Primark profits surge as AB Foods reports strong growth November 5, 2013 Associated British Foods (ABF) has reported adjusted profit before tax of over £1bn, up 13 per cent for the financial year to 14 September. Primark, the retail arm of the group, had a particularly strong year, increasing profit by 44 per cent and added 10 per cent to its estate. (Release) Primark's total sales rose [...]
M&S sales continue to fall as Bolland has to hope for tenth time lucky November 5, 2013 Marks and Spencer has said this morning that its transformation is on track, although profits were 8.9 per cent lower at £261.1m during the six months to the end of September – the company's ninth reported loss. (Release) Analysts had predicted a 12 per cent decline in profits for the first half of the year, [...]
Primark and Loblaw pay out to factory victims in Bangladesh October 24, 2013 BRITISH clothes retailer Primark and Canadian grocer Loblaw laid out plans yesterday to pay more compensation for the collapse of a Bangladeshi factory that killed almost 1,130 people, as protesters demanded that other brands follow suit. The disaster on 24 April has galvanised most of the clothing industry’s big names to try to improve safety [...]
Best of the Brokers for 15 October 2013 October 14, 2013 To appear in Best of the Brokers, email your research to notes@cityam.com TRAVIS PERKINS Bank of America Merrill Lynch raised its target price from 1460p to 1900p and changed its rating from “underperform” to “buy” in a double upgrade that sent shares up nearly five per cent yesterday. The broker believes the builders’ merchant is [...]
Best of the brokers for 19 September 2013 September 18, 2013 ASSOCIATED BRITISH FOODS Morgan Stanley has started covering the food-to-sugar conglomerate with an “overweight” rating and a target of 2,140p. The broker reckons ABF is one of the strongest growth firms in the European staple stocks, driven by Primark’s enormous sales increases. LEGAL & GENERAL Canaccord Genuity keeps its “hold” recommendation and raises its target [...]
Primark growth boosts AB Food full-year profits September 9, 2013 ASSOCIATED British Foods (ABF) said yesterday it expects to post forecast- beating profits for the second half of the year as sales at the discount clothing chain Primark continue to surge. Full-year sales at Primark, which accounts for about a third of the group’s profit, are expected to be 22 per cent ahead of last [...]
Analyst Views: How has AB Foods’ update impacted your outlook for the year? September 9, 2013 MARTIN DEBOO | INVESTEC“This year is set to beat expectations on a strong finish from Primark…But in the other major profit centre of sugars the outlook in 2014 and beyond is downbeat, with EU sugar prices falling fast and further pricing pressures elsewhere …We expect to be upgrading our 2013 numbers a tad but downgrading [...]
Primark expects higher profits on stronger sales and store openings September 9, 2013 Associated British Foods has announced that "operating profit for the second half will be ahead of expectations" as results are boosted by a strong performance from fashion retailer Primark. Sales at Primark for 2013 are now expected to be 22 per cent higher than the last at actual exchange rates. Here's what they put the [...]
It’s time we ended the pretence that planning rules come without a price September 6, 2013 MOST agree that the UK housing market has long been stuck in an affordability crisis. Despite a fall in prices since 2007, Nationwide recently calculated that the typical house now costs 5.1 times average earnings, up from 3.9 a quarter of a century ago. In London, the ratio has risen from 5.7 to 7.7. And [...]
Kennedy Wilson and Varde buy UK shopping centres for £250m September 5, 2013 US PROPERTY investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson and debt specialist Varde Partners yesterday agreed to buy a portfolio of eight UK shopping centres out of administration for $388m (£250m). Kennedy Wilson did not disclose which shopping malls they had acquired but said they were spread across England and Scotland and spanned a total of [...]