Fourth-quarter sales at JD Sports Fashion Plc slipped further during the Christmas period as a return to growth in North America - the retailer's biggest market - was offset by a weak performance in the UK and Europe amid a volatile consumer environment.
Group like-for-like sales fell 1.8% in the nine weeks to January 3, compared with a 1.7% decline in the previous quarter.
North America, which generates 40% of sales, posted a 1.5% rise, while the UK and Europe fell 5.3% and 3.4% respectively.
JD Sports said it also expected "muted" market growth in fiscal 2027. Current-year profit guidance was maintained, with adjusted pre-tax profit forecast to be £849m according to a company-compiled consensus compared with the £923m reported in 2024/25.
Current-year gross margin is forecast to be 50 basis points lower, driven by price investments, it added.
Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com