Character Group
Website:
Character Group
Index:
AIM
EPIC: CCT
Supersector:
Personal and Household Goods
Sector:
Leisure Goods
Subsector:
Toys
Market Cap:
£53.66M
Payout Frequency: Semi-Annual
Character Group Dividend Analysis and Summary
Declared Dividend
- Type: Interim dividend
- Amount: 4.0p per share (up 33% YoY from 3.0p)
- Ex-dividend date: 16/07/2026
- Record date: 17/07/2026
- Payment date: 31/07/2026
- Coverage: ~2.76x based on underlying basic EPS of 11.06p for HY26
- Reference point: FY25 total dividend 6.0p (interim 3.0p + final 3.0p)
Financial Context and Support
- HY26 performance: Profit before tax (pre-highlighted) £2.4m (+15%); underlying EPS 11.06p (+29%).
- Margins: Gross margin improved to 31.7% (HY25: 29.3%; FY25: 26.2%).
- Balance sheet: Net cash £13.7m; no long-term debt; >£40m undrawn facilities.
- Cash generation: Cash from operations £4.7m; HY26 net cash inflow £1.0m after £0.5m dividends and £1.2m buybacks.
- Outlook: Board expects FY26 PBT (pre-highlighted) to be significantly ahead of market expectations; turnover flat but margins and cost benefits to hold in H2.
Capital Allocation and Structural Items
- Share buyback: Ongoing £3.0m programme to Jan 2027; £0.55m spent to date (226,900 shares), reducing share count and supporting per-share dividends.
- Property monetisation: Surplus warehouse let generating £773k p.a. rent; option to sell for £9.8m cash before FY26 year-end, which would further bolster liquidity.
- No demergers, M&A, or share consolidations disclosed.
Dividend Sustainability and Growth Outlook
- The 4.0p interim looks well-supported by improved earnings, robust cash generation, and a net cash position; ~2.76x cover provides headroom.
- Management guidance (higher PBT vs expectations, sustained margins, lower overheads) underpins the potential to at least match or exceed the FY25 total dividend of 6.0p, absent a sharp H2 downturn.
- Buybacks and prospective property sale represent additional levers to support ongoing shareholder returns.
Risks and Flags to Dividend Stability
- Trading seasonality/visibility: Q4 is key; delivery against H2 forecasts is critical.
- US tariffs and macro headwinds drove a 9% H1 revenue decline; these could pressure top line despite margin gains.
- FX exposure (USD purchases); mark-to-market on derivatives adds earnings volatility (non-cash but can affect reported results).
- Category cyclicality: Reliance on licensed/toy trends may cause product-cycle volatility.
- Working-capital swings typical of the sector remain a watchpoint, though inventory reduction and current liquidity mitigate near-term risk.
Read more
Character Group Annual Dividend Yield - 2.3%
Dividends Used in Calculation:
| Ex-Dividend Date |
Payment Date |
Type |
Amount |
Currency |
| 15/01/2026 |
30/01/2026 |
Final |
3.0000p |
GBX |
| 16/07/2026 |
31/07/2026 |
Interim |
4.0000p |
GBX |
Total (Annual Dividends Per Share):
7.00p
Dividend Yield =
Annual Dividends Per Share (7.00p)
÷ Share Price (305p)
= 2.3%
Character Group Dividend History
| Ex Dividend Date |
Payment Date |
Type |
Amount |
Currency |
| 16/07/2026 |
31/07/2026 |
Interim |
4.0000p |
GBX |
| 15/01/2026 |
30/01/2026 |
Final |
3.0000p |
GBX |
| 10/07/2025 |
25/07/2025 |
Interim |
3.00p |
GBX |
| 16/01/2025 |
31/01/2025 |
Final |
11.00p |
GBX |
| 11/07/2024 |
26/07/2024 |
Interim |
8.00p |
GBX |
| 11/01/2024 |
26/01/2024 |
Final |
11.00p |
GBX |
| 13/07/2023 |
28/07/2023 |
Interim |
8.00p |
GBX |
| 12/01/2023 |
27/01/2023 |
Final |
10.0p |
GBX |
| 14/07/2022 |
29/07/2022 |
Interim |
7.00p |
GBX |
| 13/01/2022 |
28/01/2022 |
Final |
9.00p |
GBX |
| 15/07/2021 |
30/07/2021 |
Interim |
6.00p |
GBX |
| 14/01/2021 |
29/01/2021 |
Final |
3.00p |
GBX |
| 16/07/2020 |
31/07/2020 |
Interim |
2.00p |
GBX |
| 16/01/2020 |
31/01/2020 |
Final |
13.00p |
GBX |
| 11/07/2019 |
26/07/2019 |
Interim |
13.00p |
GBX |
| 03/01/2019 |
25/01/2019 |
Final |
12.00p |
GBX |
| 05/07/2018 |
27/07/2018 |
Interim |
11.00p |
GBX |
| 11/01/2018 |
29/01/2018 |
Final |
10.0p |
GBX |
| 06/07/2017 |
28/07/2017 |
Interim |
9.00p |
GBX |
| 05/01/2017 |
27/01/2017 |
Final |
8.00p |
GBX |
| 07/07/2016 |
29/07/2016 |
Interim |
7.00p |
GBX |
| 07/01/2016 |
29/01/2016 |
Final |
6.00p |
GBX |
| 04/06/2015 |
26/06/2015 |
Interim |
5.00p |
GBX |
| 08/01/2015 |
30/01/2015 |
Final |
3.95p |
GBX |
| 14/05/2014 |
06/06/2014 |
Interim |
3.30p |
GBX |
| 08/01/2014 |
31/01/2014 |
Final |
3.30p |
GBX |
| 03/07/2013 |
26/07/2013 |
Interim |
3.30p |
GBX |
| Year |
Interim |
Final |
Currency |
Total |
Change |
| 2024 |
8.000 |
11.000 |
GBX |
19.000 |
0.000 |
| 2023 |
8.000 |
11.000 |
GBX |
19.000 |
11.760 |
| 2022 |
7.000 |
10.000 |
GBX |
17.000 |
13.330 |
| 2021 |
6.000 |
9.000 |
GBX |
15.000 |
200.000 |
| 2020 |
2.000 |
3.000 |
GBX |
5.000 |
-80.760 |
| 2019 |
13.000 |
13.000 |
GBX |
26.000 |
13.040 |
| 2018 |
11.000 |
12.000 |
GBX |
23.000 |
21.050 |
| 2017 |
9.000 |
10.000 |
GBX |
19.000 |
26.660 |
| 2016 |
7.000 |
8.000 |
GBX |
15.000 |
36.360 |
| 2015 |
5.000 |
6.000 |
GBX |
11.000 |
51.720 |
| 2014 |
3.300 |
3.950 |
GBX |
7.250 |
9.840 |
| 2013 |
3.300 |
3.300 |
GBX |
6.600 |
|
Character Group Dividend Calculator
Character Group Dividend Growth
| Dividend Growth (1Y) |
-50%
|
| Dividend CAGR (5Y) |
-4.9%
|
| Years of Growth |
–
|
| Payout Ratio |
–
|
| Buyback Yield |
4.17%
|
| Shareholder Yield |
6.2%
|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | – |
|---|
| Forward P/E | 13.79 |
|---|
| P/FCF | 16.47 |
|---|
| Earnings Yield | -3.25% |
|---|
| FCF Yield | 6.07% |
|---|
| ROE | -4.85% |
|---|
| ROCE | 4.18% |
|---|
| Profit Margin | -1.82% |
|---|
| Operating Margin | 1.47% |
|---|
| Gross Margin | 27.32% |
|---|