H1 PBT down 13.5% Full-year guidance maintained Second-half weighting a risk Trainers-to-tracksuits seller JD Sports Fashion's (JD.) first-half results showed a disappointing profits plunge in a weaker athleisure market. However, shares in the FTSE 100 retailer ticked up 1.2% to 89.7p as it reiterated full-year guidance pointing to adjusted pre-tax profits of £878 million and said it expects...

First-half profit beat UK sales growth to slow Full-year guidance unchanged Shares in Next (NXT) cheapened 5.2% to £114 on the absence of another profit upgrade from the best-in-class British retailer, which has already hiked year-to-January 2026 guidance three times so far this financial year. Also spooking the market was the Simon Wolfson-led retailer's warning that UK sales growth will...

Primark like-for-likes still negative Grocery profit below expectations Sugar earnings recovery delayed Associated British Foods (ABF) was the biggest FTSE 100 faller on 10 September, shares in the food-to-fashion combine plunging as much as 300p or 13% to £19.42 on news of another period of negative like-for-like sales at discount fashion chain Primark and the absence of guidance on the...

Improving North America trend Full-year profit guidance maintained Fresh £100 million buyback Trainers-to-tracksuits seller JD Sports Fashion (JD.) delivered a soft second-quarter sales performance amid tough athleisure market conditions, with UK like-for-likes remaining weak. So why were shares in the FTSE 100 retailer marked up 3.5% to 97.2p in early dealings? Well, investors welcomed...

Q2 sales up 10.5% Profit outlook hiked again But lower UK growth expected Best-in-class British retailer Next (NXT) delivered its third upgrade to full-year 2026 profit guidance in 2025-to-date after warm weather boosted sales of seasonal ranges in the second quarter and the company benefited from disruption at arch-rival Marks & Spencer (MKS). The FTSE 100 fashion-to-homewares seller...

Lower-than-expected revenue growth CEO to step down Core brand in rude health Online greeting cards-to-gifting platform Moonpig (MOON) trotted in with better-than-expected annual profits driven by the power of the core brand, which delivered growth in active customers, order frequency and average order value alike. So why did Moonpig's shares tumble 10% to 220p in early dealings on 26 June?...

Record annual profits Mobile business drags on earnings Flat profits forecast this year Online electricals retailer AO World (AO.) delivered an impressive surge in annual profits driven by outstanding customer service, growth in its membership scheme and a focus on cost-cutting and restructuring. Backed by Mike Ashley's Frasers (FRAS), the Bolton-headquartered white goods seller said it...

'Levers For Growth' well-received Return to profit growth expected Americas DTC back in growth Dr Martens (DOCS) was the FTSE 250's biggest gainer early doors on 5 June, shares stomping 20% higher to 71.2p as investors welcomed the launch of a new 'Levers For Growth' strategy to establish the iconic brand as the most-desired in global premium footwear. Led by new broom Ije Nwokorie, the...

Warm weather boosts Q1 takings PBT guidance lifted by £14 million M&S' troubles a potential tailwind Despite the pressures facing the retail sector, fashion-to-homewares purveyor Next (NXT) hiked profit guidance again after warm spring weather stoked stronger-than-expected sales in the first quarter, sending the shares up 1.1% to £124.30. Guided by CEO Simon Wolfson, the retail star turn...

Like-for-like growth accelerates Takings boosted by better weather Share buyback continues Value-oriented pubs chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW) showcased its resilience by serving up a 5% increase in total sales for the third quarter to 27 April 2025 despite a small number of pub disposals from the Tim Martin-chaired company. Like-for-like sales rose 5.6% in the quarter, with growth accelerating...

Good start to financial yearTravel delivering strong growthHigh Street arm continues to struggleHaving kick-started an auction process for its ailing High Street division earlier in the week, WH Smith (SMWH) was in demand with investors again as the retailer reported soaring sales at its Travel division over the Golden Quarter.The FTSE 250 company's shares rallied 6.6% to £12.69 on an update...

UK like-for-likes down in Christmas quarter'Cautious' shopper, mild weather blamedGrocery brands growing overseasFoods-to-fashion giant Associated British Foods (ABF) delivered a disappointing first quarter trading update with weak UK sales at Primark driving a sales growth guidance reduction for the retail jewel in the conglomerate's crown.Analysts downgraded their group profit forecasts on...

Strong festive salesOnline and international drive growthTougher FY26 expectedFirst out of the blocks with its Christmas trading statement, fashion and homewares colossus Next (NXT) raised full-year profit guidance yet again following better-than-expected festive trading with online sales growth accelerating in the fourth quarter.Shares in the FTSE 100 retailer ticked up 3% to £98.40 on the...

UK & Ireland like-for-likes up 5%Gains in UK and NordicsPost-Budget price rises 'inevitable'Shares in electrical retailer Currys (CURY) topped the FTSE 250 leader board on 12 December, surging 11.5% higher to 88p after the firm reported a rise in first-half profits and a return to sales growth for the core UK & Ireland business despite a tough consumer backdrop.Buoyed by rising demand for AI...

Blue-chips in London, Paris and Frankfurt were in the red midday Tuesday, as investors fretted over the outlook for China's economy after some less-than-stellar data.'Chinese exports grew at a slower pace in November versus October, and imports shrank. That doesn't install much confidence about Beijing's efforts to get the country back on top. The prospect of higher tariffs on Chinese goods...

Flat underlying profitsDiscretionary spend remains weakHalfords 'comfortable' with FY25 consensusCycling and motoring products purveyor Halfords (HFD) has been the bearer of bad news for some time, with savage earnings downgrades sucking plenty of air from the tyre seller's share price.Today's (26 November) first half results revealed flat profits with discretionary spending weak and consumers...

Like-for-likes down 0.1%Delivering £30 million of savingsFY 2025 outlook unchangedMotoring-to-cycling products purveyor Halfords (HFD) reported broadly flat first half sales as cash-strapped consumers continued to cut back on big ticket, discretionary purchases.Yet the performance was actually better than it first appeared, when you consider the car batteries and bikes seller was lapping...

Fees down 14% in Q1Significant savings being deliveredHays to 'benefit materially' once markets reboundHeadhunter Hays (HAS) has had a hard time of late. Pre-tax profits plunged more than 90% in the year to June 2024 and the recruiter is on a losing streak of negative fee income growth amid a hiring slowdown.The FTSE 250 firm's fortunes failed to reverse in the first quarter of the new...

Volume growth and market share gainsNet debt down 2.1% to £9.7 billionInterim dividend upped 10.4%The UK's biggest grocery chain Tesco (TSCO) raised its full-year 2025 earnings guidance after delivering better-than-expected volume growth and a near-10% uplift in profit for the half ended 24 August.Chief executive Ken Murphy insisted his charge is 'in good shape' ahead of Christmas and...

Adjusted profits down 65.7%Final dividend passedMarket growth 'could soon return'Indebted sofa seller DFS Furniture (DFS) lurched into loss for the year to June 2024 and passed the final dividend following a year marred by weak spending on big ticket items and Red Sea supply disruption.Yet shares in the clear UK living room furniture leader ticked up 2.5% to 117.8p in early dealings on...