Grafton year-to-date revenue up despite "weaker" Great Britain trade

(Alliance News) - Grafton Group PLC on Friday said revenue edged higher in the first four months of the year, despite underwhelming trade in Great Britain.

The Dublin-based building materials distributor said revenue in the four months to April 30 rose 3.2% on-year to GBP830.1 million from GBP804.4 million a year prior. Average daily like-for-like sales were flat over the period.

Grafton said growth in Iberia, the island of Ireland region and Northern Europe offset "weak markets" in Great Britain.

"A robust performance in Iberia, alongside more modest sales growth in the Island of Ireland and Northern Europe, was fully offset by weaker trading in Great Britain. Trading in the seasonally less important early months of the year was also influenced by exceptionally wet weather in Ireland and the UK," Grafton said.

"Our island of Ireland businesses delivered average daily like-for-like revenue growth of 1.8% in the period in comparison to last year driven by strong growth in Chadwicks. Chadwicks benefited from a pick‑up in construction activity in recent months following persistently wet weather earlier in the year and some forward purchases ahead of price increases. Woodie's trading was slightly behind strong prior‑year comparatives, when favourable weather in early spring 2025 pulled forward demand for plant and garden related products."

Grafton sealed the buy of Mercaluz in Spain earlier this month in a deal worth up to EUR175 million. It completed the buy of Irish timber frame firm Cygnum in April for an undisclosed sum.

These deals are expected to "offset weaker trading in Great Britain".

Grafton as a result now expects annual adjusted operating profit in the range of GBP190 million and GBP200 million. It puts consensus at GBP190.8 million. In 2025, adjusted operating profit amounted to GBP190.2 million.

The company added: "Though we have experienced no material disruption to date, the group continues to actively manage supply chain risks arising from conflict in the Middle East, maintaining high levels of stock availability for customers. Supplier price increases and higher fuel costs are being closely managed, while the group remains mindful that sustained cost inflation may place pressure on market demand and volumes. Against this backdrop, focus remains firmly on disciplined cost control and margin management."

By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor

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