Bernstein Research expects Tesco to report first quarter like-for-like sales up 5 per cent (excluding petrol) tomorrow, while Sainsbury's is forecast to post like-for-likes up 5.7 per cent on Wednesday.
However, Bernstein Research analyst Christopher Hogbin expects Sainsbury's first-quarter results to be overshadowed by Delta Two increasing its stake in the UK's third largest supermarket to 25 per cent last week. If Delta Two, the investment vehicle of the Qatar royal family, takes its stake beyond 29.9 per cent it will have to mount a full takeover bid.
On Tesco, Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said: 'It is noteworthy that Tesco is no longer extending its market share at quite the rate it was over the past five years. Consequently, Tesco's competitors have regrouped and refocused attention so there is no longer the soft underbelly of share for the company to go for; it is having to fight harder to gain and retain custom.'
Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank forecasts that DSGi's pre-tax underlying profits will fall 7 per cent to£294 million, compared with£318 million last year, in full-year results on Wednesday.
Deutsche Bank analyst Rod Whitehead said: 'The UK housing market is slowing, which will soon undermine white goods sales and DSGi will not be able to reassure investors about how long the current TV and laptops boom will last.'
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