Business
Half-year Report
Half-year Report.
About this update from Smiths News Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n7 May 2025\n \nSmiths News plc\n(\"Smiths News\" or the \"Company\")\nUnaudited Interim Results for the 26 weeks ended 1 March 2025\nGood start to FY2025, underpinned by the news and magazines business, with trading in line with market expectations\n91% of existing publisher revenue streams secured underpinning short and medium-term revenues and the expansion of the Company's early morning supply chain activities\n \nSmiths News (LSE: SNWS), the UK's largest news wholesaler and a leading provider of early morning end-to-end supply chain solutions, today announces unaudited interim results for the 26 weeks ended 1 March 2025 (the \"Period\" or \"HY2025\").\n \nFinancial highlights:\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nPerformance remains in line with market expectations for FY2025\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nRevenues of £536.4m (-0.6% versus HY2024) and adjusted operating profit of £19.4m (+3.2% versus HY2024)\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nProgramme of identifying operational efficiencies continues to plan, delivering £3.0m of cost savings in HY2025 (HY2024: £3.1m)\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nStrong ongoing free cash flow of £13.3m in HY2025 (HY2024: £4.2m)\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nMajor contract renewals now secured, with 91% of existing publishers revenues to at least 2029, underpinning both short and medium-term revenues and the expansion of our early morning supply chain activities\n\n\n\n\n· \n\n\nInterim dividend of 1.75 pence per share (HY2024: 1.75 pence), due to be paid on 3 July 2025\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nAdjusted results (1)\n\n\n26 weeks to\n1 Mar 2025\n\n\n26 weeks to\n24 Feb 2024\n\n\nChange\n\n\n\n\nRevenue\n\n\n£536.4m\n\n\n£539.8m\n\n\n(0.6%)\n\n\n\n\nOperating profit\n\n\n£19.4m\n\n\n£18.8m\n\n\n3.2%\n\n\n\n\nProfit after tax\n\n\n£13.1m\n\n\n£11.8m\n\n\n11.0%\n\n\n\n\nEarnings per share\n\n\n5.4p\n\n\n4.9p\n\n\n0.5p\n\n\n\...