The Spectris Board is declaring a final dividend of 56.6 pence per share, taking the dividend for the full year to 83.2 pence (2023: 79.2 pence per share), representing growth of 5% on last year and 35 years of continuous growth. The final dividend will be payable on 27 June to shareholders on the register on 16 May 2025. The ex-dividend date is 15 May. they also completed £96.7 million of share buybacks during the year, buying back three million shares.
Other financial highlights include:
Sales 7% lower in 2024 on a LFL basis, reflecting weakness across multiple end markets
Reduction in adjusted operating margin to 15.6% as a result of operating leverage on lower sales
Returning to growth - signs of end market demand recovery with LFL order growth of 6% in fourth quarter
R&D delivering a record number of new products and product vitality up 7 percentage points at 29%
Operational excellence - new ERP system and the Spectris Business System delivering tangible benefits
Profit Improvement Programme to deliver £50 million of benefits over the next two years
Three high-quality, complementary businesses acquired in 2024 delivering material synergies
Focus on cash generation and leverage reduction in 2025
