Kier Group stock rose 3.8% to 257.4p after the infrastructure and construction group published its results for the year ended June 30, 2026, reporting progress across core financial measures and offering an encouraging view for the year ahead.
Revenue grew 7.5% to £4.39 billion. On the profitability front, adjusted operating profit increased 6.7% to £169.8 million and adjusted earnings per share rose 8.8% to 23.5p. These outcomes were either in line with or ahead of market expectations.
A significant balance sheet development was Kier achieving an average net cash position for the first time in more than a decade. That shift in the company financial position was highlighted by management as a milestone in the group’s recovery.
Shareholder returns featured prominently in the announcement. The board raised the full-year dividend by 8% and confirmed continuation of a £25 million share buyback programme. Operating free cash flow reached £206 million, translating into cash conversion of 121%, well above the group’s stated medium-term target of 90%.
Chief Executive Stuart Togwell said the company enters fiscal 2027 with strong momentum and expressed confidence that earnings will land at the top end of the board’s previously stated expectations. The results were presented alongside updated medium-term strategic targets aimed at enhancing shareholder returns.
Kier also reported a stronger sales outlook. The order book expanded by 8% to a record £11.9 billion. The company said more than 95% of anticipated fiscal 2027 revenue is already secured and over 70% of fiscal 2028 revenue is covered, providing a high degree of forward visibility for a UK contractor.
New contract awards included work tied to the New Hospitals Programme, the East West Rail project and Greater Manchester stations, reinforcing Kier’s exposure to the UK government’s long-term infrastructure spending agenda.
The company’s gains stood out against a weaker broader market: the FTSE 250 fell on the same day, pressured by rising oil prices near $107 per barrel, higher gilt yields and investor caution ahead of an upcoming Bank of England rate decision. That juxtaposition underlined the market’s focus on macro factors even as Kier reported company-specific improvements.
Trading near a 52-week high of 263.4p, Kier’s move reflects investor willingness to re-rate the stock in response to sustained, cash-generative growth following its multi-year financial recovery.
Market context and takeaways
- Kier delivered comparable or better than expected top-line and profit metrics for the year to June 30, 2026.
- The attainment of an average net cash position and a 121% cash conversion rate signalled marked improvement in balance sheet and cash management.
- A record order book of £11.9 billion coupled with high near-term revenue coverage supports an optimistic near-term outlook.