financial year
Underlying profit before tax down 39% to £356 million, with benefits from strong sales growth (excluding fuel) more than offset by £485 million of direct COVID-19 costs. Statutory loss before tax of £261 million predominantly reflects one-off costs and impairments associated with strategic changes announced in November
Strong Retail free cash flow of £784 million, with significant working capital inflow more than offsetting lower profits
Upgrading four-year net debt reduction target from £750 million to at least £950 million despite short term expectation of some working capital reversal. Expect to generate average Retail cash flow of at least £500 million per year over the three years to March 2025
Continue to expect underlying profit before tax in the financial year to March 2022 to exceed March 2020 level (£586 million); comfortable with consensus forecasts of around £620 million
