Taylor Wimpey PLC shares rose 3% to 104.95p after the housebuilder reported full-year results in line with guidance, as revenue climbed but profits were hit by cladding fire safety provisions and a regulatory settlement over a collusion probe.
Chief executive Jennie Daly said the spring selling season was "progressing well, with encouraging levels of customer interest" but expects the 2026 performance to be more weighted to the second half, with around 40% of completions in the first half.
The FTSE 250 group entered the new year with a slightly smaller order book of £2.2 billion compared with £2.3 billion a year earlier, reflecting a period of uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget.
For 2025, completions rose 6% to help lift revenue 13% to £3.8 billion, while adjusted operating profit edged up 1% to £420.6 million, with the margin slipping to 10.9% from 12.2% as softer pricing weighed.
Statutory profit before tax fell to £146.5 million from £320.3 million, hit by exceptional costs including a £225.8 million increase in its cladding fire safety provision and £18 million relating to a voluntary agreement with the Competition and Markets Authority.
The group expects 2026 adjusted operating profit of around £400 million, below the 2025 figure, and targets UK completions of between 10,600 and 11,000 excluding joint ventures.
A final dividend of 2.95p per share was declared, making for a total of 7.62p, which was down 19.5% on the prior year. This was alongside a £52 million share buyback intended to be completed by the end of June.