Halfords’ bumper profits don’t mean an easy ride21 Jun 2021 06:15
Strong sales of bicycles during the pandemic have boosted full-year profits at Halfords (HFD) but Hargreaves Lansdown warns its motoring division is still suffering.
The car accessories and bicycle retailer saw profits soar 72% to £96.3m last year, towards the upper end of expectations, as the pandemic encouraged people to get out and about on two wheels.
Analyst Susannah Streeter said supply chain issues stopped growth from ‘shifting into an even higher gear’ as the business struggled to get hold of stock, an issue which is ongoing.
She said the pandemic has had a ‘clear implication’ for motoring sales which ‘haven’t fallen by as much as expected but are still a tricky trend to navigate’.
Halfords has warned the outlook could be bumpy but on the positive side it has reinstated its dividend, with plans to grow it further.
‘Given such healthy profits, investors may have hoped for a more bumper pay-out, but reinvesting in the business appears to be more of a priority,’ said Streeter.
The shares closed down 5.7%, or 24p, at 402p on Friday, on a difficult day for the UK stock market.