Sainbury issued a promising trading statement last week but why no mention of margins? It's not alone with all the other multiples reluctant to cover margins in their quarterly updates. Good see that Marks gives them a mention.
Commentary at www.investorschampion.com

could see this fly monday

More likely to see a pig fly..

Market booming sbry not so much... This will be flat for the next three weeks in my eyes.. Just hold for now!

Financial Summary

Total sales (including VAT) up 3.7 per cent to 11,158 million (2008/09: 10,756 million)

Total sales growth excluding fuel (including VAT) up 7.9 per cent

Like-for-like sales growth(1) excluding fuel (including VAT) of 5.7 per cent

Underlying profit before tax(3) up 18.5 per cent at 307 million (2008/09: 259 million(2))

Underlying basic earnings per share(4) up 18.6 per cent to 12.1 pence (2008/09: 10.2 pence(2))

Profit before tax of 342 million (2008/09: 258 million), up 32.6 per cent

Basic earnings per share of 14.0 pence (2008/09: 9.8 pence), up 42.9 per cent

Interim dividend of 4.0 pence, up 11.1 per cent (2008/09: 3.6 pence)

Sainsbury claims that it is continuing to grow market share with 18.5 million customers each week...it is tipped on uk analyst website
http://uk-analyst.com/shop/page-article/action-article.show/id-130001717

Final results.

Preliminary Results for the 52 weeks to 20 March 2010

Good sales and profit performance: accelerating our growth strategy

Financial Summary

Total sales (inc VAT, inc fuel) up 5.1 per cent to 21,421 million (2008/09: 20,383 million)

Total sales (inc VAT, ex fuel) up 6.7 per cent

Like-for-like sales (inc VAT, ex fuel) up 4.3 per cent(1)

Underlying operating profit up 8.9 per cent to 671 million (2008/09: 616 million)

Underlying profit before tax(2) up 17.5 per cent to 610 million (2008/09: 519 million)(3)

Underlying basic earnings per share(4) up 12.7 per cent to 23.9 pence (2008/09: 21.2 pence)(3)

Proposed full year dividend of 14.2 pence (2008/09: 13.2 pence), up 7.6 per cent

Trading Statement.

Second Quarter Trading Statement for 16 weeks to 2 October 2010


Continued market outperformance; growth plans progressing well


Total sales for second quarter up 6.6 per cent (5.2 per cent excluding fuel)(1)

Like-for-like sales for second quarter up 4.3 per cent (2.9 per cent excluding fuel)(1)

Total sales for first half up 7.0 per cent (4.8 per cent excluding fuel)(1)

Like-for-like sales for first half up 4.4 per cent (2.0 per cent excluding fuel) (1)

Opened our largest stores in England, Scotland and Wales in last 10 days of quarter (6)

Justin King, Chief Executive, said, "We've delivered another strong performance and grown market share(2). Excluding fuel, total sales were up 5.2 per cent, with like-for-like sales up 2.9 per cent and up 7.6 per cent on a two-year basis(3). New space has continued to perform ahead of our expectations delivering a further 2.3 per cent contribution to sales growth (excluding fuel). Fuel price inflation has continued to act as a pressure on household budgets with total sales including fuel up 6.6 per cent.

Interim Results.

Outperforming the market; with strong growth plans



Financial summary

Total sales (inc VAT) up 7.0 per cent to 11,944 million (2009/10: 11,158 million)

Total sales (inc VAT, ex fuel) up 4.8 per cent

Like-for-like sales (inc VAT, ex fuel) up 2.0 per cent

Underlying operating profit up 8.2 per cent to 370 million (2009/10: 342 million)

Underlying profit before tax up 8.1 per cent to 332 million (2009/10: 307 million)(1)

Profit before tax up 36.3 per cent to 466 million (2009/10: 342 million)

Underlying basic earnings per share up 8.3 per cent to 13.1 pence (2009/10: 12.1 pence)(2)

Basic earnings per share up 33.6 per cent to 18.7 pence (2009/10: 14.0 pence)

Interim dividend of 4.3 pence (2009/10: 4.0 pence), up 7.5 per cent(3)



Operating highlights

Strong growth, outperforming the market with increased market share(4)

Over 2,000 new jobs created in the first half through store investment

Weekly transactions now over 20 million, up one million on last year

Hat-trick of awards at 2010 Retail Industry Awards: Community Retailer of the Year, Convenience Retailer of the Year, Seafood Retailer of the Year

Cost efficiency savings fully offset inflationary pressures

have just bought 50k for the div 10.8p 4.30 today ex div

clayton dubilier @rice . do not be surpriced at bid from them for sbry.

just a rumour of buy out from a pal

i now see the ex ceo of tesco going to work part time for clayton

OUCH tanks ..... not sure what you paid for yours yesterday, but sp looks to have (shall we say) tanked even taking into a/c the divi

i paid 354p div 10.8p . i am in no hurry will wait till next news or sell at 350p

if they fall to 330 i will buy 50k more then avge will be about 340p plus my div

didn't realise divi was that much, but fairly unusual for sp to fall significantly more than the nett of the divi

probably bid coming...heard a whisper

Right O!

J Sainsbury has announced that Val Gooding, Non-Executive Director, will stand down from the Board at the Company's AGM on 13 July 2011. She has been appointed as Chairman of Premier Farnell PLC and due to her increased time commitments has decided to step down from the Board of J Sainsbury plc.

RNS Number : 4461I

Sainsbury(J) PLC

15 June 2011

15 June 2011

First Quarter Trading Statement for the 12 weeks to 11 June 2011

Solid sales performance in a challenging market

-- Total sales for first quarter up 7.3 per cent (4.3 per cent excluding fuel)(1)

-- Like-for-like sales for first quarter up 4.8 per cent (1.9 per cent excluding fuel)(1)

-- Strong customer growth - weekly transactions up 5 per cent to 22 million(2)

Justin King, Chief Executive, said, "We've delivered a solid sales performance, in line with our expectations, in spite of the continued tough consumer environment. Fuel price inflation combined with strong fuel volume growth resulted in an increase in total sales of 7.3 per cent, with like-for-like sales up 4.8 per cent. Excluding fuel, total sales were up 4.3 per cent, with like-for-like sales up 1.9 per cent."

Despite the tough economic conditions our customers celebrated Easter, the Royal Wedding and the glorious weather in April, playing to our strength of supporting family occasions. We sold nearly 300 miles of bunting, 159,000 flags and 49,000 mugs. Hot cross bun sales increased 29 per cent and we sold the most champagne we have ever sold outside of Christmas.

While demonstrating a willingness to treat themselves on these family occasions, our customers continue to manage their spend carefully. The increase in fuel costs is placing further pressure on consumer disposable income. One way our customers are keeping the cost of their shopping low is through buying Sainsbury's own label ranges. Our three key own label ranges, basics, by Sainsbury's, and Taste the Difference, all saw volume and sales growth in the period. Basics is our fastest-growing brand, and is now number two in the value market with 22.3 per cent market share.(3) At the end of the quarter we had re-launched over 1,500 products from our core own label range, by Sainsbury's, of which almost 80 per cent are either new or improved. Since its relaunch in September Taste the Difference has gone from strength to strength, winning eight gold awards at the Grocer Own Label Food & Drink Awards, making Sainsbury's the most successful retailer with twelve gold awards in total.

We continue to find new ways to help our customers, and in the quarter we launched our new Feed Your Family for GBP50 meal planner, which provides a family of four with 21 tasty and nutritious home cooked meals. Customer response has been very positive and since the launch in May over one million customers have logged on to the website to learn more. Products featured in the planner have seen sales and volume uplifts of over 20 per cent.

Our general merchandise and clothing offer grew faster than food, despite a very tough market. This quarter we celebrated our biggest childrenswear sales week ever, and were the number one retailer for The King's Speech DVD, where we achieved a record market share of 34 per cent in the week of its release.

The convenience business grew at 20 per cent, underpinned by strong like-for-like growth, and our groceries online business grew at over 20 per cent. General merchandise online continued to grow strongly, supported by the accelerated roll-out of the Click & Collect service to a further 240 stores, including convenience stores. This brings the total Click & Collect stores to 400, a big step towards our objective of 800 stores by Christmas.

We grew space in line with our plans, opening two new supermarkets, one replacement, three extensions and 13 convenience stores, in total adding 209,000 sq ft of gross space to our estate.(4) We continue to extend our offer successfully to new customers across the UK, with a replacement store in Wakefield and extensions to stores in Cardiff, Scunthorpe and Ballymena, illustrating the universal customer appeal of the Sainsbury's brand.

The market environment remains very competitive, reflecting the challenging economic backdrop. We expect this to be the case throughout the year. Sainsbury's will continue to help our customers to manage their weekly spend and still enjoy great quality products, whilst at the same time investing for future growth in space, non-food and our online business.

Not far off s p parity with MRW, closest I've seen it. Which is the better buy I wonder?
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