Ramsdens Holdings (AIM:RFX) told investors on Monday that profit before tax for the year to 30 September will fall between £32m and £35m, holding to the guidance it issued in July.
The Teesside-based pawnbroking, jewellery and foreign-exchange group said gross profit in its precious metals segment has doubled to approximately £36m in FY26, against £18m in FY25. That surge reflects an average gold price up roughly 45% on FY25, alongside a 40% rise in the average weight of gold purchased, which management linked partly to stepped-up website and television advertising.
Ramsdens highlighted that purchase volumes peaked in February and March before easing back, though they remain elevated against longer-run averages.
The pawnbroking loan book grew to £15.9m at the year-end from £11.5m in FY25, with repayment rates in line with historical performance and loan-to-value against the gold price held below 65%. Jewellery retail gross profit ran approximately 20% ahead of FY25 across new, pre-owned and premium watch categories, with margins maintained despite higher gold input costs.
Total currency exchanged was broadly in line with FY25, achieved at tighter margins to drive footfall, while multi-currency card circulation reached approximately 60,000, offsetting a modest decline in cash currency exchange.
The company opened 10 new stores during the year, on-target, including an acquisition in Sheerness and nine openings spanning Wakefield, Hull, Abergavenny, Newark, Skegness, Ashford, Hereford, Peterborough and Corby.
New sites in St Helens and Leicester are currently in shop fit, and Ramsdens said it holds "a solid pipeline of additional new stores for FY27."
"Ramsdens has seen yet another solid year of progress in FY26, with full year profit set to be significantly higher than that generated in FY25," said chief executive Peter Kenyon, pointing to "a strong balance sheet, good cash generation, and a return on capital of over 20%."
Monday's update comes as Ramsdens' recommended cash acquisition by Chess Bidco, an indirect subsidiary of FirstCash Holdings, remains in progress following a revised final offer agreed on 16 July; the transaction remains subject to Competition and Markets Authority approval.