Wickes upbeat on FY26 guidance after Q2 LFL growth

(Sharecast News) - Home improvement retailer Wickes reported like-for-like growth in both its retail and its design and installation units in second quarter, leaving the firm comfortable with 2026 adjusted pre-tax profit forecasts. Wickes said on Tuesday that Q2 trading continued to build steadily, with group revenue up 2.3% as both retail and design and installation returned to like‑for‑like growth. Retail, which delivered £366m of revenue in Q2, grew 1.8% year‑on‑year, helped by rising customer numbers and a deflationary backdrop that supported volumes. LFL sales edged 0.6% higher, leaving the segment 8.5% ahead on a two‑year basis.

TradePro remained a bright spot, with sales up 6% and membership rising 9% to 671,000, while DIY demand held broadly steady. Wickes also said digitally‑led click and collect, and home delivery was up 7%.

Design and installation also maintained its momentum, marking a fifth straight quarter of positive delivered sales. Lifestyle Kitchens and Bespoke Bathrooms performed strongly, though customers were more cautious on larger bespoke kitchen purchases. Overall project numbers increased, even as ordered sales by value dipped slightly year‑on‑year.

The FTSE 250-listed firm also said its balance sheet remained solid, with £152m net cash at the half‑year after £20m of share buybacks and EBT purchases, and highlighted that its value‑led model had left it well placed despite an uncertain consumer backdrop. Wickes reiterated that it expects FY26 adjusted pre-tax profits to come in ahead of its half‑year results in mid‑September.

As of 0900 BST, Wickes shares were down 1.47% at 188p.





Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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