Wickes Group PLC (LSE:WIX) said it remains comfortable with full-year estimates after a flat third quarter and despite some delays in its Do It For Me (DIFM) operation.
In a trading update for the 13 weeks to 30 September, the building materials supplier said sales fell 0.2% from the previous year, compared to growth of 3.0% in the second quarter.
DIFM like-for-like (LFL) sales fell 4.4%, partially driven by a more normalised order book compared with the first half.
But Wickes also experienced some delays to delivered sales as a result of the transition to a new software solution fulfilling customer orders.
The firm said actions are being taken to resolve this, although there will be some impact on fourth-quarter delivered sales which will now fall into the next financial year.
Core LFL sales grew 1.1%, with growth in volume for the first time since the second quarter of 2021.
TradePro sales continued to show double digit growth, with the customer base continuing to grow strongly, although DIY sales remained moderately down on the prior year.
Selling price inflation in the period was broadly flat, a position which Wickes expects to continue for the remainder of the year and into 2024.
Based on trading to the end of October, Wickes said it remains comfortable with current market consensus for 2023 adjusted pre-tax profit of £45.3-49.0 million on a post-IAS38 basis.