TIDMNXT
RNS Number : 6180Y
Next PLC
03 January 2020
Date: Embargoed until 07.00hrs, Friday 3 January 2020
Contacts: Lord Wolfson, Chief Executive
Amanda James, Group Finance Director (analyst calls)
NEXT PLC Tel: 0333 777 8888
Alistair Mackinnon-Musson Email: next@rowbellpr.com
Rowbell PR Tel: 020 7717 5239
Photographs: http://www.nextplc.co.uk/media/image-gallery/campaign-images
Next plc
Trading Statement - 3 January 2020
SUMMARY
* Q4 full price sales(1) to 28 December up +5.2%, which
was +1.1% ahead of our internal forecast
* Year to date, full price sales up +3.9% on last year
* Full year profit guidance increased by GBP2m to
GBP727m(2) . This would represent an increase of
+0.6% on last year and Earnings Per Share (EPS)
growth of +5.4%
* Looking ahead, initial guidance for the year ending
January 2021 is for full price sales to be up +3.0%,
profit up +1.0%, EPS growth of +3.5%
SALES TO 28 DECEMBER 2019
The table below sets out the full price sales performance by
division for both the Christmas trading period (27 October to 28
December) and the year to date (27 January to 28 December). Full
price sales in the Christmas trading period were +1.1% (GBP9m)
better than our internal forecast. We believe our sales performance
in the period was helped by a much colder November than last year
and improved stock availability in both our Retail stores and
Online.
Full price sales (VAT exclusive) 27 Oct to 28 Dec Year to 28 Dec
================================================== ================= ===============
Retail - 3.9% - 4.6%
Online +15.3% +12.1%
Product full price sales +5.3% +3.6%
================= ===============
Finance interest income +3.4% +7.8%
Total full price sales including interest income +5.2% +3.9%
=================
The chart below shows the year on year full price sales growth
by quarter.
Click or paste the following link into your web browser to view
the chart titled '2019 Full Price Sales Variance by Quarter vs
2018'.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/6180Y_1-2020-1-2.pdf
End-of-Season Sale
Stock in our end-of-season Sale (including the stock we put into
our Black Friday event) was down
-2.9% on last year and Clearance rates to date have been
slightly lower than our expectations.
FULL PRICE SALES AND PROFIT GUIDANCE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR
For the full year we expect full price sales growth of +3.9%,
+0.3% ahead of the guidance given in October. We have increased our
profit guidance for the full year by GBP2m to reflect these
additional sales. Central guidance for EPS is 458.7p, an increase
of +5.4% on the previous year.
Full year estimate to January 2020 New central guidance Previous central guidance
========================================== ===================== ==========================
Total full price sales versus 2018/19 +3.9% +3.6%
Group profit before tax GBP727m GBP725m
Group profit before tax versus 2018/19 +0.6% +0.3%
Earnings Per Share 458.7p 457.9p
Earnings Per Share growth versus 2018/19 +5.4% +5.2%
===================== ==========================
OUTLOOK FOR SALES, PROFIT, CASH FLOW AND EPS IN THE YEAR
AHEAD
Sales and Profit Guidance for the Year Ahead
Our guidance for full price sales growth for the year ahead is
+3.0%. At this level of sales growth, we anticipate Group profit
would be GBP734m, up +1% on the current financial year. This
guidance is based on a 52 week sales period. However, next year
will be a 53 week year to 30 January 2021 and we expect the
additional week of sales to generate approximately GBP13m of
profit.
Cash Flow Guidance for the Year Ahead
Based on the guidance above we anticipate underlying surplus
cash generation of GBP315m. This would be a GBP12m increase on our
latest forecast for the current year. Underlying surplus cash is
defined as cash generated in a 52 week period after deducting
interest, tax (on the same basis as last year), capital expenditure
and ordinary dividends, but before funding 15% of the increase in
our nextpay receivables(3) .
In the year ahead, HMRC are accelerating Corporation Tax
payments so that the full tax charge is paid in the year in which
it is incurred. Previously, half of the tax payment was deferred
until the following year. This change will result in an additional
GBP70m cash outflow to HMRC. This has the effect of (1) reducing
the Company's liability to HMRC by GBP70m and (2) increasing the
Group's financial net debt by GBP70m. Our aim is to reduce this
debt over a period of two years by reducing the distribution of
surplus cash to shareholders by GBP35m in the years ending January
2021 and January 2022.
After taking account of the earlier tax payment and the profit
generated from the 53(rd) week of sales, surplus cash available to
shareholders for distribution during 2020/21 is expected to be
GBP290m.
Cash flow 2019/20 Forecast 2020/21 Guidance
================================================================================ ================= =================
Underlying surplus cash (after interest, tax, capital expenditure and ordinary GBP303m GBP315m
dividends)
Funding 15% of the increase in nextpay receivables - GBP3m - GBP3m
Earlier Corporation Tax payment - GBP35m
53(rd) week +GBP13m
================= =================
Surplus cash GBP300m GBP290m
================= =================
This cash flow assumes Group debt will increase by GBP14m to
fund 85% of the increase in nextpay receivables. The Group's
financial net debt (excluding the timing impact of the earlier
payment of Corporation Tax) is forecast to increase by around +1%
in line with the forecast growth in Group profit.
Surplus Cash and EPS
As usual, our intention is to return surplus cash to
shareholders through share buybacks or special dividends. Our
buyback share price limit will continue to be based on achieving a
minimum 8% Equivalent Rate of Return (ERR) on shares purchased. As
a reminder, ERR is calculated by dividing the anticipated pre-tax
profits by the current market capitalisation of the Group. Based on
our profit guidance for the year to January 2021 of GBP734m and our
current number of shares in issue, our price limit for share
buybacks would be GBP71.76.
We intend to return at least half of our surplus cash (GBP145m)
to shareholders in the first half of the year. If we have not been
able to acquire shares to the value of GBP145m in the first half of
the year we intend to distribute the balance(4) as a special
dividend. We intend to use the same method for determining how we
distribute surplus cash in the second half. As always, our
decisions concerning buybacks or special dividends will be subject
to market conditions and the interests of shareholders
generally.
Our central guidance for sales, profits and EPS in the year
ahead is set out in the table below. The EPS growth assumes that
(1) we will be able to use all surplus cash to buy back shares at
GBP71.76 and that (2) these will be purchased evenly throughout the
year.
Full year estimate to January 2021 (52 week basis) Central guidance
==================================================== =================
Total full price sales versus 2019/20 +3.0%
Group profit before tax GBP734m
Group profit before tax versus 2019/20 +1.0%
Earnings Per Share growth versus 2019/20 +3.5%
=================
We are scheduled to announce our results for the full year
ending January 2020 on Thursday 19 March.
(1) Full price sales include interest income.
(2) This profit estimate is on a pre-IFRS16 basis, consistent
with the prior year.
(3) Our approach to funding nextpay receivables was detailed in
our July 2019 Half Year End Statement, see page 41.
(4) The balance is the difference between GBP145m and the value
of shares purchased.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Trading Update are forward looking
statements. These statements may contain the words "anticipate",
"believe", "intend", "aim", "expects", "will", or words of similar
meaning. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risks,
uncertainties or assumptions that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by
those statements. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward looking statements. Except as required by applicable law or
regulation, NEXT plc disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
update these statements to reflect events occurring after the date
these statements were published.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
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