Pets at Home's first quarter revenue rose 7.9% on a like-for-like basis, to £436.8m. This reflected double digit growth from the group's vet business, as well as a 7.1% increase in the core retail division. Food continued to sell well, while higher margin accessories continue to be weaker.
The group highlighted it's on track to overhaul its website and app later this year. It also flagged that it's seeing "encouraging" signs in vet recruitment.
Guidance for the full year is unchanged and Pets at Home expects to meet market expectations of pre-tax profit of around £136.8m. The group said the first half will be impacted by higher costs.
The shares fell 1% following the announcement.
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Our view
Pets at home is standing firm even as the cost-of-living crisis rumbles on.
A certain level of demand is guaranteed, no matter what the economic climate. Our dogs and cats still need food, and this is one of the last areas people will skimp on when times get tough. Pets at Home's market-leading position hasn't come by accident and is testament to the strong work that's been done on product availability and pricing proposition.
The group has an enviable hoard of customer data too, with close to 8m 'VIP' members, and increasing Puppy and Kitten Club membership. These will help Pets hone their proposition, driving higher sales. But crucially, they're also boosting the number of customers who buy both a product and a service from the group - a leap which massively increases the average annual spend of these customers and should make them stickier. Pets at Home has only just started to crack this nut, so there's significant potential here.
UK pet ownership continues to look robust. Our new ways of life have culminated in the trend having more room to run than initially thought. That will have a positive effect on demand for a while to come.
The group is perhaps better placed than other physical retailers, because pet goods, especially for first time animal-owners, are the kind of thing you're more likely to seek out face-to-face advice for. In theory that should help keep the in-store tills ringing.
The wider vet business is also an attractive revenue diversifier, but is relatively mature. Finding further growth is likely going to mean Pets at Home needs to open its own wallet once again.
In the shorter term there are some challenges. Inflation and the cost-of-living crisis means customers are reining in spending on accessories, which are more lucrative. Supercharged profits won't happen while customers are tightening their belts. The group's own costs are rising too. We think keeping prices low is the right move to help keep hold of market share, but there isn't a clear roadmap for how more meaningful growth will be stoked from here.
Pets has invested heavily in its online offering and continues to ramp up its digital capacity. The new infrastructure will need to be matched by a long-term sustained increase in demand to drive profits too, but progress is promising.
We're genuinely impressed by the legwork being put into marketing and online infrastructure, and increased pet ownership provides a structural growth opportunity. But these strengths have been largely reflected in recent changes to Pets' valuation.
Pets at Home key facts
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