Persimmon's results for the six months to 30 June 2026 showed increased housing delivery alongside continued pressure on affordability and construction costs.
The reported results
The company completed 5,189 homes, compared with 4,605 a year earlier, an increase of 13%. Statutory profit before tax rose from £146.7 million to £168 million.
Underlying operating profit was £189.1 million, while the underlying operating margin was 12.8%, below the previous year's 13.1%. These measures describe different aspects of performance and should not be used interchangeably.
Outlook is not a completed result
Persimmon expected approximately 12,500 completions for the full year, at the upper end of its earlier guidance, assuming no material change in market conditions. That was a forecast at the time of the announcement.
The company also anticipated further inflationary pressure in 2027 and said its efficiency measures might not fully offset it. The results provide a dated view of one housebuilder's trading; they do not establish that a change in government caused its performance or guarantee future returns.
