[ad_1]
Graham Sutherland
CEO & Government Director
Good morning, and welcome to FirstGroup’s 2026 Half 12 months Outcomes Presentation. In a second, I’ll hand over to Ryan to take you thru the monetary efficiency for the primary half of the 12 months. I’ll then present an replace on enterprise efficiency in bus and rail earlier than we take your questions on the finish.
Transferring on to Slide 3. I am happy to report one other sturdy half for the group regardless of a number of financial and coverage headwinds. Sturdy execution has ensured that we have been capable of totally counter the unfavorable impacts of decrease bus funding in England, above inflation wage pressures and better ranges of employer nationwide insurance coverage contributions.
Group adjusted income, which doesn’t embrace the nationwide rail contract revenues, the place we take considerably no income danger has elevated by 30% to GBP 834 million. This was largely pushed by progress in First Bus as a result of acquisition of First Bus London, which accomplished in February.
Adjusted earnings per share for the half 12 months has elevated by 16% to 9.9p, with earnings progress supported by the repurchase of circa 22 million shares throughout the interval. Because of our sturdy efficiency within the first half, the Board has proposed an interim dividend of two.2p per share, up 29% towards the prior 12 months.
Because of our continued strategic supply and the restructuring of the enterprise accomplished earlier this 12 months, we’re on observe to ship modest progress in our
[ad_2]
