Stagecoach Group plc has provided a pre-close trading update in respect of its financial
year ending 30 April 2016, ahead of a series of meetings with analysts.
The Group is on course to achieve expectations of overall adjusted
earnings per share for year ending 30 April 2016.
Revenue growth
Like-for-like revenue growth for the financial year to date in each of the Group's main businesses is provided below.
- forty eight weeks ended 2 April 2016 0.2%
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- forty eight weeks ended 2 April 2016 1.1%
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North America
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- eleven months ended 31 March 2016 (3.4)%
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- forty eight weeks ended 2 April 2016 2.5%
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Virgin Rail Group
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- forty eight weeks ended 2 April 2016 4.6%
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UK Bus (regional operations)
Trading at UK Bus (regional operations) is consistent with recent expectations.
UK Bus and Coach operations
Revenue growth in the UK over the last
year has been low. In light of that, the company plan to keep fare increases for
the year ahead to a minimum and will look to stimulate demand through
those low fare increases, enhanced marketing and the further development
and promotion of digital offering.
European Coach Operations
As the megabus.com inter-city coach
business in mainland Europe has developed, Stagecoach have reported business within the results of the UK Bus (regional operations)
Division. At this early stage in its development, the mainland European
business remains loss-making. It is intended to report that business as a
separate segment to provide a clearer view of its financial performance
distinct from the UK businesses and will reflect that in the financial
statements for the year ending 30 April 2016.
UK Bus (London)
The London bus operations continue to
perform in line with expectations. As previously reported, the company expect to see some decline in the operating margin of the Division but
still aim to deliver long-term operating margins in excess of 7%.
North America
The North America Division is trading in
line with expectations. The eleven-month like-for-like revenue
decline of 3.4% reflects 6.4% decline for megabus.com and 2.1% for the
other businesses in North America.
UK Rail and Virgin Rail Group
The outlook for the UK rail industry is
more challenging than it was at this time last year. Although growth
trends continue to vary across the different parts of the rail industry,
the overall industry rate of revenue growth has slowed in recent
months. Reflecting those softer trends, like-for-like rail revenue
growth in the UK Rail Division (principally South West Trains and
East Midlands Trains) was 2.5% in the forty eight weeks, revenue growth
at Virgin Trains East Coast was 4.9% and revenue growth at Virgin Rail
Group's West Coast franchise was 4.6%. It is believed that the reduced rate of
growth reflects the effects of weakening consumer confidence, increased
terrorism concerns, sustained lower fuel prices, the related effects of
car and air competition, slower UK GDP growth and slowing growth in real
earnings.
Stagecoach have said that they will take further steps
to mitigate the effects of lower revenue growth, focussing on cost
control and additional initiatives to grow revenue. They continue to work
constructively with the Department for Transport and other industry
partners to meet their obligations, manage contract changes and ensure the
continued stability and growth of the rail businesses.
Preliminary results
The announcement of the Group's preliminary results for the year ending 30 April 2016 is scheduled for Wednesday 29 June 2016.
