Next (LON:NXT)1H17 Results: Very Weak Retail Sales and Further Profit Decline

Executive Summary

• British fashion retailer Next reported £1,888 million in group revenues in 1H17, down 2.7% year over year and above the consensus estimate. Retail store sales declined 8.3% year over year, reflecting significant sales erosion.
• Operating profit margin in 1H17 contracted by 140 basis points to 17.2% year over year. Diluted EPS for 1H17 was 177 pence, down 5.7% year over year and above the consensus estimate of 165 pence.
• For FY17, the company expects total full-price sales growth to be between (2.0)% and +1.5%. Next looks for FY17 profit before tax (PBT) in the range of £687–£747 million, for year-over-year growth to fall to between (13.1)% and (5.5)%. FY17 EPS growth is expected to decline to between (10.9)% and (3.1)%.