First quarter trading remained ‘challenging’, merchant said in update this morning

Travis Perkins said trading in the first quarter of the year remained challenging with revenue down on last time on a like-for-like basis.

In a trading update this morning, the builders merchant said income fell 1.7% during the period, adding that business at its merchanting division was off 2.3% “as construction activity levels remain subdued”.

travis perkins

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Like-for-like sales in the first quarter were down 1.7%, the firm said today

But its Toolstation tool hire business saw income grow 2.6% on a like-for-like basis.

In a note, broker Investec said the “update was a bit worse than expected” and added: “There is no comment on the full year outlook, but we would not be surprised to see FY26 consensus operating profit cut by c.4-6% with significant macro uncertainty remaining.”

The firm is due to announce its interim results on 4 August

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