31st Jul 2018 10:03
LONDON (Alliance News) - Games Workshop Group PLC on Tuesday said the business is in the best shape it has been in "for some time", though it warned challenges still lie ahead.
Games Workshop shares were 6.4% lower on Tuesday at 2,950.00 pence each.
The wargaming miniatures firm, which makes Warhammer, posted revenue of GBP219.9 million for the 53 weeks to June 3, from GBP158.1 million in the 52 weeks to May 28 last year.
Games Workshop's pretax profit came in at GBP74.5 million for the period, almost doubling from GBP38.4 million in the week-shorter period a year before.
By segment, trade sales at constant currency rose to GBP96.2 million from GBP61.3 million, retail sales rose to GBP82.5 million from GBP64.8 million, and online revenue was up to GBP43.9 million from GBP32 million.
The company declared a final dividend in early June of 30 pence per share, taking its year's total to 126p, far higher than the 74p paid a year prior.
Games Workshop said costs have been "managed well" during the year, though they did increase due to long-term investments made into the business.
The company said things were going "so far, so good", adding it has taken "a long time" to breach the GBP200 million revenue barrier, and it believes overall prospects are good.
However, Chief Executive Kevin Rountree said: "We are now in uncharted waters, doing everything we can to ensure our success is maintained.
"The challenge of managing global sales volume growth at the same time as delivering a step change in our capacity is, I hope you appreciate, a fair challenge."
He added: "It would be unrealistic, if not daft, of me to promise we can continue to grow at the rates we have reported over the last two years. I am not, however, planning to scale down our ambitions, I am just informing you of the back drop."
Related Shares:
Games Workshop