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M&S Profit Rebounds From Cyberattack but Clothing a Drag
Adjusted pre-tax profits rose to £403.2 million as food sales climbed 13.9%, though M&S warned of higher costs and cyberattack disruption.
On Wednesday, Marks & Spencer reported adjusted pre-tax profits more than doubled to £403.2 million for the 26 weeks ending September 26, with sales rising 16.2% to £9.26 billion.
The results mark a recovery following last year's cyberattack, which disrupted logistics; chief executive Stuart Machin noted the food business performs "ahead" of plan while the fashion, home and beauty division faces a "long-tail impact."
Food sales jumped 13.9% year-on-year, bolstered by an 11.9% rise in volume sales, while the division now accounts for 56% of group revenues and the fashion, home and beauty segment saw sales increase 17.5%.
Despite growth, M&S absorbed around £35 million in costs from packaging taxes and pay increases and warned it faces an "onslaught of cost headwinds" as market conditions in fashion, home and beauty "remain challenging."
Investment platform Freetrade analyst Duncan Ferris noted M&S remains 2.4% shy of pre-cyberattack adjusted profitability, though the group expects full-year adjusted profit before tax to align with current market expectations.