The JD Sports Fashion plc Board is proposing to increase the total dividend per share for the period to 1.00p (2024: 0.90p). This results in a recommended final dividend per share of 0.67p, reflecting a one-third/two-thirds split between the interim and the final dividend, keeping the payment split in line with the phasing of profit generated in the period.
Other financial highlights include:
Organic sales growth of 5.8% and like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of 0.3%
Constant currency revenue growth of 12.0% to £11,458m
Gross margin of 47.8%, down slightly on the prior period reflecting the acquisitions of lower margin Hibbett and Courir
Constant currency Operating profit before adjusting items after interest on lease liabilities up 0.8%
Profit before tax and adjusting items of £923m, down 4.0%, due largely to the continued investment in infrastructure, controls and security
Profit before tax of £715m, down 11.8% due partly to an increase of £53m in adjusting items
Adjusted basic earnings per share down 3.3% to 12.39p
Basic earnings per share down 9.1% to 9.50p
Operating cashflow net of lease repayments of £1,245m driving net cash before lease liabilities of £52m
Q126 trading in line with expectations
