Briscoe lifts first-half profit, dividend – flags gain in FY earnings
Profit climbs to $13.3 million in the 12 months ended July 29, from $10.3 million a year earlier.
BUSINESSDESK: Homeware and sports goods retailer Briscoe Group posts a 29% gain in first-half profit and forecast an improved full-year result, saying it has widened margins and lifted sales in the face of subdued consumer confidence.
Profit rose to $13.3 million in the 12 months ended July 29, from $10.3 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company says. Sales rose 5.5% to $204.7 million while same-store sales climbed 6.8%.
The improved results came across both homewares and its Rebel Sport outlets and, overall, the company’s gross margin widened to 40.73% from 39.97%. Sales from homewares climbed 5.5% to $137 million, lifting earnings before interest and tax to $12.3 million from $9.7 million.
Sporting goods sales rose 5.5% to $.67.5 million, lifting ebit to $4.5 million from $3.2 million.
The improved margin reflects “a strong buying and inventory management performance and effective marketing”, managing director Rod Duke says.
“While the economic outlook remains uncertain, we are cautiously optimistic about group performance as we move into the second half of this year. The group is well placed to better last year’s full-year reported profit of $27.53 million.”
The retailer will pay a first-half dividend of 4 cents a share, up from 3.5 cents in the same period a year earlier.
On a same-store basis, sales of homewares rose 7.9%, while sporting goods rose 4.6%.
Inventory levels were $64 million at July 29, just above the $63 million level a year earlier, the company says.
Shares of Briscoe were unchanged late yesterday at $1.96.
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Briscoe lifts first-half profit, dividend – flags gain in FY earnings
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