# Softcat Reports 19.4% Profit Growth and Raises Dividend Following Strong Annual Results

- URL: https://stocks.freetheai.org/news/softcat-reports-19-4-profit-growth-and-raises-dividend-following-strong-annual-17fef2
- Published: 2026-10-14T06:00:08Z
- Category: earnings; sentiment: bullish; impact: medium
- Symbols: [LSE:SCT](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/LSE-SCT)
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Softcat plc (LSE:SCT) reported strong financial growth for the year ended 31 July 2026, driven by higher spending on corporate IT infrastructure and technology solutions. Gross invoiced income climbed 30.5%, while gross profit rose 24.7%. Underlying operating profit increased 19.4%, and statutory operating profit reached £196.4 million, up 13.6% after accounting for £18.7 million in non-underlying costs related to a sales system investment. Total customer numbers grew 3.4%, while gross profit per customer expanded 20.6%.

The technology provider benefited from increasing enterprise complexity as businesses upgrade infrastructure to support artificial intelligence, cloud optimization, and cybersecurity. Softcat rewarded shareholders by raising its total annual dividend 7.5% to 31.5p per share, alongside a £45 million share buyback completed earlier in the year, bringing total cash returns to £137.5 million. Closing net cash reached £199.9 million.

Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, Softcat expects to deliver high single-digit growth in underlying operating profit, excluding any contributions from its recent post-year-end acquisition of US-based IT solutions provider GDT. Investors will monitor how integration of GDT expands the company's international capabilities alongside ongoing hardware pricing pressures caused by global memory chip supply constraints.

## Key points

- Underlying operating profit rose 19.4% for the year ended 31 July 2026, with statutory operating profit reaching £196.4 million.
- Gross profit grew 24.7% while gross invoiced income surged 30.5%, supported by a 20.6% increase in gross profit per customer.
- Full-year dividend increased 7.5% to 31.5p per share, helping bring total cash returned to shareholders to £137.5 million.
- Softcat projected high single-digit underlying operating profit growth for fiscal 2027, excluding its recent US acquisition of GDT.

## Questions and answers

### What were Softcat's full year financial results for 2026?

Softcat reported a 19.4% rise in underlying operating profit and a 24.7% increase in gross profit for the year ended 31 July 2026. Statutory operating profit reached £196.4 million, while gross invoiced income grew 30.5%.

### How much dividend is Softcat paying for 2026?

Softcat declared a final ordinary dividend of 21.6p, bringing the full-year dividend to 31.5p per share, up 7.5% year-on-year. Including a £45 million share buyback, total cash returned to shareholders was £137.5 million.

### What is Softcat's earnings outlook for fiscal 2027?

Softcat expects to deliver high single-digit underlying operating profit growth in fiscal 2027, excluding any contribution from its post-year-end acquisition of US-based GDT.