JD Sports Sales Decline UK, US Shows Modest Growth

JD Sports has reported a cautious outlook for the remainder of 2025 amid pressures on consumer finances and risks of rising unemployment. The company's like-for-like sales fell 2.5% in the first half of the year, with a 3% decline in the second quarter, while organic sales grew 2.6% year-on-year. The UK and Europe experienced notable declines, particularly due to tough comparisons with the Euro 2024 football tournament, while North America showed signs of stabilization with a smaller sales drop and improved apparel and online sales. CEO Regis Schultz highlighted a generally resilient but selective consumer base and emphasized the company’s focus on cost control, margin protection, and cautious discounting. JD Sports also announced a £100 million share buyback and maintained its full-year profit forecast in line with market expectations, noting potential indirect impacts from U.S. tariffs remain under review. Analysts viewed the results as better than expected, particularly due to North America’s improving trends and the company's strategic execution.