Persimmon “performs well”

Persimmon “performed well” during 2025, with its underlying pre-tax profit at the upper end of expectations but housing operating margin likely to be at the lower end of its expected range.

Giving an update ahead of its final results for the year ending December 31 2025, the volume housebuilder said its total completions rose 12% to 11,905 homes against 2024, ahead of market expectations, “reflecting the benefits of our expanding outlet base and broad geographic coverage”.

During 2025, Persimmon’s private average selling price increased 5% to around £301,000. Its net private sales rate per outlet per week – including bulk sales - remained the same as the previous year at 0.70. Persimmon noted “softening” in the Build to Rent market in Q4 ahead of the Budget.

Its underlying pre-tax profit is anticipated to be at the upper end of the range of £415 million to £440 million, with a consensus of £428 million. Underlying housing operating margin is likely to be towards the lower end of 14.2% to 14.5%.

The value of Persimmon’s forward sales position improved 2% to £1.17 billion. Within this, £680 million was for private forward sales, up 4%, which Persimmon said reflected “good …