The Marks and Spencer Group Plc (LON: MKS) share price rose 9.67% after releasing a trading update for the first 19 weeks of its financial year and an upbeat outlook for the entire year. The retailer noted that it had witnessed continued market share growth in both the Clothing & Home and Food businesses.
YOUR CAPITAL IS AT RISK. 76% OF RETAIL CFD ACCOUNTS LOSE MONEY.
The leading British multinational retailer also revealed that it was progressing well on the programme to reshape M&S. Its like-for-like food sales grew over 11% as it made further investments in quality and trusted value, sharpening prices on over 80 ‘Remarkable Value' lines.
Top Broker Recommendation
- eToro Top stock trading platform with 0% commission – Read our Review
- Admiral Markets More than 4500 stocks & ETFs available – Read our Review
- BlackBull 26,000+ Shares, Options, ETFs, Bonds, and other underlying assets – Read our Review
- IG Top-tier regulation – Read our Review
- XTB UK regulated by the FCA – Read our Review
YOUR CAPITAL IS AT RISK. 76% OF RETAIL CFD ACCOUNTS LOSE MONEY
The retailer’s like-for-like Clothing & Home sales expanded by over 6%, with robust growth in store sales and more subdued growth in online sales. Sell-through rates have been robust, and the stock into sale was much lower than planned.
The group maintained robust operating margins driven by strong store performance and enhanced by the firm’s store rotation and renewal programme. There remain considerable uncertainties about the economic outlook, and there is a risk that the consumer market will tighten as the year progresses.
Still, the company now expects its full-year results to show profit growth compared to last year, as the interim results show a significant improvement compared to previous expectations. The company plans to release the interim results for the 26 weeks ending 30 September on 8 November 2023.
The rally in Marks and Spencer shares shows that investors were pleased with the retailer’s interim result despite the lack of some details that could have helped paint a clearer picture of the retailer’s performance.
As a leading British retailer, Marks and Spencer’s performance could mirror the state of the UK retail industry, which remains robust, as evidenced by MKS’s positive performance outlined above.
Investors looking to back UK retailers may find that MKS shares are at the top of their list, given the brand’s resilience. However, the company faces uncertainty due to the record-high UK inflation and Bank of England rate hikes.Â
Marks and Spencer (MKS) share price.
The Marks and Spencer (MKS) share price rose 9.67% to trade at 224.60p, from Monday’s closing price of 204.80p.
YOUR CAPITAL IS AT RISK. 76% OF RETAIL CFD ACCOUNTS LOSE MONEY.