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(Sharecast News) - Shares in On The Beach Group shone on Thursday, after it reiterated profits guidance on the back of strong summer bookings.
Updating on full-year trading, the online package holiday specialist said bookings were up 9%, with the total transaction value rising 6% year-on-year to £1.3bn.
Summer 2026 momentum had also built, it noted, with bookings up 4% - compared to being down 1% at the half-year results in May - and was continuing into the next season. Total bookings in the last eight weeks for summer 2027 were ahead 17%.
As a result, On The Beach confirmed it now expects pre-tax profits for the year to 30 September to come in at the top half of its guided range, for between £18m and £25m, and forecast a further jump in 2027, to between £28m and £35m.
As at 1130 BST, the stock had put on 4% at 169.33p.
Shaun Morton, chief executive, said: "The progress being made across the business reflects the strategic investments we have made in technology, in our expanded offering and in our brand. These initiatives are translating into market share gains and deeper customer loyalty."
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, called the update a "pleasant surprise, given the significant headwinds that had knocked the holiday and travel industry for six this year".
"Despite the Middle East conflict causing disruption to travel networks and a higher oil price pushing up transport costs, On The Beach has still managed to grow annual profits by a decent chunk according to its earnings guidance."
Katie Cousins, equity research analyst at Shore Capital, said the 2027 profit forecast was modestly below the broker's own expectation of £36m.
However, she continued: "Overall, this update reiterates the combination of market share gains, accelerating booking momentum, strong cash generation and a confidence in ongoing profit growth, albeit softer than expectations. Trading on a low-mid single digit EBITDA multiple, we retain our 'buy' recommendation."
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