15th Sep 2025 07:00
15 September 2025
AO WORLD PLC
Pre-Close Trading Update for H1 2026
Double digit B2C Retail revenue growth
Profit forecast updated to the top half of previous guidance
£10m share buyback programme
Ahead of its Annual General Meeting at 9am today, AO World plc ("the Group" or "AO"), the UK's most trusted electricals retailer, provides the following pre-close trading statement for the period from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025 ("H1 2026").
The business continues to perform strongly, with B2C Retail revenues expected to increase by 11% YoY and Group revenue expected to be up 13% YoY.
We reiterate our FY26 revenue guidance of double-digit B2C growth and update our profit expectation for FY26, with adjusted PBT1 now expected to be £45m to £50m versus the previous guidance range of £40m to £50m.
We expect our H1 2026 cash position to be c£70m with our Revolving Credit Facility of £120m to be undrawn. Given the Group's strong cash generation and the Board's ongoing confidence in its future performance, the Group is today announcing its intention to commence its first-ever share buyback programme of AO's ordinary shares up to £10m. Full details of this Programme will be announced following shareholder approval of the Group's buyback authority at this morning's AGM.
John Roberts, AO's Founder and CEO, commented:
"I'm delighted that we are on track to deliver yet another period of double-digit revenue growth and a strong profit performance, whilst maintaining our globally leading customer service standards.
Our strategy as set out at our full year results is working and we have an exciting pipeline of further value to deliver for customers in H2. Our Five Star membership programme continues to go from strength to strength as our customers realise the exceptional value that it offers. This, combined with our ongoing efforts to broaden our product range, is an increasingly key driver of our performance.
None of this happens by accident and as always I am hugely grateful for each and every AOer for their continued focus on, and passion for, delivering brilliant service to our growing customer base."
AO expects to publish its Half Year Results to 30 September 2025 on 25 November 2025.
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Enquiries
AO World PLC John Roberts, Founder & CEO Mark Higgins, Group CFO & COO
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Tel: +44(0)1204 672 400
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Sodali Rob Greening Russ Lynch
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About AO AO World PLC, headquartered in Bolton and listed on the London Stock Exchange, is the UK's most trusted major electricals retailer, with a mission to be the destination for electricals. Our strategy is to create value by offering our customers brilliant customer service and making AO the destination for everything they need, in the simplest and easiest way, when buying electricals. We offer major and small domestic appliances and a growing range of mobile phones, AV, consumer electricals and laptops. We also provide ancillary services such as the installation of new and collection of old products and offer product protection plans and customer finance. AO Business serves the B2B market in the UK, providing electricals and installation services at scale. AO also has a WEEE processing facility, ensuring customers' electronic waste is dealt with responsibly.
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1Adjusted PBT is defined as a profit before tax, adjusted for any non-recurring items as defined by the board.
Cautionary statement This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements (including beliefs or opinions) with respect to the operations, performance and financial condition of the Group. These statements are made in good faith and are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. By their nature, future events and circumstances can cause results and developments to differ materially from those anticipated. Except as is required by the Listing Rules, Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and applicable laws, no undertaking is given to update the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Nothing in this document should be construed as a profit forecast or an invitation to deal in the securities of the Company. This announcement has been prepared for the Group as a whole and therefore gives greater emphasis to those matters which are significant to AO World plc and its subsidiary undertakings when viewed as a whole. |
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