A 40% hike in house completions on margins up from 8% to 11.8% helped Galliford Try deliver group profits up 80% at £63m on sales ahead 17% at £1.5bn.
The group’s construction arm was hit by the downturn but managed to keep margins up above the 2% mark and its order book stable at £1.65bn in the year-ended June 30.
Chief executive Greg Fitzgerald said: “We continue to focus on margins and cash, accepting lower revenues as we turn away work with unrealistic margins or risk profiles.”
Trading divisions
House building 2012
Revenue: £637m (2011: £388m)
Profit: £75.1m (2011: £31.6m)
Op margin: 11.8% (2011: 8.1%)
Completions: 3,039 (2011:2,170)
Construction 2012
Revenue: £925m (2011: £937m)
Profit: £18.9m (2011: £22.2m)
Op margin: 2% (2011: 2.4%)
Order book: £1.65bn (2011: £1.75bn)
In September 2009, Galliford Try raised £126m through a rights issue pledging to double the size of its house building division by 2012 and targeting a significant increase in profits from building around 3,000 units a year mainly in the south of England.
Fitzgerald said: “We have achieved everything we set out to do and more.
“In the financial year, we delivered 3,039 completions and the Group achieved a profit before tax of £63.1m, ahead of the £60m we targeted in 2009, accompanied by a significant improvement in return on capital.
He added: “Construction had an encouraging year and met our expectations, with operating margins impacted less than anticipated and delivering a strong cash performance. We have won a number of important contracts cementing our position as a key infrastructure supplier to the UK utility sectors.
“Construction enjoys good levels of visibility having secured 82% of its projected workload for 2013 whilst maintaining its current order book at £1.65bn.
He added: “2013 will be one of the peak years for work in the water sector under the AMP5 frameworks, which will help offset lower activity in other construction markets.”