Sakurasaku Plus is pairing a sturdier-than-sales profit performance with a defined cash outflow to shareholders. For the first nine months of the year to July 2026, the childcare group posted net profit of ¥834 million, up 14.6% from a year earlier, while sales fell 5.4% to ¥13.679 billion and operating profit edged down 1.5% to ¥1.061 billion.
The split came down to mix and timing. In its investor presentation, the company said its core childcare service grew on better occupancy at existing nurseries, higher official pricing and contributions from a new licensed nursery in Osaka and an expanded Tokyo site. Group revenue still fell because the prior year included a large property sale, but ordinary profit rose 9.5% to ¥1.128 billion, helped by pre-opening subsidy income tied to the new facilities.
Management did not change its full-year outlook. It still forecasts revenue of ¥17.81 billion, operating profit of ¥986 million, ordinary profit of ¥1.092 billion and net profit of ¥816 million for the year to July 2026.
Separately, the board approved a buyback of up to 106,700 shares, or 2.4% of shares outstanding excluding treasury stock, for up to ¥300,147,100. The order is scheduled for June 15 via ToSTNeT-3 at ¥2,813 a share, with the company citing shareholder returns, capital efficiency and flexibility in capital policy. One caveat applies: some or all of the order may go unfilled, and the company said its former president had indicated an intention to sell shares.