Travis Perkins met forecasts with a 2.1% rise in 2012 earnings. Travis predicts growth will return to the markets later this year.
Geoff Cooper, chief executive, Travis Perkins, said: "While there are indications, for the first time in a while, that growth will return to our markets later this year, we anticipate volatile conditions will persist in the short term, further troubling weaker operators."
The firm, with brands that include City Plumbing, Keyline, Tile Giant, BSS and Wickes, said this morning it made adjusted earnings per share of 95.1 pence, in line with analysts' consensus forecast and up from 93.1 pence in 2011. Underlying pretax profit was up 1.1% to £300m in 2012 on revenue up 1.4% to £4.85bn.
