UK-based Wolseley plc, parent company of Ferguson Enterprises, reported third quarter sales of £3.7 billion (US$5.3 billion), up 10.8 percent. On a like-for-like basis, sales were up 2.8 percent.
Trading profit for the quarter was up 17.9 percent to £230 million (US$331.5 million).
Five bolt-on acquisitions were completed in the quarter with annualized sales of £23 million (US$33.1 million). The sale of building materials activities in France was also completed in the quarter.
Fiscal year-to-date sales were £10.5 billion (US$9.8 billion), up 7.2 percent year-over-year. Trading profit increased 10 percent to £640 million (US$922.4 million).
Third quarter sales for Ferguson, Wolseley’s U.S. business, were up 14.1 percent from last year to £2.4 billion (US$3.5 billion), and 5 percent on a like-for-like basis.
Acquisitions contributed 1.8 percent of additional sales growth. Two bolt-on acquisitions were completed in the quarter with total annualized sales of £9 million (US$13 million).
Canada
Sales in Canada were up 0.1 percent compared to last year on a like-for-like basis. Two bolt-on acquisitions were completed in the quarter with total annualized revenue of £13 million (US$18.7 million).
UK
Sales in the UK were 0.4 percent lower than the prior year on a like-for-like basis with acquisitions contributing an additional 2.8 percent.
Nordics
Sales in the Nordics region were down 2.6 percent on a like-for-like basis as adverse weather conditions and the reduction of tax incentives impacted spring sales.
Central Europe
Like-for-like sales in Central Europe decreased 0.2 percent.
