Final Results

Halfords Group PLC reported a 4.8% like-for-like sales growth for the 53-week period ended April 3, 2026, with underlying profit before tax increasing by 4.1% to £45.4 million, exceeding consensus. The company saw its gross margin expand by 210 basis points to 52.8%, its highest in a decade, and return on capital employed improved to 14.2%. Free cash flow generated was £25.3 million on a 52-week basis, leading to net cash of £11.2 million. The recommended final dividend is 6.0p, bringing the total FY26 dividend to 9.0p. The company is confident in its "Optimise" strategy, expecting further progress in FY27.