Earnings look ahead – Next, Morrisons, JD Wetherspoon

A look at company earnings next week.

Chris Beauchamp ChrisB_IG
Chief Market Analyst, London

Publication date : 2017-09-08T16:46:16+0100

Source: Bloomberg

Next (first-half earnings 14 September)

Next has gone from growth star to potential value play. Repeated profit warnings underscore just how far this darling has fallen. However, cash return is expected to improve, with £275 million of payouts in four special dividends, while the Next Directory has shown resilience in otherwise difficult times. At just 10.9 times forward earnings versus 17.9 for comparable firms, the shares look to have plenty of bad news priced in. First-half results are expected to see earnings of 1.62p per share, down 13% year-on-year, while revenue is forecast to remain relatively flat at £1.9 billion.

Next shares broke the downtrend from the all-time high in early August, pushing back to £45. This crucial area of resistance is still unbroken however, which suggests weakness towards £40 and then £35.

Next chart

Morrisons (first-half earnings 14 September)

Long regarded as the poor relation of UK listed supermarkets, Morrisons decision to sell through Amazon proved wise, and notparticularly capital intensive. Recreating the Safeway brand also provides the firm with a way of tapping into the convenience store market, something that has been closed to Morrisons in recent years. However, a forward PE of 20.6 and a lower dividend yield than for sector peers (2.2% versus 3.7%) reduces the attraction somewhat. Earnings are expected to be 0.05p per share, up 14% year-on-year, while revenue is expected to be £8.3 billion, up 4.6%.

The rally from the 2015 lows has run out of steam around 250p, but it has yet to break to the downside. Above 250p, the price will then look to the 2012/2013 peaks around 300p. A drop below 230p would represent a trend-break, with the possibility of longer-term declines.

Morrisons chart

JD Wetherspoon (full-year earnings 15 September)

A recent warning from Greene King has put all pub shares, including Wetherspoon's, under the microscope, with worries that the consumer slowdown is gathering pace. Investors will be watching for signs of weakness, which could see the shares suffer if they miss forecasts. Earnings are expected to rise 29% to 0.62p per share, while revenue edges 2.2% higher to £1.6 billion. Weatherspoon’s has beaten forecasts for eight of the last reporting periods, so a disappointment could sully the steady rally over the past two years.

Shares in JD Wetherspoon have climbed steadily over the past 18 months, but the latest dip does raise the prospect of a turnaround. However, for now it looks like a dip in the trend that may well be followed by further buying, with an aiming of moving back to the 2017 high of £11. A break of 960p would mark a bearish development.

Earnings look ahead – Next, Morrisons, JD Wetherspoon

Next (first-half earnings 14 September)

Next chart

Morrisons (first-half earnings 14 September)

Morrisons chart

JD Wetherspoon (full-year earnings 15 September)

Wetherspoon chart

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