Persimmon keeps annual outlook as Iran war hasn't yet hurt business
Persimmon PLC on Thursday said it still expects annual results to be in line with market expectations, as it said its private sale rate improved in the first four months of 2026 and it has not yet felt much impact from the Middle East conflict.
The York, England-based housebuilder is holding its annual general meeting there on Thursday.
‘Persimmon has started the year well, building on our strong performance in 2025, with an improved private sales rate and an increase in average selling prices,’ Chief Executive Dean Finch told the AGM.
Net private sales per outlet per week were 0.76 in the period to April 26, Persimmon said, up from 0.74 a year before. Excluding bulk sales, this was 0.67, up from 0.65.
Current forward sales at £2.46 billion, up 5.1% from £2.34 billion. Within this, private forward sales at £1.80 billion, up 7.1% from £1.68 billion.
‘Assuming market conditions don’t materially deteriorate’, Persimmon said it expects pretax profit for 2026 to be in line with market consensus for underlying pretax profit of £462 million. This would be up 3.7% from £445.6 million in 2025.
It expects to complete 12,000 to 12,500 homes in 2026, compared to the current market consensus of 12,205 and 2025’s total of 11,905.
Persimmon cautioned that it is seeing early signs of increased cost inflation in its supply chain, driven by higher energy costs, which it is seeking to mitigate via its relationships with suppliers and its own vertical integration.
Persimmon shares were up 2.5% to 1,053.00 pence midday Thursday in London. The wider FTSE 100 index was up just 1.0%.
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