WH Smith returns to profit amid global travel market recovery

RETAILER WH Smith has swung to an annual profit, thanks to a rebound in the global travel market and a resurgent performance on the high street.

The retailer, whose headquarters are in Swindon, posted headline pretax profits of £61 million for the year to August 31 against losses of £104 million the previous year, when Covid restrictions impacted its retail chain and network of sites based at travel hubs worldwide.

WH Smith said total sales across its travel business surged past levels seen before the pandemic struck, at 130% of 2019 revenue in the second half, or 92% on a like-for-like basis. Its high street arm traded at 82% of 2019 levels in the final six months, or 83% on a comparable store basis.

WH Smith resumed dividends for investors, with a final payout of 9.1p per share after the turnaround and as it said solid trading had continued into the new year, with travel sales at 148% and high street sales at 87% of 2019 revenues in the 10 weeks to November 5.

The group has cheered a sharp recovery at airport stores in particular over the summer, amid a steep increase in holidaymakers travelling internationally as travel markets reopened worldwide.

Across its UK travel division, which also includes hospital sites, sales in July and August jumped to 121% and 126% of 2019 levels, even with disruption at airports and caps to limit the number of passengers travelling.

WH Smith said: “Passenger numbers have recovered strongly, albeit with further recovery to go, and we are very well positioned to capitalise on the significant space growth opportunities across each of our markets.”

The group has been buoyed by expansion in the travel sector, having purchased the US-based airport technology retailer InMotion in 2018.

It is rolling out 150 new stores across 16 countries, including 70 in North America and across airports such as Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Oslo and Melbourne, with six at airports in Brussels.

Chief executive Carl Carling said the group was eyeing further global expansion to bolster its position in the market even more.

Mr Cowling said the firm saw “significant scope to grow the brand globally”.