Shareholder payouts last made in first half of 2018/19 financial year

Analysts are expecting Kier to resume dividend payments in 2024 as the firm continues to repair its balance sheet.

The firm last paid a dividend in the first half of its 2018/2019 financial year but then new chief executive Andrew Davies, who joined in April 2019, said no dividends would be paid for 2019 and 2020 because of its perilous financial position.

After turning in a pre-tax profit of 拢106m for the year to June 2018, the firm sank to successive annual losses of 拢245m and 拢225m.

andrew davies

Analysts expect Andrew Davies (right) to sanction a resumption of dividend payments in 2024

It returned to the black in the year to June 2021 with a 拢5.6m pre-tax profit and yesterday said this had tripled to 拢15.9m for the year to June 2022.

But its bottom line was hobbled by 拢40m of ongoing restructuring costs plus a further 拢35m of adjusting items.

One source said: 鈥淭hey鈥檙e out of the danger zone but turning companies around takes longer than you expect.鈥�

Kier added that it expected average month-end net debt to climb next year from the 拢216m it posted this year, which was down from 拢432m in 2021.

In a note, broker Numis said: 鈥淕uidance for this to increase in FY23 is likely to attract focus, however this is due to the decision to completely pay down the supply chain financing facility and repayment of HMRC C19 deferrals.鈥�

Numis said it expected average month-end net debt to be around 拢245m in 2023 but forecast this to fall to 拢145m the following year 鈥減roviding line of sight of sustainable net cash and we therefore expect the dividend to be reinstated in the year鈥�.

In its note, Liberum said: 鈥淲e increase our FY23 average net debt estimate from 拢169m to 拢251m but expect an improvement in FY24, making a dividend possible.鈥�

Peel Hunt said it expected the figure next year to be around 拢250m 鈥渨hich should reduce rapidly鈥� in 2024. It added that a dividend could be paid out in the second half of 2024.

Kier is focussing on core infrastructure and construction work mainly in the public sector after selling its housing arm last year and quitting environment work while paring back its FM business.

It said that revenue last year was flat at 拢3.3bn with its target by 2026 due to be somewhere between 拢4bn and 拢4.5bn.

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