CatalystWireBeta

Trading Update

In brief · summary, not quotable

Oxford Instruments reconfirms full-year outlook; Advanced Technologies orders up 44.5%, NanoScience sold for £48.5m net cash.

vs expectations: in line

  • Advanced Technologies year-to-date orders growth +44.5% OCC
  • Imaging and Analysis Q2 order intake growth +2.4% OCC
  • Group year-to-date book-to-bill ratio 1.2
  • NanoScience divestment net cash proceeds £48.5m
  • Share buyback programme completed (first tranche) £41.2m of £50m
Full announcement

Select text to share a quote on X · sign in to keep highlights & notes in your OXIG notes

Continued strong order momentum in Advanced Technologies

Oxford Instruments plc, ("Oxford Instruments" or "the Group"), a leading provider of scientific technology tools and expertise to academic and commercial partners, is today issuing a trading update for the three months ended 31 December 2025 for continuing operations1.

Trading update

The Group today reconfirms its full-year outlook, with reported adjusted operating profit2 anticipated to be in line with market expectations3.

Order intake for the Imaging and Analysis (I&A) division showed continued progress over Q2 and grew +2.4% OCC4 versus Q3 last year. The year-to-date book-to-bill ratio for the division is 1.1. Cost restructuring actions completed during H1 in our Belfast-based imaging business are delivering the expected benefits in H2.

The third quarter has seen continued strong order momentum for the Advanced Technologies (AT) division, with year-to-date orders up +44.5% OCC on the prior year. Order book coverage now extends well into FY27.

The year-to-date book-to-bill ratio for the Group is 1.2. The Group continues to both book and ship new I&A orders within the fourth quarter, with the main focus being on executing on the current orderbook across both divisions.

NanoScience divestment

The sale of the NanoScience business completed on 2 January 2026. Net cash proceeds from the sale were £48.5m, after the application of final closing adjustments relating to working capital, and other debt-like items.

Defined benefit pension

On 5 December 2025 the Trustee of the Oxford Instruments Pension Scheme purchased a policy with Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited ('Royal London') to insure all members' Scheme benefits ('buy in').

As previously guided, pension contributions by the Company have ceased from October 2025, with contributions expected to be £5.25m for the full year FY26, and nil in all subsequent years.

Share buyback programme

As at 31 December 2025 £41.2m of the first £50m tranche of the share buyback programme had been completed. The second £50m tranche of the programme will follow on immediately upon completion of the first.

Currency

There is no change to guidance for the current financial year, with the adjusted operating profit headwind for FY26 still expected to be c. £5.5m versus the prior year.

Dates for Q4 trading update and FY 26 results

Oxford Instruments will issue a trading update on 14 April for the fourth quarter and full year to 31 March 2026. Preliminary FY26 results will be announced on 9 June 2026.

Notes:

  • Excludes the NanoScience business and directly related costs which exited the Group upon final deal closing.
  • Adjusted items exclude the amortisation and impairment of acquired intangible assets, acquisition items, business reorganisation costs, other significant non‑recurring items, and the mark-to-market movement of financial derivatives.
  • Consensus for FY26 reported adjusted operating profit ranges from £70.2m to £73.0m, with a mean of £71.8m.
  • Organic constant currency numbers are prepared on a month-by-month basis using the translational and transactional exchange rates which prevailed in the previous year rather than the actual exchange rates which prevailed in the year. Transactional exchange rates include the effect of our hedging programme. They also exclude the impact of acquisitions and divestment made in the comparator periods.

The financial information in this trading update is unaudited.

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

Share this quote

Quote card
Post on X WhatsApp Download image

The link opens this announcement with the quote highlighted. Quotes are checked against the original text.

Add a note