Underlying retail sales rose 20%, to £1.2bn in the third quarter, ignoring the effect of exchange rates. That includes growth in all regions except Rest of World.
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ASOS plc (LON:ASC) said COVID uncertainty and bad weather meant trading weakened in the last three weeks of the quarter. The group also warned that global supply chain issues, including freight capacity shortages and delivery delays, are set to continue.
However, underlying pre-tax profit expectations for the full year are unchanged.
The shares fell 8.2% following the announcement.
ASOS' Sales Trends Weakened
Sophie Lund-Yates, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown commented:
“Bad weather and ongoing uncertainty mean ASOS' UK sales trends weakened towards the end of June. This is to be expected – if there’s any doubt about when so-called freedom-day is going to happen, its young, core customers will hold off on buying party dresses. Heavy rain means less socialising too. With restrictions set to ease in the coming days, we could see increased demand as people gear up to hit bars and clubs once more.
There is a lot resting on sales regaining some of the lost ground, with the market clearly disappointed in the uncertainty pointed out in ASOS’ trading statement. Next quarter will be crucial because it will give a better indication of the sales pace ASOS can achieve in more normal times. By that point there should be even more clarity on social activity, and a clearer view of the shape of ASOS’ future should come into focus. It’s possible that as customers become busier and not confined to their sofas, they’ll be scrolling the ASOS app less frequently, and therefore purchase less. What these different dynamics will mean for the numbers over the medium term is yet to be seen.
In some respects it looks like normality is already returning among ASOS customers though, with returns rates climbing back to pre-pandemic levels. That’s not the best news, although it’s not unexpected. It will likely mean some dents to operating margins in the near term.”
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