Kingfisher Profit Rises 6% to 560 Million Pounds

Kingfisher, the European home improvement retailer behind brands such as B&Q and Screwfix, reported a 6 percent increase in adjusted pretax profit to 560 million pounds for the financial year ended January 31, 2026. The gain came despite a challenging consumer environment, with robust sales in the United Kingdom offsetting declines in key continental markets like France and Poland.

Total group sales rose 1.3 percent year on year to 12.94 billion pounds, according to the FTSE 100-listed company. The UK and Ireland division led the performance, achieving like-for-like sales growth of 3.3 percent, driven by steady demand from trade customers, a rise in digital sales, and the transfer of business from the closure of Homebase stores the previous year. B&Q recorded 3.3 percent like-for-like growth, while Screwfix saw 3.2 percent, supported by the opening of 32 new locations and targeted initiatives for professional tradespeople, who now account for a growing share of revenue.

In contrast, performance varied across Europe. France, home to Castorama and Brico Depot, experienced a 2.2 percent sales decline for Castorama and 2.3 percent for Brico Depot, though the division outperformed...