Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Healthcare and animal care services company EBOS Group’s first-half profit dropped more than 4 percent, but the business has maintained its dividend at last year’s level.
“Our HY26 performance demonstrates the resilience and diversification of our portfolio as we continue to execute with discipline,” chief executive Adam Hall said.
Key numbers for the six months ended December compared with a year ago in Australian dollars apart from dividend.
- Net profit $124.8m vs $110.5m
- Revenue $6.77b vs $5.99b
- Underlying profit $220.7m vs $207.3m
- Gross profit margin 11.8% vs 12.2%
- Interim dividend 57 NZ cents per share – unchanged from year earlier.
Underlying profit guidance was reaffirmed with further improvement expected as productivity and utilisation continue to increase and ongoing solid demand across key healthcare and animal care markets.
Hall said EBOS retained confidence in the second-half profit outlook, given opportunities in healthcare and a strong product pipeline in animal care.
He said revenue rose 13 percent, supported by solid customer demand and the early benefits from strategic investments.
“This sets us up well for H2 FY26, with additional opportunities from new stores and new products, as well as nearing the end of the current capital investment cycle,” he said.
“Importantly, our major distribution centre renewal programme is progressing to plan, with our largest site now fully operational. As these assets move into steady state, we expect to realise meaningful efficiency gains while strengthening the quality and reliability of our network.
“Overall, we remain confident in the medium-term margin outlook, underpinned by productivity improvements and new capacity in Symbion & Healthcare Distribution, product innovation within animal care, expansion of medical technology partners and solutions, as well as network wide opportunities across retail pharmacy brands.”
EBOS chairperson Elizabeth Coutts said the board was confident in the strength of the group’s diversified earnings base and the medium to long-term outlook.
“The board has decided to maintain the interim dividend, consistent with our capital management priorities, and our continued confidence in the group’s outlook.”
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