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JD Sports Fashion PLC on Monday said it had completed the first tranche of a £200 million buyback programme. Under the first tranche, the Lancashire, England-based sports and outdoor wear retailer repurchased 136.8 million shares at an average price of 73.09 pence each, worth approximately £100.0 million in total. Back in February, the FTSE100 listing had announced a £200 million rolling annual buyback programme, saying the first tranche would complete by July 31, the end of the first half of financial 2027. Details of the second tranche worth £100 million ‘will be announced in due course’, JD Sports added on Monday. Last month, the company posted a 12% in pretax profit for the financial year that ended January 31 from £715 million in financial 2025. Basic earnings per share slipped 9.2% to 8.63p from 9.50p. Revenue rose 11% to £12.66 billion from £11.46 billion, but was offset by higher operating costs and interest on lease liabilities. Free cash flow rose 36% to £462 million from £339 million, leading JD Sports to declare a final dividend of 0.87p per share, up from 0.67p a year earlier, lifting the total dividend by 20% to 1.20p from 1.00p. Chief Executive Regis Schultz had noted ‘tough market conditions’ in financial 2026. ‘Whilst we continue to expect muted market growth in financial 2027, we remain confident in JD Group’s mediumterm trajectory, underpinned by our strong brand partnerships and agile, multibrand model,’ Schultz said in May. JD Sports shares rose 2.2% to 86.08p on Monday morning in London, and are up 4.3% over the past 12 months. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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