.

Stopped out at open ridiculous spread (slippage) @ 519.2 - 3.8

Bad luck Chris - JDW is often very gappy 1st thing.

Win some lose some skinny :O)

Another one that looks to have got away :O( Look again in Jan. 16th interim management statement, 15th March Interim results.

Pre-Close Statement

Current trading

For the first eleven weeks of the second quarter (to 13 January 2013), like-for-like sales increased by 8.0%. Total sales increased by 11.3%. In the year to date (24 weeks to 13 January 2013), like-for-like sales increased by 7.6% and total sales increased by 11.2%.

We currently expect the operating margin for the half year ending 27 January 2013 to be around 8.2%, approximately 1.1% lower than the last financial year, due to slightly higher than expected increases in costs in areas such as tax, utilities, labour and bar and food supplies, combined with increased marketing costs.

We anticipate the Company's corporation tax rate for this financial year to be around 27.5%.

Half Yearly report

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS



Ÿ Revenue £626.4m (2012: £569.4m) +10.0%

Ÿ Like-for-like sales +6.9%

Ÿ Operating profit £52.1m (2012: £53.1m)-2.0%

Ÿ Profit before tax & exceptional items £34.8m (2012: £35.8m) -2.7%

Ÿ Earnings per share 20.8p (2012: 20.2p) +3.0%

Ÿ Interim dividend 4.0p (2012: 4.0p) Maintained

Interim Management Statement

Current trading

For the 13 weeks to 28 April 2013, like-for-like sales increased by 6.3% and total sales increased by 9.3%. In the year to date (39 weeks to 28 April 2013), like-for-like sales increased by 6.7%, and total sales increased by 10.1%. We expect lower like-for-like sales in the final quarter of this financial year than for the year so far, given last year's final quarter like-for-like sales of 6.1%.

The operating margin, in the 13 weeks to 28 April 2013, was 8.5%, compared with 8.3% in the first half of the current financial year. In the year-to-date (39 weeks to 28 April 2013) the operating margin was 8.4%.

Property

The Company has opened 16 new pubs and sold two since the start of the financial year. We have several sites under development and, in line with our last update, intend to open 30 pubs in the current financial year. It is our present intention to open approximately 20 to 25 pubs in the following financial year.

Financial position

There have been no other significant changes in the Company's overall financial position, since the publication of the interim accounts on 15 March 2013.

Outlook

As previously indicated, the biggest dangers to the pub industry are the VAT disparity between supermarkets and pubs and the continuing imposition of stealth taxes such as the late-night levy and increased fruit/slot machine taxes. However, the company welcomes the recent abolition of the duty escalator and the reduction in beer duty, and hopes that this indicates a greater appreciation from politicians of the important economic and social role played by pubs. Notwithstanding the recent changes, we anticipate that taxation and input costs will continue to rise.

Investec Buy 606.50 550.00 660.00 Retains

Pre-Close Statement

Current trading

For the 11 weeks to 14 July 2013, like-for-like sales increased by 3.5% and total sales increased by 6.2% - a better than expected performance. In the year to date (50 weeks to 14 July 2013), like-for-like sales increased by 6.0%, and total sales increased by 9.2%.

The operating margin was 9.5% in the 11 weeks to 14 July 2013, including some one-off benefits, and 8.7% in the year-to-date (50 weeks to 14 July 2013). We view the year-to-date margin as a possible indicator for the future, if we were to achieve reasonable sales growth.

Property

The Company has opened 29 new pubs and sold three since the start of the financial year. In our final results announcement, we intend to provide an update on any impairment and onerous lease provisions. It is our present intention to open around 30 pubs in the following financial year.

Financial position

The Company remains in a sound financial position.

Outlook

As previously indicated, the company warmly welcomes the reduction in beer duty announced in the March budget (but overall excise duty increased). However, the late night levy, machine gaming duty and business rates taxes have increased, as well as pension costs (see note 6). Continued progress in sales will be required in order to overcome these costs.The biggest dangers to the pub industry are the VAT disparity between supermarkets and pubs and the continuing imposition of stealth taxes.

We are now on track to achieve a slightly better outcome (before any exceptional items) for the current financial year than previously anticipated.

Bottoms up!

Jefferies International Buy 750.00 750.00 600.00 850.00 Reiterates

Citigroup Neutral 0.00 750.00 - 765.00 Retains

JP Morgan Cazenove Neutral 0.00 750.00 520.00 725.00 Upgrades

Morgan Stanley Equal weight 769.50 - 710.00 Reiterates

Preliminary Results

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS


52 weeks to 28 July 2013

Before exceptional items
52 weeks to 28 July 2013 Excluding week 53
● Revenue £1,280.9m (2012: £1,197.1m)
+7.0%
+9.3%
● Like-for-like sales
+5.8%
● Operating profit £111.3m (2012: £107.3m)
+3.7%
+6.0%
● Profit before tax and exceptional items £76.9m (2012: £72.4m)
+6.3%
+8.8%
● Earnings per share (excluding shares held in trust) 46.8p (2012: 41.3p)
+13.3%
● Earnings per share (including shares held in trust) 44.8p (2012: 39.8p)
+12.6%
● Full year dividend 12.0p (2012: 12.0p)
Maintained

After exceptional items

● Operating profit £91.5m (2012: £93.8m)
-2.5%
● Profit before tax £57.1m (2012: £58.9m)
-3.0%
● Basic earnings per share 38.3p (2012: 35.6p)
+7.6%

Interim Management Statement

JD Wetherspoon plc ('JD Wetherspoon' or the 'Company') announces its Interim Management Statement for the period up to 6 November 2013, incorporating the 13 week period to 27 October 2013, as required by the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency rules.

Current trading

In the first quarter (13 weeks to 27 October 2013), like-for-like sales increased by 3.7% and total sales by 7.6%.

The operating margin was 8.3%, approximately 0.3% lower than the same period in the last financial year, mainly due to increased labour, repairs, marketing and central overheads. The company believes that this increased expenditure will benefit the future performance of the business. The margin in the quarter is a possible indicator for this financial year, assuming we achieve reasonable sales growth.

Property

The Company opened 8 new pubs in the quarter and has 12 more under development. We now anticipate opening 40 to 50 pubs in total this year, slightly more than previously anticipated, helped by our increased bank facility and a number of recent acquisitions.

Financial position

There have been no significant changes in the Company's overall financial position, since the publication, on 11 October 2013, of the annual report and accounts for the year ended 28 July 2013.

Outlook

As previously indicated, the biggest danger to the pub industry is the VAT disparity between supermarkets and pubs. Since supermarkets pay almost no VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs pay 20%, supermarkets are able to subsidise their drinks' prices to the detriment of pubs, around 10,000 of which have closed in the last decade. It does not make economic or social sense for the government to favour powerful supermarkets with what amounts to a "tax break", especially since pubs generate so many more jobs, and so much more tax, per pint or meal, than supermarkets.

In spite of the continued pressure from costs and taxes, the company remains confident of a reasonable outcome for the current financial year.

Not as cheap as they used to be but I have no complaints with the service(which can be slow) and the barmen are friendly.

Have you seen the volume in this one today.

Huge.

Yes it is goldfinger doing well I expect this xmas.

Think Ill buy tomorrow Mitzy if present momentum carries.

good luck gf.

sp is clearly on the cusp of breaking into new all-time high ground ..... it looks to have tried today, but then slipped back to the key point