A Cashbuild outlet in Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni. Group third quarter sales to March 31, 2026 increased by 9% year on year, in severely constrained consumer environment
Image: Simphiwe Mbokazi/Independent Newspapers
Cashbuild, a leading hardware retailer catering mainly to a cash payment market, said revenue increased by 9% for the third quarter to March 31 over the same period a year before.
The JSE-listed company said in an operational update on Thursday that for its 301 existing stores (in existence prior to July 2024), revenue increased by 4%, and the 16 new stores contributed to 5% growth.
“This, combined with the results reported for the half year ended December 28, 2025, equates to a 5% increase in revenue year to date,” the group’s directors said.
Comparable store revenue growth (excluding Amper Alles, Cabifit, and other new stores as well as P&L Hardware closures and Malawi entity disposal) was 6% for the third quarter and 3% for the year to date.
Transactions through the tills during the third quarter for the group increased by 8%, with existing stores increasing by 4% and new stores by 4%.
Selling inflation was 0.6% at the end of March 2026 compared to March 2025.
During the quarter, one new store was opened, and six under-performing stores were closed, bringing the total number of stores trading at the end of the quarter to 317.
Effective December 1, 2025, the group acquired a 50% interest in Allbuildco Holdings for R96 million. Allbuildco owns three hardware and building material stores under the Amper Alles brand in Silver Lakes and Rayton in Gauteng and Groblersdal in Limpopo.
Last month, Cashbuild partnered with Absa to launch in-store finance, allowing customers to apply for funding where they buy their home renovation or building materials. One of the markets the initiative addresses is for people living on tribal or rural land, where traditional home loans are not an option because there is no formal title.
The initiative was launched at the Cashbuild Southgate store and will be piloted across 11 locations across South Africa.
Cashbuild’s share price notched up 0.38% to R130.00 on the JSE Thursday afternoon. A year before, the price had traded at R157.26.
Stats SA data released Wednesday showed South Africa’s retail sales grew 1.6% in February, year-on-year, far undershooting economists' forecasts of 4.8% growth. The difference between the data and the forecast indicates that persistent inflation and high borrowing costs are having a severe impact on household spending.
BUSINESS REPORT