Moss Bros (MOSB) is starting to make a habit of issuing excellent financial results. A 9.7 per cent increase in like-for-like first-half sales, bolstered by a 59 per cent rise in the e-commerce division, fed through to an improved bottom line. This strong trading has been largely driven by investment. A programme of store re-fits has seen about 60 per cent of the group's 125 stores modernised, while better data systems are helping to identify the best customers online and in-store.
The challenge Moss Bros now faces is how to balance solid brand momentum with bold expansion plans abroad. International sales to the US, Australia and four European nations now account for 3.1 per cent of online retail transactions. And the group is looking to establish the brand in the Middle East through a two-store pilot set to launch later this year.
Looking to 2016, finance director Robin Piggott - who will step down in May - said the introduction of the Living Wage will have little effect on overheads, although the group expects a bigger impact from 2020, when all staff must be paid at least £9 per hour.
Broker Peel Hunt is forecasting adjusted pre-tax profit of £5.7m and EPS of 4.4p for the 12 months to January, up from £4.6m and 3.6p last year.
MOSS BROS (MOSB) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORD PRICE: | 97p | MARKET VALUE: | £97.8m | |
| TOUCH: | 96-99p | 12-MONTH HIGH: | 112p | LOW: 78p |
| DIVIDEND YIELD: | 5.5% | PE RATIO: | 21 | |
| NET ASSET VALUE: | 35p | NET CASH: | £19m | |
| Half-year to 1 Aug | Turnover (£m) | Pre-tax profit (£m) | Earnings per share (p) | Dividend per share (p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014* | 55.8 | 2.0 | 1.51 | 1.7 |
| 2015 | 61.3 | 2.8 | 2.19 | 1.8 |
| % change | +10 | +44 | +45 | +6 |
Ex-div: 29 Oct Payment: 27 Nov *Half year to 26 July | ||||
