Travis Perkins sales pick up as UK housing market improves

* On track to meet 2013 EPS forecast of 100 pence

* Q3 like-for-like sales up 6.3 pct, total sales up 8.6 pct

* Stronger sales momentum in trade divisions, consumer markets lag

* Shares down 0.7 pct, up 60 pct over last year

LONDON, Oct (KOSDAQ: 039200.KQ - news) 17 (Reuters) - Travis Perkins (LSE: TPK.L - news) , Britain's No. 1 supplier of building materials, posted accelerating sales growth in its third quarter, helped by an increase in construction activity on the back of government initiatives to stimulate the housing market.

The group also said on Thursday it was on track to meet analysts' consensus forecast for earnings per share of 100 pence in 2013 despite lower gains from property disposals.

Travis Perkins said that while the period saw stronger sales momentum in divisions serving builders - merchanting and plumbing & heating, its consumer businesses - Wickes and Tile Giant - lagged, receiving little benefit from the warmer summer weather as they sell a limited range of outdoor products.

"The recovery in activity, signalled by us in early 2013, looks set to continue into 2014 as owners' and occupiers' construction and maintenance activity increases from the very low levels encountered over the last five years," said Chief Executive Geoff Cooper, who is stepping down from the top job in January.

The number of property transactions in Britain is growing and mortgage approvals are ahead of last year as the government's "Help to Buy" mortgage scheme starts to kick-in. ID:nL6N0HY17Z]

Travis said sales at outlets open over a year rose 6.3 percent in the three months to Sept. 30, its fiscal third quarter, against the same period last year.

That compares with first half like-for-like growth of 0.9 percent, year-on-year.

Like-for-like sales were up nearly 11 percent in the merchanting businesses and up 5 percent in plumbing & heating, but flat in the consumer division.

Total (NYSE: TOT - news) group revenue rose 8.6 percent, having increased 1.6 percent in the first half.

Shares in Travis Perkins, which entered the FTSE 100 index of Britain's largest companies in June, have risen 60 percent over the last year.

They were down 0.7 percent at 1,765 pence at 0714 GMT, valuing the business at 4.4 billion pounds ($7 billion).