Whitbread rises on buyback boost, solid results despite room growth lag

Shares in one of Britain’s largest hospitality groups rose sharply on Wednesday after the company announced an expanded share buyback program alongside strong annual results, offsetting concerns about slower-than-expected growth in its hotel business.

Enhanced Capital Return Drives Market Enthusiasm

The hospitality giant revealed plans to increase its share repurchase program to £500 million ($627 million), significantly expanding the previous £300 million commitment announced in 2022. This enhanced capital return strategy appears to have resonated strongly with investors, driving the stock up approximately 5% in morning trading on the London Stock Exchange.

The company, which operates a portfolio of well-known hotel and restaurant brands across the UK and Germany, reported a 21% increase in adjusted profit before tax, reaching £622 million for the fiscal year ending February 29. This performance exceeded market expectations and demonstrated the firm’s continued recovery from pandemic-related disruptions.

“We’ve delivered another year of strong financial and operational performance,” stated CEO Dominic Paul. “Our disciplined execution and operational excellence have enabled us to grow market share while generating significant cash for reinvestment and shareholder returns.”

Room Growth Misses Targets Amid Operational Challenges

Despite the positive financial results, the hotel operator acknowledged it had fallen short of its room growth targets for the year. The company added approximately 2,300 new rooms to its portfolio during the fiscal year, below its stated goal of 2,500 rooms.

Management attributed this shortfall to construction delays and supply chain challenges that have affected the broader hospitality development sector. However, the firm maintained its longer-term expansion ambitions, reaffirming its commitment to adding between 2,500 and 3,000 rooms in the current fiscal year.

The company’s flagship budget hotel brand maintained its dominant position in the UK market, with occupancy rates reaching 83.4%, comfortably above pre-pandemic levels. Revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key industry metric, rose by 11% compared to the previous year.

German Expansion Continues Despite Economic Headwinds

The hospitality group highlighted its continued progress in the German market, where it has been steadily building presence despite challenging economic conditions. The company’s German operations are approaching scale, with 55 hotels now operational and a further 40 in the development pipeline.

“Our German business is making excellent progress on its path to maturity and profitability,” Paul noted. “We remain convinced of the significant long-term opportunity in this market, which mirrors the UK from 10-15 years ago.”

While still loss-making, the German division narrowed its operating losses by 15% compared to the previous year, suggesting progress toward the company’s goal of breaking even in this market by the end of 2024.

Outlook and Strategic Priorities

Looking ahead, the hospitality leader expressed cautious optimism about trading conditions despite macroeconomic uncertainties. The company reported continued strong performance in the first seven weeks of the new financial year, with UK accommodation sales up 4% compared to the same period last year.

Management outlined key strategic priorities including enhancing the customer experience through digital innovation, optimizing its food and beverage offerings, and accelerating international expansion beyond its current footprint.

Analysts from Morgan Stanley described the results as “resilient” and highlighted the expanded buyback program as a significant positive for investor sentiment. “The increased capital return demonstrates management’s confidence in the underlying business and commitment to delivering shareholder value,” the analysts noted in a research report.

The company maintained its full-year dividend at 55.7 pence per share, representing a yield of approximately 2.8% based on current share prices. Combined with the expanded buyback program, this positions the hospitality group among the more generous capital return stories in the UK consumer sector.