Financial & operational highlights

  2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
£m unless otherwise stated          
Revenue 1.061.4 1,028.2 1,054.8 946.5 809.4
Operating profit 174.2 128.0 160.0 163.5 137.6
Profit before tax 168.1 114.0 154.7 160.1 133.5
Earnings per share(1) 101.6 68.0 90.1 95.4 78.6
Net assets 1061.1 1,056.6 1,015.9 957.8 879.1
Net cash (debt) 126.8 144.9 38.6 30.0 5.2
Ordinary dividend per share  57p 47.5 45.0p 40.0p 35.0p

Notes:

(1) Earnings per share is calculated on a pre-exceptional basis
(2) Operating margin has been calculated as operating profit over turnover, stated before exceptional charges
(3) Return on Capital employed has been calculated as operating profit over the average of opening and closing shareholders’ finds plus net debt or less net cash, excluding investment in Joint Ventures

Created with Highcharts 5.0.624.4%24.5%22.3%18.0%21.8%0510152025Gross margin
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.617.0%17.3%15.2%12.5%16.4%02.557.51012.51517.520● 2016: 15.2%Operating margin
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.616.2%18.3%17.0%13.7%19.3%02.557.51012.51517.520● 2015: 18.3%ROCE
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.63,6353,9343,9773645375905001000150020002500300035004000Total completions
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.6£216,600£231,600£254,900£272,400£273,000050100150200250300Average sales price
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.697102999287020406080100120Active sales outlets
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.618,60219,81418,70417,09617,32802.557.51012.51517.520Consented land plots
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.620,10821,35023,08325,49420,75619,278051015202530Strategic land plots
201320142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.624.4%24.5%22.3%18.0%21.8%0510152025Gross margin
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.617.0%17.3%15.2%12.5%16.4%02.557.51012.51517.520Operating margin
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.616.2%18.3%17.0%13.7%19.3%02.557.51012.51517.520ROCE
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.63,6353,9343,9773645375905001000150020002500300035004000Total completions
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.6£216,600£231,600£254,900£272,400£273,000050100150200250300Average sales price
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.697102999287020406080100120Active sales outlets
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.618,60219,81418,70417,09617,32802.557.51012.51517.520Consented land plots
20142015201620172018
Created with Highcharts 5.0.620,10821,35023,08325,49420,75619,278051015202530Strategic land plots
201320142015201620172018