Agenda: Primark, JD Sports, Debenhams and Bonmarché

JD Sports

The sportswear retailer will report its final results on Tuesday, April 17. JD Sports upped its profit guidance following a strong Christmas trading performance and is due to report another market-beating full year. In recent years JD has been in acquisition mode, netting Go Outdoors, South Korean chain Hot-T and, most recently, US brand Finish Line, which boss Peter Cowgill termed “transformational” for the retailer.

Associated British Foods

The Primark owner will post its interim results on Tuesday. Associated British Foods’ retail arm has historically been one of the only bricks-and-mortar fashion retailers to defy the troubled high street, but it has already warned that like-for-like sales have been hampered by “unseasonably warm weather in October”.

Debenhams

The department store will report its interim results on Thursday, April 19. Debenhams, which issued a profit warning after a poor Christmas, has axed 320 store management roles in recent months, and has entered partnerships with Swoon and Maisons du Monde. This update should give the market a sense of how much progression has been made in the 18 months since the arrival of chief executive Sergio Bucher. 

Bonmarché

The mature fashion retailer will post a fourth-quarter trading update on Friday, April 20. Bonmarché, which had previously reported a bright spell under new boss Helen Connolly’s turnaround plan, posted plunging sales during its golden quarter, with the festive period dragging down its half-year performance. Investors will be keen to see whether there has been any notable improvement.