WH Smith has posted a 7% rise in full-year revenue to £1.92bn after reporting a successful 12 months for its travel business.

Total revenue in the retailer’s travel division grew by 11% across the group in the year to 31 August, boosted by 12% travel growth in the UK.

WH Smith also announced a jump in pre-tax profit over the full year to £166m, up from £143m on last year. Trading profit in the company’s travel division reached £189m, up from £164m last year, while high street trading profit remained unchanged at £32m over the 12 months.

Chief executive at WH Smith, Carl Cowling, highlighted that the company’s travel divisions were “trading well”, with a particularly strong performance from its UK travel business, where trading profit was up 20% to £122m.

“We are making excellent progress in the UK as we continue to benefit from the rollout of our one-stop-shop format which is creating significant opportunities to further grow profitability,” said Cowling.

Following the improved performance on last year, WH Smith also revealed it was proposing a final dividend of 22.6p per share, resulting in full year dividend of 33.6p per share, up 16% on the prior year. The retailer said this reflects “strong business performance” and “confidence in the group’s future prospects”.

Cowling added: “The board is today proposing a final dividend of 22.6p, making a total of 33.6p for the year reflecting current trading and the significant medium and long-term prospects for our global travel business.

“This set of results would not be possible without the ongoing efforts and dedication of the entire team across the globe, and I am extremely grateful for their support.

“The new financial year has started well. While there is some economic uncertainty, we are confident that 2025 will be another year of good progress for the group.”

However, AJ Bell investment director, Russ Mould, described WH Smith’s results as “a tad messy”, with fairly significant non-recurring costs, including impairments linked to software and supply chain upgrades and provisions for loss-making contracts, affecting the headline figures.

“Performance followed the same trend of the last decade, with the travel arm the engine of growth and the high street operation running to a standstill,” Mould noted. “There continues to be a focus on making efficiencies.

“Selling travel essentials to captive audiences at airports and rail stations has been a highly lucrative activity for WH Smith, except during the pandemic, but today’s numbers are a reminder the company is not immune to a bit of turbulence along the way.”

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