Q3 Trading Update
Summary by AI BETAClose X
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Continued strong execution drives another quarter
of sustained growth
21 July 2026 - Compass Group PLC, a global leader in food services, today announces trading results for the third quarter ended 30 June 2026.
Strong performance
The Group delivered another strong quarter, with organic revenue growth of 7.1%. Net new business growth accelerated into our 4 - 5% target range as expected, and we remain on track to deliver net new growth at this level for the fifth consecutive year.
Client retention remained excellent at 96% and our pipeline of opportunities continues to support confidence in future growth. Like-for-like growth was in line with our expectations, with volumes in North America benefiting modestly from the Football World Cup. In International, like-for-like growth moderated, reflecting lower inflation and Sports & Leisure calendar timings.
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Organic revenue growth1 |
Q3 2026 |
Q3 YTD 2026 |
|
North America |
7.5% |
7.3% |
|
International |
6.4% |
6.9% |
|
Group |
7.1% |
7.2% |
Continued strong growth momentum
The fragmented $360bn outsourcing food services market remains highly attractive. Compass continues to capture a significant share of this large and growing opportunity. Over the last 12 months, the Group secured $4.3bn2 of new business wins, up 16% year-on-year, with 50% of new business wins from first time outsourcing.
Business & Industry remains our strongest performing sector, delivering double-digit organic growth and generating more than $2bn2 of new business across different industries. We continue to support leading AI hyperscalers across the data centre ecosystem, providing food and support services across both construction and operational phases, leveraging our expertise in complex, infrastructure-intensive environments.
Sports & Leisure in our International region continues to grow strongly, with a significant contribution from first-time outsourcing, highlighting the sizeable opportunity in an underpenetrated market as venues invest to elevate the fan experience and unlock the full commercial potential of their operations.
Education continues to build momentum following a record selling season across K-12 and Higher Education. The recent University of Kentucky win, our largest in the sector to date, highlights the growing demand for integrated solutions across campus and healthcare environments, further demonstrating the power of our sectorisation strategy, with multiple Compass brands working together at scale.
Healthcare & Senior Living continues to represent a significant long-term opportunity. In North America, six of our top 20 new business wins this year were in the sector, reflecting the strength of our sectorised approach and differentiated proposition.
Defence, Offshore & Remote continues to benefit from increased investment in defence and energy infrastructure, underpinned by our expertise in delivering essential services in remote and logistically demanding locations.
Investing in growth
Whilst capex is trending around 3.5% of sales for the year to date, we expect this percentage to be slightly elevated at full year due to the timing of client mobilisations.
The Group's net expenditure on M&A was $2.4bn for the year to date, broadly unchanged from its position at the half year.
Reiterating 2026 guidance
Strong execution and continued growth momentum gives us confidence in delivering underlying operating profit growth of above 11% in constant currency. This is driven by:
· Around 7% organic revenue growth
· Around 2% profit growth from M&A
· Ongoing margin progression
Dominic Blakemore, CEO of Compass Group, said:
"Our business continues to perform strongly, driven by the strength of our sector-focused model, disciplined execution and resilient client demand. We are winning market share across multiple sectors, supported by the strongest pipeline of opportunities we have ever seen.
With an addressable market exceeding $360bn and significant opportunities to further increase penetration, we remain confident in delivering another year of strong earnings growth and continued margin progression."
Currency
If current spot rates were to continue for the remainder of the year, foreign exchange translation would positively impact 2025 revenue by $438m3 and operating profit by $23m3.
1 Year-on-year change
2 Annual revenue of new business wins in the last 12 months
3 Based on spot rates as of 15 July 2026
Conference call
There will be a live Q&A session for analysts and investors at 12pm BST. Please connect to the call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time by dialling:
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UK Toll Number: |
+44 (0) 33 0551 0200 |
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UK Toll-Free Number: |
0808 109 0700 |
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New York Number: |
+1 786 697 3501 |
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US Toll-Free Number: |
866 580 3963 |
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Please reference: COMPASS |
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Financial calendar
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Payment date for 2026 interim dividend |
30 July 2026 |
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Full year results
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24 November 2026 |
About Compass Group PLC
Compass Group is a global leader in food services, operating in over 25 countries, with over 590,000 employees worldwide and generating underlying revenues of over $46bn for the 2025 fiscal year. Our core focus is the provision of outsourced food services and targeted support services. Compass Group operates across five sectors: Business & Industry, Healthcare & Senior Living, Education, Sports & Leisure, and Defence, Offshore & Remote, using a portfolio of bespoke B2B brands.
Enquiries
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Investors |
Agatha Donnelly, Simon Bielecki |
+44 1932 573 000 |
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Press |
Tim Danaher, Brunswick |
+44 207 404 5959 |
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Website |
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Forward-looking statements
Certain information included in this Announcement is forward-looking and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements cover all matters which are not historical facts and include, without limitation, the direct and indirect future impacts and implications of: public health crises on the economy, nationally and internationally, and on the Group, its operations and prospects; risks associated with changes in environmental scenarios and related regulations including (without limitation) the evolution and development of the global transition to a low-carbon economy (including increasing societal and investor expectations); disruptions and inefficiencies in supply chains (such as resulting from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East); future domestic and global political, economic and business conditions (such as inflation or the UK's exit from the EU or changes in global trade policies and conditions); projections relating to results of operations and financial conditions and the Company's plans and objectives for future operations, including, without limitation, discussions of expected future revenues, financing plans and expected expenditures and divestments; risks associated with changes in economic conditions, levels of economic growth and the strength of the food and support services markets in the jurisdictions in which the Group operates; fluctuations in food and other product costs and labour costs; prices and changes in exchange and interest rates; and the impacts of technological advancements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including terms such as 'believes', 'estimates', 'anticipates', 'expects', 'forecasts', 'intends', 'plans', 'projects', 'goal', 'target', 'aim', 'may', 'will', 'would', 'could' or 'should' or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology.
Forward-looking statements in this Announcement are not guarantees of future performance. All forward-looking statements in this Announcement are based upon information known to the Company on the date of this Announcement. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that any particular expectation will be met and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements when making their investment decisions. Additionally, forward-looking statements regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation or warranty that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Other than in accordance with its legal or regulatory obligations (including under the UK Listing Rules and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority), the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Nothing in this Announcement shall exclude any liability under applicable laws that cannot be excluded in accordance with such laws.
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