WH Smith expects full-year to be slightly ahead of consensus expectations

Stationer and newsagent WH Smith expects its full-year results to be slightly ahead of consensus expectations.

In a brief trading update on Thursday, the company said its travel business continued to deliver a strong performance in the second half, with solid sales across all of its core channels thanks to continued investment in WH Smith’s key business initiatives and growth in passenger numbers.

Meanwhile, the High Street business is line with its expectations, driven by some favourable publishing in books.

In addition, it said the new store opening programme both in the UK and overseas is on track and the group continues to deliver gross margin improvements and planned cost savings in line with its profit-focused strategy.