Kingfisher Q1 Trading Update

At 7am this morning Kingfisher released their Q1 2017 trading update and here are the key points:-

Financial highlights

• Q1 LFL down 0.6% reflecting continued weaker sales in France and some business disruption from our ONE Kingfisher plan
• Remain on track to deliver Year 2 strategic milestones
• Returned further £79m (23m shares) year to date via share buyback of previously announced c.£600m capital return⁽³⁾ 

Véronique Laury, Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We have set ourselves up well for our transformation, which continues in line with our plans. Strong performance in Screwfix and Poland continues, though performance in France remains weak. In addition, we are experiencing some business disruption given the volume of change, as we clear old ranges, remerchandise new ranges and continue the roll out of our unified IT platform.

“However, we are on track to deliver our Year 2 strategic milestones. Early customer reaction to our new ranges is encouraging, especially in France where our new unique bathroom ranges are launching first. We are also progressing well with our IT platform, which is now live in nearly a third of our Castorama France stores and which will enable us to build a much stronger digital offer.

“We remain confident in the size of the prize and our ability to deliver our long term plan, both the financial benefits of the transformation and the benefits to customers, supported by the continued expertise and energy of our colleagues.”

Q1 trading highlights by division (in constant currencies)

Download the full Kingfisher press release here. 

Source: Insight Team/Kingfisher PLC

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Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ Like-for-like sales growth representing the constant currency, year on year sales growth for stores that have been open for more than a year

⁽²⁾ Brico Dépôt Romania, Brico DépôtPortugal and Screwfix Germany  

⁽³⁾ Through to end of FY 2018/19 (over and above the annual ordinary dividend); now returned £279m of the c.£600m

⁽⁴⁾ c.1% LFL sales transference benefit from B&Q store closures remains full year guidance

⁽⁵⁾ Includes relocated and extended stores http://webstat.banque-france.fr/en/browse.do?node=5384326