UK Fast-fashion Retailer ASOS Forecasts Annual Profit Miss on Somber Demand

Branded shopping bags are displayed in an ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Branded shopping bags are displayed in an ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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UK Fast-fashion Retailer ASOS Forecasts Annual Profit Miss on Somber Demand

Branded shopping bags are displayed in an ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Branded shopping bags are displayed in an ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

ASOS forecast fiscal 2026 profit to be largely below analysts' expectations on Friday, as weak consumer demand weighs on the British fast-fashion retailer amid its efforts to check costs and revive the brand's appeal.

The firm is undergoing turnaround efforts to bolster income through cost-saving measures, such as inventory reduction and restructuring, as it also works to revive its fast-fashion appeal among its core base of shoppers in their 20s, Reuters said.

The company expects adjusted core profit for fiscal 2026 between 150 million pounds and 180 million pounds ($196.22 million and $235.46 million).

However, at the midpoint of 165 million pounds, that is below analysts' average expectation of 173 million pounds, according to a company-compiled poll.

In the UK, the group's biggest market, many Britons are delaying non-essential purchases amid sticky inflation and a high cost of living, waiting for Black Friday deals and the budget, which is adding to the pressure.

Adjusted core profit stood at 131.6 million pounds for the full year to August 31, missing estimates of 138 million pounds.



China's HongShan Reportedly Eyes $2.9 Billion Golden Goose Deal by Christmas

People walk in a commercial street at the historical Shichahai district in Beijing, China, December 3, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
People walk in a commercial street at the historical Shichahai district in Beijing, China, December 3, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
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China's HongShan Reportedly Eyes $2.9 Billion Golden Goose Deal by Christmas

People walk in a commercial street at the historical Shichahai district in Beijing, China, December 3, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
People walk in a commercial street at the historical Shichahai district in Beijing, China, December 3, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

China's HongShan Capital Group (HSG) has sent a 2.5 billion euro ($2.91 billion) offer to private equity Permira to buy Italian luxury sneaker maker Golden Goose, with the aim of signing the deal by Christmas, daily la Repubblica reported on Friday.

Details still need to be defined but the offer gives the luxury group an enterprise value of 10 times the core profit expected by the end of the year, debt included, the newspaper said.

Golden Goose's revenues totaled 655 million euros in 2024, with an adjusted core profit of 227 million euros.

HSG has asked veteran fashion industry executive Marco Bizzarri to become Golden Goose's future chairman, la Repubblica said, adding that the Chinese private equity aims to expand Golden Goose's directly-managed stores, particularly in Asia, and plans to list the group in the medium-term.

Last year the Venice-based company, which sells sneakers for more than 500 euros a pair, shelved plans for an initial public offering on the Milan Bourse, citing market volatility caused by political uncertainty in Europe.


Debenhams' New Pay Plan Without Vote 'Disgraceful', Says Top Investor Frasers

Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
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Debenhams' New Pay Plan Without Vote 'Disgraceful', Says Top Investor Frasers

Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)
Debenhams logo is seen on smartphone in front of a displayed Boohoo logo in this illustration taken January 25, 2021. (Reuters)

A move by struggling British online fashion retailer Debenhams to push ahead with a new executive pay scheme without seeking approval from investors was "utterly disgraceful", the finance chief of rival Frasers said on Thursday.

Frasers is Debenhams' biggest investor with a 29.7% stake.

Last week, Debenhams said that one of the reasons it was not asking for a shareholder vote on the new pay scheme worth up to 222 million pounds ($296 million) was because a "major competitor" investor, which it did not name, had tried to block previous resolutions.

Debenhams has been locked in a long-running tussle with Frasers, majority-owned by British retail tycoon Mike Ashley, which unsuccessfully attempted to block its rebrand and oust its co-founder.

Frasers' chief financial officer Chris Wootton said Debenhams' latest move, which could see CEO Dan Finley earn up to 148 million pounds if Debenhams' share price hits 3 pounds over the next five years, was "typical corporate governance from them, utterly disgraceful".

However, he told Reuters that if Debenhams achieved a share price of 3 pounds "shareholders will be happy."

Debenhams shares were trading at 22.25 pence on Thursday, down 3.3%.


Zara Owner Inditex Reports Strong Start to Winter Sales

FILE PHOTO: A person walks by a Zara store in Plaza de Espana in Madrid, Spain, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Ana Beltran/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person walks by a Zara store in Plaza de Espana in Madrid, Spain, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Ana Beltran/File Photo
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Zara Owner Inditex Reports Strong Start to Winter Sales

FILE PHOTO: A person walks by a Zara store in Plaza de Espana in Madrid, Spain, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Ana Beltran/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A person walks by a Zara store in Plaza de Espana in Madrid, Spain, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Ana Beltran/File Photo

Zara owner Inditex said sales grew 10.6% in constant currency over the start of its fourth quarter, beating analysts' expectations for the November period that includes the crucial Black Friday sales.

The $178 billion fast fashion giant also reported on Wednesday sales of 9.8 billion euros ($11.41 billion) for its third quarter ending October 31, higher than the 9.69 billion euros expected by analysts according to an LSEG estimate.

The results from Inditex, seen as a bellwether for the global fast fashion sector, provide a first glimpse into how successful the key Black Friday sales weekend was for retailers.

The strong sales growth in the period from November 1 to December 1 compared to a year ago marked an acceleration from the nine-month currency-adjusted growth rate of 6.2%, an encouraging sign for the fourth quarter, its biggest in terms of revenues.