Pets at Home Share Price Rise Continues as Profit In Line with Expectations

Pets at Home (LON: PETS) shares rose on Wednesday after the company reported full-year underlying profit before tax of £133 million, in line with analyst expectations.

The result compares with a company-compiled consensus of £134 million, with a range from £132 million to £137 million. 

Statutory profit before tax rose 14.1% to £120.6 million, while group revenue held steady at £1.48 billion.

The company’s vet business delivered standout growth, with underlying profit up 23.3% to £75.9 million and revenue up 13% to £655.1 million. 

However, retail performance lagged, with revenue falling 1.8% and underlying profit down 16.6% to £72.9 million.

Chief Executive Lyssa McGowan said the company had completed a “profound transformation” over the last two years, citing the launch of a new digital platform, a simplified distribution network, and record vet sales. 

“We now have a platform that is fit for the future and capable of delivering sustained outperformance,” she said.

Free cash flow rose 21.5% to £83.8 million, and the final dividend was held at 8.3 pence, bringing the full-year payout to 13.0 pence per share, up 1.6%.

Looking ahead, Pets at Home said it expects to outperform the market despite external cost pressures and macroeconomic uncertainty. The company also announced a new £25 million share buyback for fiscal 2026.

The earnings release has resulted in Pets at Home shares rising more than 2% in early Wednesday trading. The move adds to the stock’s recent winning run. So far this year it is up almost 27%, while in the past month, it has gained over 15%.