WH Smith issues profit warning, raises £102m amid falling US airport shopper numbers

WH Smith has issued a profit warning after shopper numbers at its stores in US airports fell as a result of the war in the Middle East, prompting the company to raise fresh capital from investors.

The retailer, which operates 1,200 outlets globally in airports, railway stations and hospitals, raised £102m through a share sale on Wednesday to strengthen its balance sheet, pay down debt, invest in technology and shut down unprofitable stores following “a downturn in trading conditions”.

WH Smith, which has already experienced a fall in revenues in its UK airport operation due to the conflict in the Middle East, said North America had now also been affected, with revenues at its airport operations falling 2% year on year in the seven weeks to 6 June.

As a result the company expected pre-tax profits of between £75m and £90m this year, down from previous guidance of between £90m and £105m.

“Management’s expectations for the full financial year reflect the observed and anticipated decline in passenger numbers and weakening consumer demand across all divisions and a reduction in brand marketing, increased promotional activity and inflation headwinds across the group,” the company said. “The group assumes no near-term improvement in consumer confidence and that jet fuel supplies can be maintained.”

In the UK, WH Smith said revenues at its airport stores were flat in the seven weeks to 6 June. Across its entire business revenues rose 1% year on year across the period.

It raised £102m by issuing about 26m new shares in the company. Shares in WH Smith fell by almost 20% at one stage to 394.8p on Wednesday, their lowest level since 2010. They closed down 16.2% at 412.6p.

The company will also book a £150m non-cash impairment charge this year after a review of its business and plans to shut some stores in Europe and in resorts in North America.

WH Smith’s executive chair, Leo Quinn, said the company was embarking on a “self-help” programme to strengthen the group’s operations.

“We are now taking action to sell, exit or renegotiate loss-making or low-return situations and, where appropriate, we are replacing directly run operations with franchises in sub-scale markets,” he said. “While we make meaningful progress in these areas, we must continue to invest in our core business to drive more productivity. “There is no doubt that current economic uncertainty and its effect on consumer appetite for spending has created headwinds.”

WH Smith, whose share price has plunged more than 60% over the past year, is also still facing the fallout of an accounting scandal at its North American arm, in which profits were overstated by as much as £50m.

On Tuesday, the UK accounting watchdog, the Financial Reporting Council, said it was investigating PwC’s auditing of WH Smith’s financial statements for the year to 31 August 2024.

The scandal, which resulted in the resignation of its chief executive, Carl Cowling, and led to £600m being wiped off WH Smith’s market value, is also being investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: “Things are going from bad to worse at WH Smith and this statement is little more than a kitchen sink exercise.

“The capital raise comes at a time which will severely test investors’ patience and loyalty to the cause. Indeed, further investment into WH Smith will require something of a leap of faith.

“If the previous ‘annus horribilis’ for the group – where an overstated profit forecast led to a sharp decline in the share price, and with the chief executive unfortunately falling on his sword – seemed uncomfortable, matters have now taken a turn in what could be an existential time for the company.”