AIREA PLC (LSE:AIEA) shares climbed on Thursday, rising to 22.55p, after the flooring firm lifted its final dividend after reporting higher profit and stronger operating cash flow for 2025, as the specialist flooring group moved closer to completing a major manufacturing upgrade.
Revenue for the year edged up 1% to £21.45 million, while operating profit before valuation gain rose to £0.9 million from £0.7 million, and EBITDA increased to £1.7 million from £1.1 million. Cash generated from operations climbed to £2.2 million from £0.3 million, even as the business spent £4.9 million on its new manufacturing facility and wider plant upgrades.
The group said trading was strong in the first half but slowed later in the year, with UK and ROI sales up 2.3% and international sales down 4%. Profit attributable to shareholders came in at £1 million, versus a £0.3 million loss a year earlier, while the pension deficit narrowed to £3 million from £4 million.
AIREA also completed the sale of its investment property for net proceeds of £4.15 million, using the cash to repay its £3.2 million trade finance facility in full. The board proposed a final dividend of 1p per share, up from 0.6p, with the payment due on 20 May, subject to shareholder approval.
Management said the new manufacturing facility is expected to be fully operational in the coming months, as AIREA nears completion of the transformation programme designed to support its longer-term growth plans.