The Barratt Developments PLC Board established a new dividend policy based on an ordinary dividend with a 2.5 times dividend cover in 2020. The Board was delighted to resume dividend payments with the declaration of an interim dividend of 7.5 pence per share in February 2021 and is pleased to recommend a final dividend of 21.9 pence per share (2020: nil pence per share). Subject to shareholder approval, the final dividend will be paid on 9 November 2021 to those shareholders on the register as at the close of business on 1 October 2021. The total proposed ordinary dividend for 2021, including the interim dividend of 7.5 pence per share paid in May 2021, is 29.4 pence per share (2020: nil pence per share; 2019: 29.1 pence per share).
Other financial highlights include:
Excellent operational and financial performance throughout the year with total home completions increasing by 36.8% to 17,243 (2020: 12,604), just 3.4% below the 17,856 total completions achieved in 2019.
Gross margin of 21.0% (2020: 18.0%; 2019: 22.8%) with the adjusted gross margin recovering to 23.2% (2020: 18.5%; 2019: 22.8%) reflecting market strength and completion volume recovery.
Strong cash generation with net cash at 30 June 2021 of £1,317.4m (30 June 2020: £308.2m; 30 June 2019: £765.7m) which enables their growth plans.
Maintained competitive position in the land market. Approved £876.8m (2020: £368.1m; 2019: £859.8m) of operational land for purchase, equating to 18,067 plots (2020: 9,441 plots; 2019: 18,448 plots) on 97 new sites (2020: 51; 2019: 90).
