Focusrite plc expects fiscal first half trading to be 'in line'

Buckinghamshire audio product company Focusrite told investors that trading in the first half of its financial year was expected to be "in line with the board's expectations".
Focusrite, based in High Wycombe, broadly comprises two divisions - Content Creation, which makes and distributes audio content, and Audio Reproduction, which provides solutions to do just that.
READ MORE: Focusrite says its content creation business still faces challenges
The firm held its AGM on Friday (January 31). Phil Dudderidge OBE, the group's non-executive chairman, said both divisions remained focused on "managing costs, maximising gross margins, and investing selectively to support future growth".
"Within the Content Creation division, following the conclusion of the important Christmas and Thanksgiving holiday period, the group's trading has seen underlying end-user registrations remain strong, reflecting continued demand across our entire product range," he said.
"Owing to planned ongoing channel de-stocking in the first six months of the period, performance for the first 12 months is anticipated to be weighted towards the second half when the current de-stocking trend in the US is expected to ease," he added.
Dudderidge said the group's Audio Reproduction division was experiencing "headwinds in a softening market" following a post Covid boost, as had been indicated at the FY24 results.
But he added :"Our order pipeline remains strong, enhanced by a much broader product portfolio than in prior years."
AIM-listed Focusrite has offices in four continents and a customer base with a distribution network covering around 240 territories.
It trades under 13 established brands: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Novation, Ampify, ADAM Audio, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, Linea Research Sequential, Oberheim, Sonnox, OutBoard and TiMax.