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Video games Workshop (LSE:GAW) launched one other extraordinary buying and selling replace on Tuesday (29 July), sending its shares near current file peaks.
Lengthy-term traders like me have discovered to count on the sudden from the fantasy wargaming specialist. However bat-related information most likely wasn’t on anybody’s bingo card, and might be a primary for the London inventory market.
In a footnote to its replace, the FTSE 100 firm drew particular consideration to “the lovable trying pipistrelle bat that’s delaying our work on our new short-term automotive park“. Animal lovers needn’t be alarmed, by the way in which–Video games Workshop added that “we’re rigorously taking care of the bat“.
Except for that nature replace, there have been another sudden issues for shareholders to digest, too. Each revenues and pre-tax earnings got here in forward of Metropolis forecasts, at £617.5m and £262.8m, respectively, within the monetary 12 months to Might 2025.
The corporate had forecast figures of a minimum of £610m and £255m two months in the past. And it despatched Video games Workshop’s share value near June’s all-time excessive of £167.30.
Income powerhouse
This week’s replace underlines why Video games Workshop is one among my favorite FTSE 100 progress shares. It simply retains delivering excellent buying and selling performances, even when financial situations are powerful and client spending energy fades.
Gross sales had been up 18% 12 months on 12 months in 2025, whereas pre-tax revenue elevated 30%. Earnings per share, in the meantime, additionally elevated 30% to 594.9p per share.
The corporate’s merchandise — spearheaded by the well-known Warhammer 40,000 sci-fi franchise — are in excessive demand in any respect factors of the financial cycle. Their high quality and model energy gives an financial moat that helps robust revenues progress even throughout broader market downturns.
These benefits additionally imply Video games Workshop enjoys the luxurious of world-class margins. Final 12 months, the core gross margin rose 10 foundation factors 12 months on 12 months to 69.5%. This fatty proportion gave the underside line one other substantial enhance.
Licence to develop
It’s nice to see the corporate’s field units, paints, and different game-related merchandise proceed flying off the cabinets. However what’s obtained me particularly excited is the speed at which licensing revenues are rising.
Whereas gross sales throughout its core operations rose a wholesome 14% final 12 months, licencing income progress of 69% was actually excellent.
This mirrored forecast-beating gross sales of its House Marine 2 online game. Video games Workshop is sitting on a goldmine of mental property (IP), and is ramping up partnerships and licensing offers with media producers to capitalise on it and turbocharge long-term progress.
Monetary 2025’s robust numbers bode nicely, with House Marine 3 within the works and Amazon beginning work on a Warhammer 40,000 movie and TV sequence.
A high FTSE share
Annual earnings have risen 34% on common at Video games Workshop over the past decade. And I’m assured it’ll preserve delivering spectacular yearly progress over the long run.
There are some risks it should navigate, although, equivalent to rising protectionism in key markets. It has warned that commerce tariffs will wipe £12m off pre-tax earnings this 12 months alone. Rising competitors is one other hazard to gross sales and margins.
However I’m hopeful it’ll nonetheless preserve delivering beautiful returns, underpinned by its dominant market place and people formidable licencing plans.
