JD Sports' sales fall in Christmas quarter on weak UK, Europe trading

LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - British sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion JD.L on Wednesday reported another fall in underlying sales in the key Christmas trading period, with improved trends in the United States offset by weaker trading in the UK and Europe.

The FTSE 100-listed group, which makes about 40% of its revenue in North America through its JD Sports, Hibbett, DTLR and Shoe Palace stores, said sales on a like-for-like basis fell 1.8% in the nine weeks to January 3, versus a 1.7% fall in the third quarter.

It expects year to end-January 2026 profit before tax and adjusting items to be in line with current market expectations of 849 million pounds ($1.14 billion), down from the 923 million pounds made in 2024/25.

The group also said it currently anticipates a period of "muted market growth" in its 2026/27 year.

Shares in JD have fallen 7% over the last year, reflecting a weak economic backdrop with the group's core, younger and less affluent customer base under pressure, a market driven by discounts and a drop-off in demand for Nike NKE.N products, which make up about 45% of its sales.

($1 = 0.7444 pounds)