JD Sports Reports 3% Sales Fall with UK, US Weakness Amid £100m Buyback

JD Sports has reported a cautious outlook for the rest of the year amid pressure on consumer finances and the risk of rising unemployment, despite showing signs of improvement in the US market. The company's second-quarter like-for-like sales fell by 3%, with declines in the UK and North America, though organic sales were up 2.6% year-on-year, driven by better performance in Europe and Asia Pacific. JD Sports highlighted strong progress in its omnichannel customer proposition, store footprint, and supply chain, while controlling costs and cash effectively. The company announced a new £100 million share buyback program, reflecting confidence in medium-term growth and ongoing market share gains. CEO Régis Schultz emphasized a resilient but selective consumer base and expressed confidence in continuing to grow market share in North America and Europe. JD Sports expects FY26 profit before tax to remain in line with market expectations, while monitoring potential impacts from US tariffs on its supply chain.