The Unite Group Plc (UTG.L) Thursday said that it expects the adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026 to decline by 7 percent to 10 percent, as a result of lower occupancy, property activity and rising finance costs. The company also reaffirmed its outlook of adjusted earnings per share of between 47.5 pence and 48.25 pence for fiscal 2025.
On the LSE, UTG.L is down 2.3 percent on Thursday's trading at 533.50 pence.
The British provider of student accommodation said that in 2025/2026 academic year, it recorded occupancy of 95.2 percent and rental growth of 4.0 percent, lower than last year's 97.5 percent and 8.2 percent respectively.
Unite Group said that it launched the sales cycles for the 2026/27 academic year and till now 62 percent of the rooms have been reserved. The company said that it is expecting occupancy of 93 percent-96 percent and rental growth in the 2 percent-3 percent range for the 2026/27 academic year.
This will bring about like-for-like growth in rental income of 0-4 percent for the next academic year, the company added.
According to Unite Group, the dividends per share is not expected to change in fiscal 2026.
Separately, the Competition and Markets Authority has approved the acquisition of Empiric Student Property Plc by the Unite Group, following the Phase 1 investigation. The completion of the takeover is subject to the fulfillment of the remaining conditions mentioned in the scheme document.
In August this year, the boards of Unite Group and Empiric Student Property had reached an agreement under which Unite will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Empiric. The acquisition values each Empiric share at approximately 94.2 pence and Empiric's entire issued and to be issued share capital at approximately 634 million pounds.
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April 24, 2026 15:15 ET Economics news flow was relatively light this week even as the conflict in the Middle East continued, raising concerns for policymakers. In the U.S., spending data, initial jobless claims and pending home sales were the highlights. Business confidence in the biggest euro area economy was in focus in Europe. Inflation data from Japan gained attention in Asia.