Shares of Wilmslow-based pet and vet retailer Pets at Home Group rose as much as 8% on Wednesday after it published FY26 results for the year to March 26, 2026, showing statutory revenue down 0.8% to £1.469 billion, profit before tax down 28.3% to £86.5 million and dividend down 43.1% to 7.4p.
However, in its guidance for FY27, Pets at Home Group said: “As we look to FY27, year to date, retail sales growth has accelerated further against tougher comparatives with mid-single digit sales growth and faster volume growth, and we are comfortable with consensus expectations for group underlying PBT (currently £98m).”
The Wilmslow firm has had a tumultuous year. Last September CEO Lyssa McGowan left the business with immediate effect, and Ian Burke, non-executive chair, assumed the role of executive chair until a permanent CEO was recruited.
New Pets at Home Group CEO James Bailey said: “Pets at Home is a business with many strengths, a strong shared purpose and great potential and I am excited to lead it through its next chapter.
“I have spent my early weeks immersing myself in the business, meeting colleagues and practice owners, understanding our customers and learning about the capabilities we have across the Group.
“I have found a business full of talented and committed people who want to do the best for our customers and their pets. This time in the business has increased my conviction on the opportunity to create value for customers, colleagues and investors of Pets at Home.
“We are the clear leader in the growing UK pet care market with a unique set of highly complementary businesses. We have considerable, sustainable competitive advantages including our unrivalled reach through our 460 pet care centres, our sector leading Vet business, our large and loyal customer base and well invested infrastructure.
“Material progress has been made over the past 6 months stabilising the Retail business, delivering improved satisfaction and better availability. We have the opportunity now to build momentum through profitable volume led growth in Retail while continuing to execute the proven growth levers of our Vet business and launch our Insurance offering.”