JB Hi-Fi Limited results: Profit up 7.5%

JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX:JBH) lifted half-year profit 7.5% and comparable sales 5.2%.

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This morning, electronics retail heavyweight JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) released its report for the six-month period ended 31 December 2015.

In an ASX announcement, JB Hi-Fi reported a 7.5% jump in profit to $95.2 million with revenue of $2,116.8 million, up 7.7% on the prior corresponding period.

Net profit was up 7.5% to $95.2 million with earnings per share also up 7.5% to 96.1 cents per share.

JB Hi-Fi CEO, Richard Murray, said, "This was a solid result with trading in the important November and December periods particularly strong as we executed on a great promotional plan".

During the period, JB Hi-Fi opened seven stores in Australia and New Zealand, taking the total count to 194. The company expects to open a further eight stores, with a target of 214 across both markets.

The rollout of JB Hi-Fi HOME, the company's home and kitchen appliances business, continues to gain traction. Of the 194 stores, 56 are now HOME stores, with a target of 75 stores in the network expected. "Each new JB HI-FI HOME store contributes to growing our customer awareness, market share and supplier support," Mr Murray said.

"Appliances are a natural adjacency to our successful consumer electronics categories and accessing the $4.6 billion appliance market, via both the introduction of small appliances to existing JB HI-FI stores and the HOME store conversions, is a significant growth opportunity for the company," he said.

Revenue from the New Zealand network also jumped 12.5% during the period. Online sales jumped 28.9% and now represent 3% of the group total.

Pleasingly, the company's board declared an interim dividend of 63 cents per share, fully franked, up 4% on last year's interim payout. The dividend is payable on March 4th, 2016.

JB Hi-fi also reported that same store sales growth was strong in January 2016 – up 6.5%.

Looking ahead the company says the market is expected to remain competitive, but forecast total sales of $3.9 billion and a net profit after tax in the range of $143 million to $147 million over its 2016 financial year results.

"We continue with a strong investment program including rolling out JB HI-FI HOME, the introduction of small appliances to existing stores and upgrades to a number of our stores," Mr Murray concluded. "This will position us well as we cycle a strong second half in the prior year."

The JB Hi-Fi share price was down 1.1% to $31.87 in morning trade on the ASX, while the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) had dropped just 0.4%.

Motley Fool writer/analyst Owen Raszkiewicz does not have a financial interest in any company mentioned. Owen welcomes -- and encourages -- your feedback on Google+, LinkedIn or you can follow him on Twitter @ASXinvest. Unless otherwise noted, the author does not have a position in any stocks mentioned by the author in the comments below. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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