Business
FULL YEAR RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
Autotrader Group PLC reported a 4% increase in group revenue to £624.3 million for the year ended 31 March 2026, with group operating profit also rising 4% to £392.7 million, maintaining a 63% operating profit margin. Basic earnings per share grew 8% to 34.17 pence, and the company returned £463.2 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, proposing a final dividend of 7.8 pence per share. The company anticipates returning approximately £600 million to shareholders in financial year 2027 through share buybacks and dividends, with a projected group operating profit of £395 million to £415 million for financial year 2027. Disclaimer*
About this update from Autotrader Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n \n\n \nEmbargoed until 7.00am, 21 May 2026\nAUTOTRADER GROUP PLC\nFULL YEAR RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026\n \nAutotrader Group plc ('the Group'), the UK's largest automotive marketplace and leading digital platform for the automotive industry, announces full year results for the year ended 31 March 2026\n \nFinancial results\n \n\n\n\n\n£m (unless otherwise specified)\n\n\n2026\n\n\n2025\n\n\nChange\n\n\n\n\nAutotrader1\n\n\n585.3\n\n\n564.8\n\n\n4%\n\n\n\n\nAutorama\n\n\n39.0\n\n\n36.3\n\n\n7%\n\n\n\n\nGroup revenue\n\n\n624.3\n\n\n601.1\n\n\n4%\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAutotrader1\n\n\n408.0\n\n\n394.0\n\n\n4%\n\n\n\n\nAutorama\n\n\n(2.0)\n\n\n(4.3)\n\n\n53%\n\n\n\n\nGroup central costs2 - relating to Autorama acquisition\n\n\n(13.3)\n\n\n(12.9)\n\n\n(3%)\n\n\n\n\nGroup operating profit\n\n\n392.7\n\n\n376.8\n\n\n4%\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAutotrader operating profit margin\n\n\n70%\n\n\n70%\n\n\n(0%) pts\n\n\n\n\nGroup operating profit margin\n\n\n63%\n\n\n63%\n\n\n0% pts\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBasic earnings per share (pence)\n\n\n34.17\n\n\n31.66\n\n\n8%\n\n\n\n\nCash generated from operations3\n\n\n418.0\n\n\n399.7\n\n\n5%\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nCash returned to shareholders\n\n\n463.2\n\n\n275.7\n\n\n187.5\n\n\n\n\nNet cash / (bank debt)4\n\n\n(146.8)\n\n\n15.3\n\n\n(162.1)\n\n\n\n\nLeverage (times)5\n\n\n0.3x\n\n\n0.0\n\n\n0.3x\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAverage retailer forecourts (number)6\n\n\n13,942\n\n\n14,013\n\n\n(1%)\n\n\n\n\nAverage revenue per retailer ('ARPR') (£)6\n\n\n2,995\n\n\n2,854\n\n\n5%\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nKey headlines\n- Revenue growth for the year was 4%, driven by ARPR growth of 5%, largely through our price and product event in April 2025. Revenue growth in H2 was 3% and lower in the fourth quarter, reflecting both the more difficult trading conditions and retailer feedback regarding our Deal Builder product roll-out, which we moved quickly to address. This has resulted in improved sentiment, and throughout April and May, we have seen a gradual increase in our core KPIs - retailer forecourts, volumes of paid stock and higher package penetration.\n \n- In the year, our position with car buyers has strength...
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