Business
INTERIM RESULTS 2025/26
JD Sports Fashion PLC reported interim results for 2025/26, revealing an 18% increase in sales to £5,940 million, or 20% at constant exchange rates, compared to £5,032 million in the prior year. However, the gross margin decreased by 60 bps to 48.0%. Operating profit decreased by 8.2% to £369 million, while profit before tax and adjusting items fell by 13.5% to £351 million. Adjusted basic earnings per share also declined by 10.7% to 4.60p. Operating cash flow net of lease repayments increased by 5% to £546 million. The company declared an interim dividend of 0.33p per share and plans to commence a second £100 million share buyback program. They anticipate full-year profit before tax and adjusting items to align with current market expectations. Disclaimer*
About this update from Jd Sports Fashion Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n\nINTERIM RESULTS 2025/26\nContinued focus on operating & financial discipline\nPERFORMANCE SUMMARY:\n\n\n\n\n£m\n\n\n26 weeks to\n2 Aug 2025\n\n\n26 weeks to\n3 Aug 2024\n\n\n% change (reported)\n\n\n% change (constant*)\n\n\n\n\nSales\n\n\n5,940\n\n\n5,032\n\n\n+18.0%\n\n\n+20.0%\n\n\n\n\nGross margin %*\n\n\n48.0%\n\n\n48.6%\n\n\n(60) bps\n\n\n(60) bps\n\n\n\n\nOperating profit*±\n\n\n369\n\n\n402\n\n\n(8.2)%\n\n\n(6.3)%\n\n\n\n\nOperating margin %*±\n\n\n6.2%\n\n\n8.0%\n\n\n(180) bps\n\n\n(170) bps\n\n\n\n\nProfit before tax and adjusting items*\n\n\n351\n\n\n406\n\n\n(13.5)%\n\n\n(11.8)%\n\n\n\n\nAdjusted basic earnings per share* (p)\n\n\n4.60\n\n\n5.15\n\n\n(10.7)%\n\n\n(8.5)%\n\n\n\n\nOperating cashflow net of lease repayments*\n\n\n546\n\n\n520\n\n\n+5.0%\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nStatutory measures\n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nOperating profit\n\n\n389\n\n\n292\n\n\n+33.2%\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nNet finance expense\n\n\n(88)\n\n\n(45)\n\n\n+95.6%\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nProfit before tax\n\n\n138\n\n\n126\n\n\n+9.5%\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nBasic earnings per share (p)\n\n\n0.80\n\n\n0.42\n\n\n+90.5%\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\nDividend per share (p)\n\n\n0.33\n\n\n0.33\n\n\n-\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n* See page 3 for further details on Alternative Performance Measures; ± Before adjusting items, after interest on lease liabilities.\nRÉGIS SCHULTZ, CEO OF JD SPORTS FASHION PLC:\n\"We delivered organic sales growth of +2.7% in H1, in what remains a tough trading environment. This demonstrates the resilience of our business, underpinned by our agile multi-brand model, broad geographic reach and unmatched connection with customers.\n\"In North America, where we gained market share in the period, the development of our operations is progressing well. We continue to build strong brand awareness of the JD fascia by building out our customer proposition and investing in new stores; and for our complementary fascias we are successfully progressing the integration of Hibbett, while DTLR and Shoe Palace took over the operations of City Gear in June.\n\"Our supply chain investments are poised to unlock significant efficiencies across our global network. Our new European distribution centre in Heerlen, the Netherlands, is set to launch ...