Next was one of the FTSE 100’s leaders on Wednesday after a strong-third quarter prompted it to upwardly revise profit estimates for the full year.
At £102.35 per share, the clothing and homeware retailer was last dealing 1.6% higher in the midweek session.
Full price sales jumped 7.6% in the three months to October, which comfortably sailed past company guidance of a 5% rise.
This was also ahead of the 3.2% increase posted in quarter two.
Next said that “we believe the strong performance was driven by the early arrival of colder weather this year, versus an unusually warm September and early October last year.”
Online full-price sales in its core UK region rose 5.8% year on year, though this was down from 8.1% in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, corresponding sales in its domestic stores increased 2.8%, snapping back from a 4.7% decline in the previous three months.
Another Upgrade
Next’s strong performance comes amid a better-than-expected performance for the broader British retail sector.
Latest Office for National Statistics data showed total retail sales increase 1.9% in the three months to September. This was the joint largest quarterly rise since the middle of 2021.
The strong third quarter means Next now expects fourth-quarter full-price sales to rise 3.5% year on year. The firm had previously tipped a 1% increase.
As a consequence, sales for the 12 months to January are predicted to be £40 million better than previously forecast at just above £5 billion. This would represent a 4.9% year on year increase.
Full-year profit before tax is now expected at a shade over £1 billion, up 9.5% year on year. Profit had previously been tipped at £995 million.
This is the third upgrade to profits guidance in as many months.
Good Omen
Analyst Adam Vettese of eToro noted that “there weren’t many people encouraging an abrupt end to the unreliable and often too short British summer but the bosses at Next certainly aren’t complaining.”
He added that “the Next juggernaut rolls on with full price shares growth beating estimates by 50%. If the firm is a barometer of consumer sentiment, then with the all important Christmas season just around the corner retailers could stand to cash in.”