The WH Smith directors have declared an interim dividend in respect of the period ending 29 February 2024 of 11.0p per ordinary share. This will be paid on 1 August 2024 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 12 July 2024.
Other financial highlights include:
Total Group revenue up 8% to £926m (2023: £859m)
o Total revenue in Travel up 13%, with Travel UK up 15% year on year; North America up 13%; Rest of the World ('ROW') up 24%*
Headline Group profit before tax and non-underlying items of £46m (2023: £45m)
o Total Travel trading profit of £50m (2023: £47m)
o High Street trading profit of £22m (2023: £24m)
Headline diluted EPS before non-underlying items up 5% to 24.4p
Investing for growth with capex in the current financial year expected to be around £140m
New store pipeline of over 80 stores won and yet to open in Travel, including over 50 in North America. Expect to open c.110 stores this financial year
Strong balance sheet with leverag now at 1.8x with further strengthening expected
Good start to the second half. Trading momentum continues ahead of peak summer period
