Debenhams warns again on outlook

LONDON: British department store group Debenhams lowered its full year outlook for the second time in four months and cut its dividend as it reported a 52% slump in firsthalf profit, further hammering its already battered shares.

The stock fell as much as 13% in early trading yesterday, taking its year-on-year plunge to 62%.

The 240-year old Debenhams, which issued a profit warning in January, also said Matt Smith, its chief financial officer, was quitting the retailer to take up the same role at rival Selfridges.

The group is one year into a turnaround plan led by chief executive Sergio Bucher, a former Amazon and Inditex executive.

His programme involves closing some stores and revamping the rest, cutting promotions and improving online service, while seeking efficiencies by simplifying the business.

However, progress has been hampered by changing shopping habits, a squeeze on UK consumers’ budgets, a shift in spending away from fashion towards holidays and entertainment, as well as intense online competition.

“The market has remained very volatile and competitive with consumer confidence and the clothing market continuing to fall,” Bucher told reporters.

“The retail market is changing but this is happening faster than we or anybody expected and therefore we need to accelerate our pace of change,” he said.

Debenhams is not alone in finding going tough.

Already this year Toys R Us UK, electricals group Maplin and drinks wholesaler Conviviality have plunged into administration, while fashion retailer New Look and floor coverings firm Carpetright are closing stores.

Rival department store group House of Fraser said it was seeking rent reductions while market leader John Lewis cautioned on the outlook.

Debenhams made an underlying pretax profit of £42.2mil in the 26 weeks to March the 3 – below analysts’ average forecast of £44mil and the £87.8mil made in the first half of its 2016-17 year.

Revenue fell 1.6% to £1.65bil, hurt by subdued Christmas trading and early March snow storms that shut stores.

The interim dividend was cut by 51% to 0.5 pence.

Debenhams said that based on its current view of the second half, pretax profit for the full 2017-18 year was expected to be at the lower end of the current range of analysts’ forecasts of £50mil-£61mil.

It was previously guiding to £55mil£65mil and made £95.2mil in 2016-17.

Debenhams shares were down 2.1 pence at 21.2 pence at 0732 GMT, valuing the business at £262mil – some 20 times less than ASOS, the 18-year-old online fashion retailer.

“Debenhams is investing just to stand still and is acutely exposed to the ongoing structural challenges in the market,” said analysts at Liberum, who reiterated their “sell” recommendation. — Reuters