Kingfisher raises 2026 profit guidance despite weaker UK and Polish markets

Core Insights - Kingfisher has raised its profit forecast for the 2026 financial year, expecting adjusted pre-tax profit to be between £540 million and £570 million ($707.7 million to $747 million), citing cost savings and operational performance despite softening trading conditions in the UK and Poland [1][2][4] Financial Performance - The previous profit guidance was at the top end of a £480 million to £540 million range, indicating a significant upgrade [2] - Free cash flow projection remains unchanged at £480 million to £520 million [2] - For Q3 ending 31 October 2025, total group sales reached £3.25 billion, reflecting a 1% increase on a reported basis and a 0.9% increase on a like-for-like basis at constant currency [2] - In the UK and Ireland, sales rose by 4.2% to £1.68 billion on a reported basis [2][3] Regional Performance - In France, revenue increased by 0.7% to £974 million [3] - Sales in Poland advanced by 2.9% to £481 million [3] - However, turnover in other international operations fell by 33.5% to £112 million [3] Strategic Initiatives - CEO Thierry Garnier highlighted that the growth was driven by strategic initiatives in e-commerce and trade, as well as performance in core and big-ticket categories [4] - B&Q, Screwfix, and Iberia are noted to be outperforming their respective markets [4] - The company is committed to driving shareholder returns through disciplined execution of strategic priorities and cost management [5]