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AutoTrader Embargoed until 7.00am , 11 November 2021 AUTO TRADER GROUP PLC HALF YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2021 Strategic overview Auto Trader Group plc ( ' Auto Trader ' , ' the Group ' ) , the UK's largest digital automotive marketplace , announces half year results for the six months ended 30 September 2021 We have achieved our highest ever six - monthly revenue and profits Consumer engagement and retailer numbers are at record levels , our competitive position has strengthened and product uptake by customers has been strong In April 2021 , we launched our Retailer Stores product as part of our successful annual pricing event , these have seen strong traffic volumes throughout H1 We implemented a new higher - level advertising package and a product that allows our retailers to reach car buyers outside their local area ( Market Extension ) . Both have seen good levels of adoption , contributing to a record level of spending by our retailer customers ( Average Revenue Per Retailer ) Our strategic focus on supporting an increasingly online car buying journey continues to gather pace . Vehicles can be advertised nationally for local delivery ( Market Extension and Motor Trade Delivery ) ; car owners are able to get a guaranteed trade - in price ( through Guaranteed Part - Exchange and Instant Offer ) ; online reservations are being trialled with a small number of customers ; and our online finance solution , offering finance collaboratively with car retailers ( Retailer Finance ) , is scheduled for trial later this financial year Financial results Revenue of £ 215.4 million up 82 % ( H1 2021 : £ 118.2 million ) , and up 15 % on H1 2020 ( £ 186.7 million ) . Trade revenue of £ 192.3 million up 92 % ( H1 2021 : £ 100.2 million ) and up 19 % on H1 2020 ( £ 161.8 million ) . In H1 2021 , we provided free advertising to retailer customers in April and May 2020 , as well as at a discounted rate in June 2020 Operating profit of £ 151.7 million up 121 % ( H1 2021 : £ 68.5 million ) and up 15 % on H1 2020 ( £ 131.4 million ) . Operating profit margin increased to 70 % , up from 58 % in H1 2021 , and was consistent with H1 2020 Basic EPS of 12.63p up 126 % ( H1 2021 : 5.58p ) and up 13 % on H1 2020 ( 11.13p ) Cash generated from operations up¹ 157 % to £ 169.9 million ( H1 2021 : £ 66.1 million ) , and up 28 % on H1 2020 ( £ 132.7 million ) £ 148.4 million returned to shareholders ( H1 2021 : Nil ) through £ 100.4 million of share buy - backs and dividends paid of £ 48.0 million Interim dividend declared of 2.7p ( H1 2021 : no interim dividend declared ) Operational results Cross platform visits³ , 4 increased by 20 % to 68.7 million per month on average ( H1 2021 : 57.3 million ) Cross platform minutes ³ , 4 increased by 14 % to 633 million per month on average ( H1 2021 : 557 million ) . Our share of cross platform minutes³ , 5 remains strong at over 75 % ( H1 2021 : over 75 % ) and we grew to be almost 9x larger than our nearest competitor ( H1 2021 : 7x ) 1