PZ Cussons PLC on Wednesday lifted its outlook for annual adjusted operating profit amid a half-year revenue rise helped by ‘strong growth’ in Indonesia.
The Manchester, England-based personal healthcare products and consumer goods maker reported revenue of £269.3 million for the six months that ended November 29, up 8.0% from £249.3 million a year earlier, while pretax profit multiplied to £34.3 million from £6.4 million.
Adjusted pretax profit jumped 51% to £29.8 million from £19.8 million.
Notably, adjustment items in the most recently reported period were a credit of £4.5 million before tax, compared to a £11.2 million cost a year prior. The £4.5 million credit ‘relates primarily to the sale of non-operating surplus assets partially offset by the sale of our 50% stake in PZ Wilmar and costs related to the strategic review of Africa’, PZ Cussons said.
The company hailed ‘strong growth’ in Indonesia driven by ‘innovation and commercial execution’.
In Nigeria, PZ Cussons cited annualising pricing increases, accompanied by double-digit volume growth, with most of its brands gaining market share. PZ Cussons noted a strengthening Nigerian naira drove non-cash foreign exchange gains on trading liabilities.
Revenue on a like-for-like basis rose by 9.5% across the business, with growth across all its four lead markets the UK, Australia & New Zealand, Nigeria and Indonesia.
PZ Cussons kept its interim dividend flat at 1.50p per share.
Looking ahead, the company said trading to the end of January was in line with expectations.
The company lifted financial 2026 adjusted operating profit guidance to between £53 million and £57 million from £50 million to £55 million earlier. It would be similar to the adjusted operating profit of £54.9 million it had reported for financial 2025.
Further, PZ Cussons set out a renewed strategy following the conclusion of its December strategic review, targeting mid-single-digit percentage like-for-like revenue growth and high-single-digit operating profit and earnings per share growth.
PZ Cussons shares were up 11% to 88.80 pence each on Wednesday morning in London.
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