Results for 2021 will be 鈥榳ell ahead鈥 of consensus forecasts, says chief executive Greg Fitzgerald

Vistry has it will exceed profit expectations for the year by around 拢15m in a positive .

The housebuilder, formed at the start of last year from the merger of Bovis with the housebuilding operations of Galliford Try, said it had seen a 鈥渧ery positive start to the year with strong demand across all areas of the business鈥.

Vistry Roof Truss Procedure4

Vistry said its expects its calendar year profit to now be 拢325m, up from 拢310m

The firm said it now expects pre-tax profit for the calendar year 2021 to be around 拢325m, up from the 拢310m predicted by analysts, with the business on track to meet expectations in 2022.

The firm said it now expected to sell 6,500 homes this financial year, up from the and almost 50% up on the 4,632 produced in the covid-hit 2020 financial year.

Shares in Vistry rose by 3% in early trading on the London Stock Exchange, despite the FTSE 100 index falling back overall. The upgrade to forecasts follows recent upgrades by rivals and on the back of a strong housing market.

Vistry said its average weekly private sales rate for the year to date had hit 0.75, up more than a fifth from the equivalent figure in 2019, and compared with just 0.44 achieved last year. The firm said it was seeing good demand for the new Help to Buy product, introduced in April.

Vistry added it also expected its cash position to improve on previous guidance, with month-end average net debt of less than 拢150m, compared with the 拢200m previously expected.