Source: Sharecast
JD Sports was the standout gainer for the second day in a row after well-received results on Wednesday.
The retailer said FY26 pre-tax profits were set to meet current market expectations despite a drop in group sales in the six months ended 2 August. It also announced a new £100m share buyback.
Berenberg lifted its price target on the stock after the results to 155p from 128p and maintained its ‘buy’ rating.
It said the Q2 trading update was in line with consensus expectations. The 3% fall in LFL sales reflected the relatively tough prior year comparative of +2.4%, due to the UEFA Euro football competition and Paris Olympics, which both took place in summer 2024, it said.
"We maintain our buy rating, as we believe that the 8.5x P/E valuation (January 2026E) fails to reflect the company’s potential for moderate growth, margin recovery and strong free cash flow," Berenberg said.
On the downside, Aviva, LondonMetric and Auto Trader all lost ground as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.