Boohoo Group PLC (AIM:BOO) has already set out fairly clear guidance that first-half sales will be down 10-15% on a year ago, with investors and analysts interested to hear about the launch of the fast fashion company's US warehouse.
Also, will management comment about the growing stake built up by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group PLC (LSE:FRAS), which over the late summer was increased from below 8% to more than 10%.
Ashley, said analyst Russ Mould at AJ Bell, has developed a reputation for being a "vulture – picking at the bones of businesses when they are down". including buying distressed assets or equity stakes in companies when their shares are weak.
“Frasers is constantly looking for ways to offer a broader range of products to its customer base and there is a natural crossover between people who shop at Sports Direct and Boohoo," he said.
Analyst John Stevenson at Peel Hunt pointed out that Boohoo rival ASOS and others have reported that wet weather during July and August has made summer trading challenging.
"We are not expecting any upside to the lower end of performance, although we suspect efforts to ‘recapture’ deflationary pressures have been successful, as have cost-saving initiatives, supporting recovery in EBITDA margins," he said.
Peel Hunt forecasts first-half EBITDA of £34 million, just under half its full-year forecast.
"The successful launch of boohoo’s US warehouse is one part of the potential recovery story – there are positive signs of performance on this point, with PLT & Nasty Gal both already live," said Stevenson.
"The interim results will hopefully give a greater sense of cost and margin recovery, with peak trading then opening the conversation on where margins can go over FY25 and beyond, and how the newer brands and the Debenhams platform will add to growth prospects."