Next Thursday is the first set of results from Mike Ashley's Frasers Group PLC (LSE:FRAS) since the interims last December, though the company has hardly been quiet in the months since.
The full-year results, due Thursday 17 July, come after a turbulent period for the owner of the Sports Direct, Flannels and Evans Cycles retail chains.
At around 660p, the shares have rebounded from April's three-year low of 533p but remain well below the 2024 peak of over 900p.
The company was relegated from the FTSE 100 at the end of last year, following a December profit warning that lowered adjusted pre-tax profit guidance by £25 million to between £550 million and £600 million.
As well as arranging an increase in its own bank borrowing capacity, recent developments in the past month included contributing to a rescue fundraising for handbag maker Mulberry Group (AIM:MUL).
Frasers was able to appoint a representative to the board, while in June a bid for Revolution Beauty was mulled but ultimately decided against.
In April, a partnership in Australia was agreed; while at the start of the year, the focus was on a dispute with 29%-owned Boohoo over its attempt to rebrand as Debenhams.
Half-year results seven months ago showed adjusted pre-tax profit down 1.5% to £299.2 million, with group revenue declining 8.3% to £2.5 billion but gross margins improving thanks to £74.7 million in cost savings and synergies from acquisitions and warehouse automation.
Chief executive Michael Murray, Ashley's son-in-law, hailed "another period of progress", delivering on his 'elevation strategy' to move away from just focusing on the pile-em-high-sell-em-cheap of the early Sports Direct business.
Sales grew at Sports Direct UK, while Murray and the management team focused on "right-sizing" recent acquisitions such as Twinsport in the Netherlands, Holdsport in South Africa and a portfolio of 15 'premium' fashion brands from JD Sports including Tessuti, Scotts and Topgrade Sportswear.
At the bottom line, he said adjusted profit before tax was expected to be in the range of £550-600 million, up between 1% and 10% from the £544.8 million the previous year.
Analyst Michael Hewson at MCH Market Insights said the share price performance "has been somewhat disappointing"
Looking ahead, he said investors will be watching for updates on the group’s elevation strategy and cost pressures, including at least £50 million in incremental costs from changes to National Insurance and minimum wage levels.