(Sharecast News) - Telecom Plus said it expected earnings next fiscal year to be lower as it launched an ambitious five-year plan to more than double multi-service customer numbers to one million.

The company, which trades as Utility Warehouse offering product bundles, reported a 4.7% rise in adjusted pre-tax profit to £132.2m in the year to March 31.

Adjusted 2026/27 profit is expected to be in the range of £80m to £90m, reflecting the plan's first year of investment with a target of £175m by 2031.

The company, which also announced a £40 share buyback, said the new strategy "builds on our differentiated business model and will require c.£55m per annum of P&L investment.

"Increasing both the number and proportion of multiservice customers - who have market-leading lifetimes and generate higher annual contributions - will result in higher quality, compounding earnings," it added.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com