Business
Half-year Financial Report - six months to 28.2.26
The Character Group plc reported a 15% increase in profit before tax and highlighted items to £2.4 million for the six months ended 28 February 2026, despite a 9% decrease in revenue to £48.3 million, primarily due to US tariffs. The company saw its gross profit margin improve to 31.7% from 29.3% in the prior year, and underlying earnings per share rose 29% to 11.06p. The interim dividend has been increased by 33% to 4p per share. The Group maintains a strong balance sheet with no long-term debt and expects full-year results to be significantly ahead of market expectations, further bolstered by the letting or potential sale of surplus property which is anticipated to reduce overheads and strengthen liquidity. Disclaimer*
About this update from Character Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n \n \nThe information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.\n \n \nLONDON, TUESDAY 12 MAY 2026\n \nThe Character Group plc\n(the \"Company\" or \"Group\" or Character\")\n \nDesigners, developers and international distributor of toys, games and giftware\n \nHALF-YEAR FINANCIAL REPORT\nfor the six months ended 28 February 2026\n \n \n\n\n\n\nØ 15% increase in Profit before tax and highlighted item to £2.4m\n\n\n\n\nØ Full year results expected to be significantly ahead of current market expectations\n\n\n\n\nØ Gross Profit margin up from 29.3% in HY25 to 31.7%\n\n\n\n\nØ Underlying Earnings per share up 29% at 11.06p\n\n\n\n\nØ Strong balance sheet and cash generation and no long-term debt\n\n\n\n\nØ Interim dividend increased to 4p per share, up 33%\n\n\n\n\nØ Letting of surplus property will further reduce overheads\n\n\n\n\nØ Expect the benefit of the cost management measures to continue in the second half and beyond\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\nKEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS\nCONTINUING OPERATIONS\n\n\nSix months\nended\n28 February\n2026\n(unaudited)\n\n\nSix months\nended\n28 February\n2025\n(unaudited)\n\n\n12 months \nended\n31 August\n2025\n(audited)\n\n\n\n\nRevenue\n\n\n£48.3m\n\n\n£53.0m\n\n\n£100.5m\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPre-tax profit before highlighted items*\n\n\n£2.4m\n\n\n£2.1m\n\n\n£1.2m\n\n\n\n\nUnderlying basic earnings per share before highlighted items*\n\n\n11.06p\n\n\n8.59p\n\n\n5.59p\n\n\n\n\nDiluted earnings per share before highlighted items*\n\n\n11.06p\n\n\n8.59p\n\n\n5.59p\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProfit / (loss) before tax\n\n\n£2.3m\n\n\n£3.2m\n\n\n£(1.8)m\n\n\n\n\nBasic earnings / (loss) per share\n\n\n10.68p\n\n\n12.84p\n\n\n(6.74p)\n\n\n\n\nDiluted earnings / (loss) per share\n\n\n10.68p\n\n\n12.84p\n\n\n(6.74p)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDividend per share (declared)\n\n\n4.0p\n\n\n3.0p\n\n\n6.0p\n\n\n\n\nEBITDA\n\n\n£4.2m\n\n\n£...