Look ahead to FTSE 350 & other companies reporting from 5 to 9 July
Q1 2021 hedge fund letters, conferences and more
- J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY) will reveal if shoppers are filling up fewer online shopping baskets
- Ocado Group PLC (LON:OCDO)'s international partners have launched their first CFCs
- Persimmon plc (LON:PSN) will reveal whether it’s managed to up its build rates to meet strong post-pandemic demand
Sainsbury, Q1 Trading Statement, Tuesday 6 July
Susannah Streeter, Senior Investment and Markets Analyst
"J Sainsbury rose to the challenge of helping feed the nation during lockdowns, but the costs of operating through the crisis seriously dented its bottom line. Retail sales, excluding fuel rose by 7.3% but underlying profits were down by 39%. We should find out if a revival of fortunes has materialised in the upcoming trading update. Underlying profits are forecast to grow, and the grocer says it’s comfortable with consensus expectations of £620m. The company has flagged high customer approval ratings for an in-store experience which should also bode well given that more shoppers have been venturing out once more, which may have helped the grocer retain new customers. Another bright spot for J Sainsbury has been its ability to capitalise on the accelerated shift to digital with online grocery sales doubling during the year to hit £12.1 billion. However, with the economy opening back up, the nation’s drift back to dining out, might eat into its revenues. ONS figures showed that there was a 5.7% fall in retail food sales in May, and as shoppers fill up fewer baskets, there is likely to be further competition on price, which could affect margins going forward.”
Ocado, Interim Results, Tuesday 6 July
Nicholas Hyett, Equity Analyst
“With Ocado now lapping the start of the pandemic, management have warned that “rates of sales and EBITDA [cash profits] growth in future quarters will reflect annualisation against periods of Covid-19 related lockdown experienced in FY20”. In other words, growth is expected to be slower at this set of results. Having said that, the recently opened Bristol Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC), should provide a platform for year-on-year growth. CFCs launched for international customers in the solutions business are now up and running, with US partner Kroger opening its first CFC during the last quarter. Given the importance of International Solutions contracts to the group’s long-term profitability, performance here is far more important than a lacklustre quarter in UK retail.”
Persimmon, Trading Statement, Thursday 8 July
Steve Clayton, Manager of the HL Select Funds
“Recent news that Persimmon were providing redress to owners who had suffered from historic pricing of land rents grabbed headlines but won’t have much impact on the future of the Group. The housing market is marching higher and so far, price growth looks set to comfortably outpace cost inflation. So, Persimmon should be putting a pretty strong report in front of investors when they update the market at the half-way stage. It could get harder from here though – stamp duty cuts will finally wash out and there are signs of product shortages impacting the industry.”
FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and selected other companies scheduled to report next week
05-Jul
No FTSE 350 Reporters
06-Jul
| J Sainsbury* | Q1 Trading Statement |
| Ocado Group* | Interim Results |
07-Jul
| Ferrexpo | Q2 Production Volume |
| Vistry* | Trading Update |
08-Jul
| Grafton Group | Trading Update |
| Electrocomponents | Q1 Trading Statement |
| Persimmon* | Trading Update |
| PZ Cussons | Trading Update |
| Watches of Switzerland Group | Full Year Results |
09-Jul
| Victrex | Q3 Trading Statement |
*Events on which we will be writing research
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