Operating profits doubled in the three months to £2m, compared to last year, helped by cost cutting measures working through. Operating margins gained to 12.3%.
UK yield declined 7% year on year principally due to the full year effect of price renegotiations last Autumn with its key accounts which now deliver 50% of revenues.
But there was 3% growth in average fleet on rent with demand improving A-Plant’s market share.
At the Ashtead group as a whole pre-tax profit rose 35% to 11.9m on sales 8% higher at £239.1m in the three months to the end of July.