Pepkor reports strong trading performance and optimistic outlook for the second half

PEPKOR Holdings' traditional retail businesses delivered a strong trading performance in the six months to March 31, expanding market share, and the group is optimistic about its second-half prospects.

- EDWARD WEST

Pepkor reported 18.9% growth in normalised headline earnings a share to 84.3 cents for the period, driven by a consistent retail performance, good growth in fintech, and strict cost control.

“Pepkor remains optimistic about the future despite a challenging macroeconomic environment in South Africa. The group anticipates downward-trending inflation, reduced load shedding, and the two-pot retirement system will provide some relief for consumers,” CEO Peter Erasmus said at the release of interim results on Tuesday.

“Despite the subdued and competitive market, we continued to deliver excellent growth, and we're confident our consistent performance and growth in FinTech will continue to underpin strong performance,” he said. The group is on track to open between 250 and 300 new retail stores in the 2025 financial year.