JD Sports Fashion PLC (LSE:JD.)’s full-year update next Thursday, 28 March could offer further clarity on whether tough trading in the apparel sector has been a short-term blip.
That’s according to Shore Capital Markets analysts, which noted that JD’s report was due following a mixed set of updates from sector rivals.
Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE, ETR:NKE) and Lululemon Athletic Inc disappointed with earnings overnight in the US for instance, while back in the UK, Next PLC (LSE:NXT) pleased with a strong set of final results on Thursday.
“The extensive disappointment in higher category US and UK apparel, footwear, and accessories in the fourth quarter has made equity investors in these stocks understandably on edge,” the bank said in a note.
Indeed, JD Sports was trading 7% lower at 108.75p on Thursday following its peers’ updates.
“At the heart of the concern is whether the fourth quarter in particular was some form of blip,” analysts continued.
This may well have featured “some excessive customer gauging around price,” as per Shore Cap, or could be that the “robust demand cycle is changing with the risk on the downside”.
Adding to JD’s woes in particular was a profit warning in January, which Shore Cap said would likely precede “grounded and suitably cautious” guidance for 2024 in next week’s update.
“Forecasts have been markedly rebased post the January 2024 warning,” analysts added.
“We expect cautiously set expectations here on, set against a market where the market is sceptical, as manifested in especially low valuation metrics.”