BEST OF THE BROKERS July 19, 2010 ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS Evolution Securities has downgraded Associated British Foods (ABF) from “buy” to “neutral”, as it sees limited upside to 2011 earnings and believes the gross margin pressures at its Primark unit is beginning to build. However, Evolution remains optimistic about the company’s long-term prospects. GREAT EASTERN ENERGY Arden Partners reiterates its “buy” rating [...]
Primark profits rise by 18pc April 20, 2010 PRIMARK profits have rocketed by 18 per cent to £144m in the past six months, owner Associated British Foods (ABF) has said. Revenues rose 19 per cent to £1.26bn, with like-for-like sales – which do not include figures from new stores – going up by eight per cent. The chain, which has 196 European stores, [...]
Primark fuels sales rise at ABF July 8, 2010 PRIMARK owner Associated British Foods said third quarter sales rose 13 per cent and expected very strong growth in annual earnings, driven by its fashion discount retailer. The London-based food and retail group, giving a third quarter trading update for the 16 weeks to June 19, also said group revenue for the year so far, [...]
Primark fuels sales rise at ABF July 8, 2010 PRIMARK owner Associated British Foods said third quarter sales rose 13 per cent and expected very strong growth in annual earnings, driven by its fashion discount retailer. The London-based food and retail group, giving a third quarter trading update for the 16 weeks to June 19, also said group revenue for the year so far, [...]
Primark sales surge thanks to boom in budget fashions January 14, 2010 PRIMARK owner Associated British Foods (ABF) revealed healthy trading figures yesterday – mainly thanks to the budget fashion arm. Primark’s 196-strong chain saw sales rise 19 per cent in the 16 weeks to 2 January, with house broker Panmure Gordon estimating a seven per cent like-for-like sales rise as consumers made their way to its [...]
Primark and recovery boost AB Food outlook April 20, 2010 PRIMARK owner Associated British Foods said the global recovery was underway, prompting it to predict a “very good” rise in annual earnings after beating forecasts with half-year profits up 20 per cent. The London-based food and retail group reported strong momentum in many of its businesses around the world and even Britain showed signs of [...]
Primark fuels sales growth at Associated British Food February 22, 2010 PRIMARK growth has helped to fuel a predicted “substantial rise in profits” at parent company Associated British Food. The London-based group said in a trading update it expected a jump in half-year earnings and a strong full year. Its 196-strong discount chain Primark saw an 8 per cent rise in sales – with stores in [...]
Shareholders should hold tight February 22, 2010 TRADING updates don’t get more bullish than this. Associated British Foods yesterday said that first half profit would be “substantially higher” than last year in all divisions, with the exception of its agriculture business (even this is an anomaly, as grain prices were unusually high in 2009). That growth will continue in the second half, [...]
BEST OF THE BROKERS January 17, 2010 ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS Evolution Securities has upgraded its target price to 950p on its “buy” recommendation of ABF. Despite a recent rally, Evo said the company “still looks compelling value” with earnings forecast at 66p. It said all three of ABF’s largest divisions (Primark, Grocery and Sugar) are firing on all cylinders, and expects further [...]
Market to eye consumer purse while MPC mulls rates September 6, 2009 THIS week will be all about consumers’ purse-strings and just how tightly they are pulled. Results from across the retail and leisure sectors will go some way to answering that question, while the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee’s decision on interest rates and quantitative easing will tell us what the experts think about any [...]