Finance

Balfour Beatty projects 2026 profit growth on UK power orders; shares peak

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 11, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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Balfour Beatty projects 2026 profit growth on UK power orders; shares peak
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March 11 (Reuters) - British construction group Balfour Beatty forecast a high single-digit percentage rise in 2026 profit from operations on Wednesday, with a record order book heavy with UK power

Balfour Beatty Expects 2026 Profit Rise on Record UK Power Project Orders

Financial Performance and Strategic Developments

2026 Profit Forecast and Order Book Growth

March 11 (Reuters) - British construction group Balfour Beatty forecast a high single-digit percentage rise in 2026 profit from operations on Wednesday, with a record order book heavy with UK power projects, including nuclear power. 

Shareholder Returns and Dividend Increase

Balfour also announced a 200-million-pound share buyback and a 12% increase in its full‑year dividend to 14 pence per share.

Market Reaction

Shares rose 12% to a record high in early trading.

Business Operations and Market Impact

The company, which provides services to public- and private‑sector clients across power, transportation and defence in the U.S. and UK, said U.S. tariffs had a relatively low impact on its business in 2025 and were largely recovered through pre‑existing contract terms.

Profit Growth and Project Performance

The contractor's underlying profit from operations from earnings-based businesses rose 16% to 293 million pounds ($393.56 million) in 2025 as strong U.S. building construction offset cost overruns at its highways project in Texas.

Exchange Rate

($1 = 0.7445 pounds)

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Neeshita Beura in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Harikrishnan Nair)

Key Takeaways

  • Record order book of £22.7 bn at end‑2025, up 23%, with over £3.5 bn in new UK power generation projects, including Sizewell C and Net Zero Teesside, and nearly 40% rise in power transmission work, underpinning profit outlook for 2026. (balfourbeatty.com)
  • 2025 underlying profit from operations rose 16% to £293 m, driven by strong UK Construction and Support Services; US Construction was impacted by cost overruns but recoveries are being pursued. (balfourbeatty.com)
  • Shareholder returns boosted with a £200 m share buyback announced for 2026 and a full‑year dividend increased 12% to 14p per share. (balfourbeatty.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the size of the latest Balfour Beatty share buyback?
Balfour Beatty announced a 200-million-pound share buyback.
How much did Balfour Beatty increase its full-year dividend?
Balfour Beatty increased its full-year dividend by 12% to 14 pence per share.
How did U.S. tariffs impact Balfour Beatty’s business?
U.S. tariffs had a relatively low impact on Balfour Beatty's business in 2025 and were largely recovered through pre-existing contract terms.

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