Next hikes targets as heatwave boosts sales
Next has upgraded its profit targets for the year after breezing past second quarter expectations, putting its shareholders in line for a bumper payday.
The FTSE 100 retail giant hiked its pre-tax profit expectations for 2026 to £1.24bn, around £25m higher than previously estimates. If achieved the figure would mark 7.3 per cent growth on the previous year.
The group’s total sales target, including markdowns and investments, was also upgraded to £7.5bn from £7.3bn.
It follows sales coming £70m ahead of forecast, which it said was in part down to a boost from the warm weather and the “release of some pent-up demand” in the Middle East and Northern Europe after a weak first quarter.
Total UK sales were up 2.8 per cent in the second quarter, whilst international purchases rocketed just shy of 37 per cent.
The high street stalwart added it was able to spend “much more” on profitable marketing than anticipated.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: “In an ever-changing world, upgrades to Next’s profit forecast is much-needed certainty.”
He added: “Next continues to be one of the UK stock markets most impressive and consistent performers.”
Next promises investor payout
Next raised its target for returning cash to investors, with plans to buy back £524m worth of its own shares this year, around £14 million more than previously expected.
So far this year, the retail giant has spent £355m buying back stock at an average price of £127.69 per share, shrinking its overall pool of shares by 2.3 per cent.
This leaves Next with £169m in extra cash that it plans to return to shareholders over the remainder of the financial year. The company said it would only keep buying back shares with strict share price limit of £135.
If the stock price rises above £135, the firm plans instead to hand the remaining £169m directly to investors through a one-off special cash dividend.
Next shares have risen over nine per cent for the year-to-date to just over £148. The stock saw some recovery over the last month after consumer sentiment began to recover following the conflict in the Middle East.