Marks & Spencer Group (MKS)

Sector:

Personal Goods

Index:

FTSE 100

375.80p
   
  • Change Today:
    -3.00p
  • 52 Week High: 393.40
  • 52 Week Low: 219.00
  • Currency: UK Pounds
  • Shares Issued: 2,051.03m
  • Volume: 11,259,159
  • Market Cap: £7,708m
  • RiskGrade: 211

Supermarket sales spark as festive shopping gets underway

By Abigail Townsend

Date: Wednesday 16 Oct 2024

LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Supermarket sales sparked in September, industry data showed on Wednesday, as shoppers stocked up on Halloween treats and early Christmas bargains.

According to research company NIQ, total till sales rose 4.7% in the four weeks to 5 October, up on the previous month's 4% rise.

Within that, general merchandise edged ahead 0.2% - the first growth for 12 months - while fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) volume growth was 1.4%.

NIQ said the increase total till sales was "likely due" to shoppers starting to snap up seasonal products, as retailers rolled out Halloween and Christmas ranges.

The generally warm and sunny start to September also helped, with in-store visits jumping 7.6%, well ahead of the 2.5% rise in online shopping occasions.

Mike Watkins, UK head of retailer and business insight at NIQ, said: "Even with higher disposable income for some households, shoppers still need a catalyst to spend.

"Retailers will be looking to the traditional advertising campaigns in a couple of weeks' time to really get shoppers into shopping mode, as a way to boost weekly sales in the final eight weeks of the golden quarter. Shoppers will look to spend more after the half-term holiday [at the end of October]."

Among individual supermarkets, Ocado Group and Marks & Spencer saw the biggest jump in sales in the 12 weeks to 5 October, up 15.9% and 12.4% respectively.

Tesco, the UK's largest grocer by some distance, with a market share of 26.2%, reported a 5.3% improvement in sales. Nearest rival J Sainsbury saw revenues jump 5.5%.

Asda, which has been hit hard by the rapid expansion of discounters Aldi and Lidl, reported a 3.1% decline in sales, the only grocer to see a fall.

Lidl sales surged 11.2%, but Aldi's edged up just 0.7%, as it came up against tough comparatives.

Clive Black, head of consumer research at Shore Capital, said: "While the new government is showing a worrying degree of continuity from the prior useless Conservative regime, and there will be much for grocers to ponder on in the Budget...we like the sales momentum recorded going into the important Christmas period.

"M&S, Sainsbury and Tesco look well set, backed by very strong balance sheets.

"Mix improvements support gross margin while efficiency moves ameliorate the pressures of higher costs. All-in-all, the environment to sustain...onward earnings growth and handsome free cash generation, most of which is going to shareholders, remains sound."

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Note 1: Prices and trades are provided by Digital Look Corporate Solutions and are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Note 2: RiskGrade figures are provided by RiskMetrics.

 

Marks and spencer Market Data

Currency UK Pounds
Share Price 375.80p
Change Today -3.00p
% Change -0.79 %
52 Week High 393.40
52 Week Low 219.00
Volume 11,259,159
Shares Issued 2,051.03m
Market Cap £7,708m
RiskGrade 211

Marks and spencer Star Ratings

Compare performance with the sector and the market.
more star ratings
Key: vs Market vs Sector
Value
67.15% below the market average67.15% below the market average67.15% below the market average67.15% below the market average67.15% below the market average
45.45% below the sector average45.45% below the sector average45.45% below the sector average45.45% below the sector average45.45% below the sector average
Price Trend
96.17% above the market average96.17% above the market average96.17% above the market average96.17% above the market average96.17% above the market average
100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average
Income
51% below the market average51% below the market average51% below the market average51% below the market average51% below the market average
33.33% below the sector average33.33% below the sector average33.33% below the sector average33.33% below the sector average33.33% below the sector average
Growth
48.41% above the market average48.41% above the market average48.41% above the market average48.41% above the market average48.41% above the market average
66.67% above the sector average66.67% above the sector average66.67% above the sector average66.67% above the sector average66.67% above the sector average

What The Brokers Say

Strong Buy 6
Buy 7
Neutral 3
Sell 0
Strong Sell 0
Total 16
buy
Broker recommendations should not be taken as investment advice, and are provided by the authorised brokers listed on this page.

Marks and spencer Dividends

  Latest Previous
  Final Interim
Ex-Div 30-May-24 16-Nov-23
Paid 05-Jul-24 12-Jan-24
Amount 2.00p 1.00p

Trades for 31-Oct-2024

Time Volume / Share Price
17:33 319,793 @ 373.34p
17:33 1,623,592 @ 373.34p
17:33 44,971 @ 373.34p
17:33 1,298,053 @ 373.34p
16:37 446,529 @ 375.34p

Marks and spencer Key Personnel

Chair Archie Norman
CEO Stuart Machin

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