TRADING UPDATE TODAY1 Oct 2018 16:37
Trading update
Royal Mail plc (RMG.L) is providing an update on trading for the half year to 23 September 2018 and on outlook for the 2018-19 financial year.
Financial headlines1
· UK parcels business performing well. UK parcel revenue and volume up six per cent in H1 2018-19. Revenue and volume growth for 2018-19 now expected to be better than 2017-18.
· GLS revenue up an estimated nine per cent in H1 2018-19. Labour market and other cost pressures are impacting margins more than anticipated.
· Unchanged medium-term guidance of addressed letter volume decline of four to six per cent per annum. Addressed letter volume down seven per cent in H1 2018-19, primarily due to marketing mail. On this basis, anticipate a similar decline for the full year.
· UK productivity performance significantly below plan at 0.1 per cent in H1 2018-19. Expect the full year performance to be significantly below target (upper end of the two to three per cent range).
· As a result, 2018-19 cost avoidance target lowered from £230 million to £100 million. Implementing a range of short-term cost actions.
· Now expect Group adjusted operating profit before transformation costs to be in the range of £500 million to £550 million on a 52 week basis.
· Strong balance sheet and long-term cash generation characteristics support commitment to progressive divi