Domino’s Pizza Group PLC shares rose by 1.8% to 207.8p following the publication of the company’s interim results for the first half of the 2026 fiscal year. The group reported system sales of £825.3 million for the 26 weeks ended June 28, 2026, representing a 6.1% increase compared with the prior year, and like-for-like sales growth of 4.9% over the same period.
Revenue increased by 6.7% to £353.6 million, while underlying EBITDA grew 3.6% to £66.2 million. Company management said it remained confident about meeting its full-year earnings expectations.
Executives pointed to several demand drivers that supported trading across the half. Strong trading during the soccer World Cup was cited as a positive influence, and the ongoing rollout of new product lines - including the CHICK’N’DIP range - was flagged as contributing to the uplift in sales.
From a shareholder returns perspective, Domino’s raised its interim dividend by 3% and reported free cash flow in excess of £50 million for the period. The company cautioned, however, that some of the working capital benefit seen in the first half could reverse during the second half of the year.
Earnings per share were roughly 5% higher year-over-year, a figure that the company said was supported in part by share buybacks conducted in the prior year. That EPS improvement, alongside the dividend increase and strong cash generation, reinforced investor appetite for the stock.
Market context for the move was mixed. The FTSE 100 traded marginally lower on the day, weighed down by a steep fall in AstraZeneca shares, even as continental European indices such as Germany’s DAX and France’s CAC 40 posted notable gains. FTSE 100 futures had suggested a recovery at the open following a positive handover from Wall Street, but the index struggled to sustain those gains during the session.
Against that broader, subdued index backdrop, Domino’s company-specific earnings news provided a clearer rationale for outperformance. The share price remained comfortably above its 52-week low of 164.3p, although it still sat some distance from the 52-week high of 223.4p.
Results highlights
- System sales: £825.3 million - up 6.1% year-over-year for the 26 weeks ended June 28, 2026.
- Like-for-like sales: +4.9%.
- Revenue: £353.6 million - up 6.7%.
- Underlying EBITDA: £66.2 million - up 3.6%.
- Free cash flow: in excess of £50 million; interim dividend raised by 3%.
- Earnings per share: approximately +5% year-over-year, aided partly by prior-year share buybacks.
Outlook and investor takeaway
Management reaffirmed its confidence in reaching full-year earnings expectations. Investors responded positively to the combination of solid first-half trading, continued product innovation, sustained cash generation, and the modest dividend uplift.