Britain's Next Keeps Profit Outlook after 5% Rise in 2023-24

FILE PHOTO: Workers walk through the More London business district with Tower Bridge seen behind in London, November 11, 2015.  REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Workers walk through the More London business district with Tower Bridge seen behind in London, November 11, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo/File Photo
TT

Britain's Next Keeps Profit Outlook after 5% Rise in 2023-24

FILE PHOTO: Workers walk through the More London business district with Tower Bridge seen behind in London, November 11, 2015.  REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Workers walk through the More London business district with Tower Bridge seen behind in London, November 11, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo/File Photo

British clothing retailer Next kept its guidance for sales and profit in the current year after reporting a slightly better than expected 5% rise in profit for 2023-24.
The group, which is often considered a useful gauge of how British consumers are faring, said on Thursday it still expected a profit before tax and exceptional items of 960 million pounds ($1.23 billion) in 2024-25, with full-price sales up 2.5%.
For the year to Jan. 27 2024 it made a profit on the same basis of 918 million pounds, versus guidance of 915 million pounds, on total sales up 5.9% to 5.84 billion pounds, Reuters reported.
"On the face of it, the consumer environment looks more benign than it has for a number of years, albeit there are some significant uncertainties," Next said.
The group said it did not currently anticipate any material adverse impact from stock delays due to disruption to shipments through the Suez Canal.



Kering Posts 11% Drop in Q2 Sales, Sees Weak Second Half

The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)
The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)
TT

Kering Posts 11% Drop in Q2 Sales, Sees Weak Second Half

The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)
The logo of luxury brand Gucci is seen in Tokyo on June 22, 2021. (AFP)

Kering reported a bigger-than-expected drop in second-quarter sales and forecast a weak second half, as the French luxury group struggles to revive its key label Gucci and worries grow about a prolonged downturn in high-end spending.

Sales at the French luxury group which owns labels Gucci, Boucheron and Balenciaga, fell to 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion), an 11% drop on an organic basis, which strips out currency effects and acquisitions.

The figure was below analyst expectations for a 9% drop, according to a Visible Alpha consensus.

It also said second-half operating income could fall by around 30%, following a 42% drop in the first half.

Sales at Gucci fell 19%, showing no improvement from the first quarter, and below analyst expectations for a 16% decline, according to a Visible Alpha consensus.

Kering has been revamping Gucci, the century-old Italian fashion house which accounts for half of group sales and two-thirds of profit.

Minimalist designs from new creative director Sabato de Sarno, which began trickling into stores earlier this year, are key to the design reset and push upmarket, in a bid to cater to wealthier clients who are more immune to economic headwinds.

Kering chief financial officer Armelle Poulou told reporters that the designs had been well received and the rollout was on track.

But the efforts have been complicated by a downturn in the global luxury market, while China's rebound - traditionally Gucci's most coveted market - was clouded by a property crisis and high youth unemployment as Western markets came down from a post-pandemic splurge.

Earnings from sector bellwether LVMH on Tuesday missed expectations as sales rose 1%, offering few signs that a pickup is around the corner, sending shares in luxury goods companies down on Wednesday. Kering traded at its lowest level since 2017.