Shares in chocolatier Hotel Chocolat Group PLC (LON:HOTC) have melted in the second half of the year, despite revealing in July ahead of this Wednesday’s prelims that revenue in the 53 weeks to 2 July was slightly ahead of expectations.
The top line was 12% higher than a year earlier, albeit with the benefit of an extra week, which implied a number £2mln higher than Liberum Capital Markets had forecast.
Having already announced revenue numbers, focus on Wednesday is likely to be on current trading, particularly in the new shop+café format, and the reception given to new products such as the hot chocolate and the cocoa-infused ice cream offering.
Boohoo expected to put in another strong showing
After a strong quarterly update back in June, Boohoo.com PLC (LON:BOO) is expected to report a similarly robust performance when it announces its interim results on Wednesday.
Pretty Little Thing – its acquisition made earlier in the year – is expected to drive total sales growth, which Deutsche Bank estimates should come in 95% higher than this time last year at £248mln.
Given the premium which BOO shares trade at, guidance is always king though. Investors will be keeping an eye out for second quarter sales as well as any changes to full-year guidance.
Deutsche expects sales at PLT to have grown by around 164% in the second quarter, while the Boohoo brand is expected to have registered sales growth of 37%.
Significant events expected on Wednesday September 27:
Finals: Avingtrans PLC (LON:AVG), Hotel Chocolat Group PLC (LON:HOTC)
Interims: Boohoo.com PLC (LON:BOO), Circassia Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON:CIR), Crawshaw Group PLC (LON:CRAW), Destiny Pharma PC (LON:DEST), Eden Research PLC (LON:EDEN), Havelock Europa plc (LON:NVE), Patagonia Gold plc (LON:PGD), Strix Group PLC (LON:KETL), RedT Energy PLC (LON:RED), Summit Germany Limited (LON:SMTG), Xeros Technology Group PLC (LON:XSG)
Trading update: Grainger PLC (LON:GRI)
Economic data: Nationwide house prices; final reading UK Q3 GDP; CBI distributive trades report; US durable goods orders; US pending home sales