Here’s our regular look at the FTSE 350 & other companies reporting from 1 to 5 November
- BP is it on track to deliver on promise of shareholder returns
- Standard Chartered could be held back by market trends in Asia
- Next is expecting to deliver some crowd pleasing results
- Sainsbury faces challenging comparisons from last year, as margins remain in focus
BP, Q3 Trading Statement, Tuesday 2 November
Laura Hoy, Equity Analyst“The sustained rise in oil prices should pad BP’s LON:BP.results, and offset some of the production declines as the group continues to pivot away from its legacy business to pursue green energy options. Step one in the plan is strengthening the balance sheet and paying down debt, an area the group’s made progress in so far this year. We’d like to see that trend continue into the third quarter. At last check, net debt was $42.7bn, down from $43.3bn in the previous quarter. The dividend is another area of focus. Management’s pledged to offer a fixed 5.25 cents per share as a quarterly dividend. The group also used excess cash generated by disposals in the first half to fund a $1.4bn buyback programme. As long as oil prices remain above $60 per barrel, BP intends to offer investors a 4% annual dividend hike and $1bn in buybacks each quarter. Based on the current environment, we expect the group to be on track to deliver but remember all dividends are variable and not guaranteed.”
Standard Chartered, Q3 Trading Statement, Tuesday 2 November
Sophie Lund-Yates, Equity Analyst
“We expect Standard Chartered’s LON:STAN results to follow a similar pattern to its peers. Both Barclays and HSBC have seen pre-tax profits improve greatly, as they’ve been able to release provisions put aside during the pandemic, when uncertainty raised question marks about people’s ability to pay their debts. We also expect Standard’s diverse business model to have continued to offer some shelter in the low interest rate environment. Low rates mean banks’ loans aren’t as profitable, which shines the light on the group’s wealth management and investment banking businesses instead. However, Standard Chartered is more exposed to Asian markets than its Western rivals. Around 83% of quarterly profits come from Asia in fact. HSBC’s recent results showed that Asian markets aren’t faring as well as western areas, which could be a negative sign for Standard’s Q3 income.”
Next, Q3 Trading Statement, Wednesday 3 November
Steve Clayton, Manager of the HL Select Funds
“Next LON:NXT release a Q3 trading update on 3 Nov and expectations are high; will the group be able to deliver enough to please the crowd? The group have repeatedly reported better than predicted sales in recent quarters. Next benefited from being one of the stronger players online and picked up market share when the High Street shut down. Now, the playing field is more level, but so far, Next’s digital strengths have kept it ahead of the pack.”
Sainsbury, Half Year Results, Thursday 4 November 2021
Matt Britzman, Equity Analyst
“Sainsbury’s LON:SBRY finds itself in a tricky spot with pricing. Inflation is pushing prices up, but the group is trying to keep them down in line with the pledge to improve its value position. That all puts added pressure on margins that are already a little stretched.Online sales continued to improve in the last quarter. It’s important this trend continues. If it doesn’t, the extra costs associated with adding online capacity add up to another drag on margins.
Owning Argos, the group is more exposed to shifts in discretionary spending than its rivals. Last year was a bumper one for general merchandise sales, giving some tough comparable numbers. Sales were ahead of expectations in the first quarter, albeit down year-on-year, but supply challenges are likely to remain a challenge.”
FTSE 100, FTSE 250 and selected other companies scheduled to report
| 01-Nov | |
| Ryanair | Half Year Results |
| 02-Nov | |
| Activision Blizzard | Q3 Trading Statement |
| BP | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Flutter Entertainment | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Hiscox | Q3 Trading Statement |
| IWG | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Standard Chartered | Q3 Trading Statement |
| 03-Nov | |
| Coca Cola HBC | Q3 Trading Statement |
| CLS Holdings | Q1 Trading Statement |
| Morgan Sindall | Trading Update |
| Next* | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Novo Nordisk | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Smurfit Kappa Group | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Trainline | Half Year Results |
| 04-Nov | |
| Apax Global | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Aston Martin | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Barrick Gold | Q3 Trading Statement |
| BT Group | Half Year Results |
| Derwent London | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Deutsche Post | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Electrocomponents | Half Year Results |
| Hikma Pharmaceuticals | Trading Update |
| Howden Joinery Group | Q3 Trading Statement |
| IMI PLC | Trading Update |
| Sainsbury | Half Year Results |
| Lancashire Holdings | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Smith & Nephew | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Tate & Lyle | Half Year Results |
| TI Fluid Systems | Q3 Trading Statement |
| Wizz Air | Half Year Results |
| 05-Nov | |
| Beazley | Q3 Trading Statement |
| International Consolidated Airlines Group | Q3 Trading Statement |
This article is brought to you in association with Hargreaves Lansdown. All opinions expressed in this article are from the analysts and do not necessarily represent the opinions of The Armchair Trader.
