Agenda: Morrisons, Next and Superdry update the market

Morrisons

The grocer will report its first-quarter results on Thursday, May 10. Morrisons is expected to report positive results, having recorded growing like-for-likes and profits over its past year, making the period its third consecutive year of growth.

Pre-tax profits rose 16.9% to £380m while like-for-like sales climbed 2.8%. Morrisons is now the only member of the big four not to have secured a major merger, following Tesco’s acquisition of Booker and the proposed merger of Sainsbury’s and Asda.

Observers are now questioning whether Amazon may fight back by purchasing Morrisons.

Next

The fashion retailer will report its first-quarter trading update on Wednesday. Next unveiled a slide in profits and sales at its full-year results, with boss Lord Wolfson calling it the most challenging year in a quarter of a century.

Pre-tax profits fell 8.1% on total sales down 0.5%. Wolfson outlined a new strategy – his most drastic shift in recent years – looking at Next’s store portfolio, in-store experience, generation of alternative revenue streams and an online overhaul.

Superdry

The fashion retailer will report its fourth-quarter results on Thursday. Superdry’s co-founder, Julian Dunkerton, exited last month.

The retailer revealed bumper Christmas sales and a jump in half-year profits as its “disruptive” multichannel approach starts to pay off. Group sales surged 12.6% while like-for-likes rose 4.7%.