British sportswear retailer JD Sports said trading conditions remained challenging after its like-for-like sales dropped in January, resulting in fourth-quarter growth of just 0.1 percent.
The retailer, which sells Nike, Adidas and other sports fashion ranges, said its pretax profit for the year to Feb. 4 would meet guidance it downgraded in January, in the range £915-935 million.
Chief executive Regis Schultz said in a statement on Thursday that the current trading environment “remained challenging due to less product innovation and elevated promotional activity, especially online.”
Like-for-like sales in Britain and Ireland fell 3.2 percent in the fourth quarter, a drop it blamed on a higher proportion of clothing sales in its mix than in other regions and a decision not to discount as much as some online rivals.
It said clothing sales were weaker than footwear.
Nike, one of JD Sport’s biggest brands, warned last week of lower sales in its first half as it battles newer brands.
JD Sports said trading since its year-end had been in line with its expectations, and its initial guidance for pretax profit for the year ahead was between £900 million and £980 million.
Shares in the group have fallen 30 percent in the year to date.
By Yadarisa Shabong and Paul Sandle; Editors: Rashmi Aich and Sarah Young
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JD Sports Issues Profit Warning and Blames Weather for Weak Sales
The British sportswear retailer now sees pretax profit for the full year between £915 million ($1.16 billion) and £935 million, down from £1.04 billion previously.
