Finance
UK's Howden Joinery beats annual profit estimates, unveils $136 million share buyback
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Quick Summary
Howden Joinery announced a £100 million ($136m) share buyback after reporting higher annual pretax profit, aided by price increases. The move returns cash to investors and signals confidence.
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Kitchen and interior fittings supplier Howden Joinery beat annual profit estimates on Thursday and unveiled a 100 million pound ($135.52 million) share buyback for 2026, sending its shares more than 10% higher.
Howden Joinery reported profit before tax of 344.9 million pounds for 2025, topping analysts' expectations of 332 million pounds, as price hikes helped offset softer demand.
High inflation and costs of living have dampened demand in the UK, but Howden has been expanding its product offerings and opening more stores to retain its core customer base of tradespeople.
"For 2026, our planning assumption is that the UK kitchen market will be level year-on-year, following several years of decline, in what remains a competitive marketplace.", said CEO Andrew Livingston.
The company said it expects demand to stabilise in the year ahead and remains on track to meet market expectations for 2026.
Jefferies analysts, however, said that a broader market recovery remained "elusive," adding that the profit beat was driven by company-specific factors.
($1 = 0.7379 pounds)
(Reporting by Simone Lobo in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sonia Cheema)
Key Takeaways
- •Howden Joinery announced a £100 million ($136m) share buyback.
- •The buyback follows a rise in annual pretax profit.
- •Improved pricing supported profitability amid market pressures.
- •Move signals confidence and returns excess cash to shareholders.
- •News centers on UK-listed kitchen and interior fittings supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK's Howden Joinery beats annual profit estimates, unveils $136 million share buyback
1What is the main topic?
Howden Joinery announced a £100 million ($136m) share buyback after posting a rise in annual pretax profit. The move reflects confidence and returns excess cash to shareholders.
2Why did profits rise?
According to the report, pricing increases across Howden Joinery’s offerings supported a year-on-year rise in pretax profit despite a challenging market backdrop.
3What does the buyback mean for investors?
A share buyback can reduce shares outstanding, potentially boosting earnings per share and supporting the stock price. It also signals management’s confidence in the company’s outlook.
