Completions higher than anticipated but expected to fall this year
Revenue and profit dropped dramatically at Taylor Wimpey last year, the firm said in annual results published this morning.
The housebuilder鈥檚 results for the year to 31 December showed revenue was down 20.5% to 拢3.51bn.
And pre-tax profit also dropped, by 43% from 拢828m to 拢474m, although the figure was at the upper end of the forecast range.
Taylor Wimpey said that while trading was 鈥渆ncouraging鈥� in the first quarter of the year, higher than expected inflation in the second quarter had impacted the base rate, with an impact on mortgage rates.
It blamed the lower profit on high-build cost inflation and fixed build and selling costs being absorbed over fewer completions.
Private completions were down to 10,848 from 14,154 but were still higher than the company had predicted last year.
It predicted output would fall further in 2024, with completions expected to be in the range of 9,500 to 10,000 homes and slightly weighted towards the second half of the year.
Jennie Daly, chief executive, said it was 鈥渟till early in the year鈥� and that the macroeconomic backdrop remained 鈥渦ncertain鈥� but that it was 鈥渆ncouraging to see some signs of improvement鈥� on the back of reduced mortgage rates.
鈥淲hile the planning environment remains challenging, we have a high-quality, well-invested landbank and a strong financial position,鈥� she said.
鈥淟ooking ahead we are well-positioned in an attractive market, with significant underlying demand for our quality homes and are poised for growth from 2025, assuming supportive market conditions.鈥�
The firm said first half operating profit margin would reflect lower pricing and build cost inflation of around 4%, as well as investments in IT and a timber frame facility.
UK net private sales rate for the year stood at 0.62 homes per outlet per week, compared with 0.68 in 2022, while average selling prices on private completions were up 5.1% to 拢370,000, from 拢325,000.
Taylor Wimpey has made provisions amounting to 拢245m for building safety work and has identified 214 schemes within the scope of those provisions, half of which it has either remediated, started work on or expects to start work on this year.
Taylor Wimpey is one of eight housebuilders being investigated by watchdog the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over alleged anti-competitive behaviour. If found guilty of wrongdoing it could face a fine of up to 拢420m.
The business said it welcomed the CMA鈥檚 report on the housebuilding market, published earlier this week, and added it would 鈥渃ooperate fully鈥� with the probe.
No comments yet