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Allego and HORNBACH to create at least 160 fast-charging stations at 20 DIY stores in 2026
Globenewswire· 2025-09-23 10:00
Arnhem, Netherlands, Sept. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allego and DIY store chain HORNBACH are joining forces to create 20 fast-charging hubs across the Netherlands. This will create at least 160 charging stations with charging speeds of up to 150 kW in the parking lots of the DIY stores. Both parties are responding to the growing demand for charging options, particularly as electric cars and commercial vehicles are rapidly gaining traction and grid congestion is hindering the development of new charging l ...
Kingfisher Flies 19% Higher As Profits Estimates Hiked
Forbes· 2025-09-23 08:25
Core Viewpoint - Kingfisher's shares increased significantly following a strong first-half trading update, leading to an upgrade in full-year profit forecasts [2][8] Financial Performance - Total sales reached £6.8 billion for the six months ending in July, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 0.8% and a like-for-like growth of 1.3% [2] - Gross margins improved by 100 basis points to 37.7%, resulting in a 2.1% increase in operating profit to £383 million [3] - Pre-tax profit rose by 4.1% year-on-year to £338 million [3] - Free cash flow increased by 13.5% to £478 million, contributing to a reduction in net debt from £2 billion to £1.7 billion [3] Regional Performance - In the UK and Ireland, sales grew by 4.5% to £3.5 billion, with like-for-like sales up by 3.9% [4] - B&Q outlets saw a 4.4% increase in like-for-like revenues to £2.2 billion, while Screwfix sales improved by 3% [5] - France experienced a decline in first-half sales by 2.4% to £2 billion, with like-for-like sales down by 2.1% [5] - In Poland, reported sales rose by 0.5% to £946 million, but like-for-like sales fell by 2.1% [6] - Combined sales in Spain and Portugal increased by 9.6% to £219 million [6] Strategic Outlook - The company raised its full-year profit estimates, now projecting pre-tax profit at the upper end of £480 million to £540 million [8] - Free cash flow expectations were also increased to £480 million to £520 million, up from previous estimates [8] - Kingfisher plans to accelerate its £300 million share buyback program, expected to be completed by March [8] Management Commentary - CEO Thierry Garnier highlighted strong first-half performance driven by increased volumes and transactions, with positive quarter-on-quarter growth in core categories [7] - Despite mixed consumer confidence and political uncertainty, the market outlook remains unchanged [7] - Analyst Adam Vettese noted commendable operational execution in a challenging retail environment, with solid progress at B&Q and Screwfix [9]
Why Home Depot Stock Popped by Nearly 4% on Friday
The Motley Fool· 2025-08-22 21:28
Core Viewpoint - Home Depot has declared a new quarterly dividend of $2.30 per share, which has positively impacted its stock price, leading to a nearly 4% increase in trading, outperforming the S&P 500 index's 1.5% rise [1][2]. Dividend Announcement - Home Depot's board of directors announced a quarterly dividend of $2.30 per share, to be paid on September 18 to shareholders of record as of September 4, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.2% based on the recent closing share price [2]. - This marks the 154th consecutive quarter that Home Depot has paid a dividend, highlighting its commitment to returning value to shareholders [4]. Financial Performance - In the recent second-quarter earnings report, Home Depot reported a total revenue increase of nearly 5% year-over-year, although global same-store sales growth was modest at 1% [5]. - The company's performance was generally in line with analyst expectations, and management's positive comments regarding pricing and guidance contributed to favorable investor sentiment [5].