Annual sales up 3.8% Ordinary dividend hiked 2.3% Market share gains slow Despite lacklustre consumer confidence and inflationary cost pressures, homewares specialist Dunelm (DNLM) delivered a robust final set of results under outgoing CEO Nick Wilkinson and flagged a positive start to the new financial year. So why were shares in the dividend-paying curtains-to-cushions seller down 7% at...

UK retail stocks came under pressure on Tuesday (26 Aug) after analysts at Deutsche Bank downgraded the sector citing an anticipated slowdown in consumer spending. The analysts highlighted discretionary spending growth falling to 3% in the second half from 7% in the first half, which was buoyed by sunny weather. The bank believes the back end of 2024 and the first half of 2025 may turn out to...

Stocks closed mostly higher on Monday in London, following a wave of mergers & acquisitions activity which saw Spectris and Alphawave's stock prices surging. The FTSE 100 index fell 5.63 points, 0.1%, at 8,832.28. The FTSE 250 ended up 128.63 points, 0.6%, at 21,285.91, and the AIM All-Share climbed 7.01 points, 0.9%, at 763.89. The Cboe UK 100 ended flat at 878.81 on Monday, the Cboe UK 250...

Strong Q3 digital sales Gross margin gains Conservative outlook Dunelm (DNLM) shares rallied 6.5% to £10.11 after the homewares retailer reported 'strong' third quarter sales growth which came as a relief to investors following a softer second quarter showing from the rugs-to-pillows purveyor. The retailer also held firm on its full-year 2025 guidance, with consensus calling for pre-tax...

London stocks fell on Thursday morning after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's warning that tariffs could generate increased inflation, while updates from Sainsbury and Dunelm offered bright spots. Lloyds Bank analyst meanwhile commented: 'Powell's comments after the London close, warning of an essentially stagflationary outlook, roiled markets further as his message emphasised the...

Wilkinson to step away from roleUnderlying business trading wellSecond 35p/share special dividendIt was a day of mixed emotions as homewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) posted a positive first-half sales performance at the same time as revealing chief executive Nick Wilkinson was stepping down after seven years at the helm.The shares dropped as much as 34p or 3.5% to 937p before stabilising at 955p...

With most of the big names in the retail sector having reported we can get a decent picture of how the sector fared in the run-up to and during the festive period. A weak trading backdrop for non-food retail in October and November, before Santa delivered a return to growth in December, a month that also witnessed a notable shift to online sales according to the latest data (17 January) from...

Growth slows in Q2Profits seen 'within the range' of expectationsDigital growing as share of salesHomewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) said it delivered 'solid' sales growth in the first half to 28 December 2024, with sofas, dining chairs and coffee tables selling particularly well and digital sales penetration buoyed by strong Click and Collect sales.However, shares in the cushions-to-curtains...

Next CEO sells £29 million sharesDunelm founder's son sells 10 million sharesHollywood Bowl director sells 275,000 sharesSimon Wolfson, CEO of clothing retailer Next (NXT) has sold three tranches of shares during the period 20 to 24 September.Wolfson sold 204,349 shares at £100.65 for a total value of £20,568,376; 57,962 shares at £101.57 at a total value of £5,887.051 and 27,689 at...

Dunelm (DNLM) £11.70Market cap: £2.4 billionWe have been watching homewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) for some time now and we think the cycle-low is in for the share price.In fact, the low occurred in April just after the firm released its third-quarter trading update warning of 'challenging' homeware and furniture markets but confirmed full-year earnings would meet the consensus. We believe...

There has never been a better time to be an income investor in UK equities, as payouts for the period from April to June hit an all-time quarterly record of £36.7 billion according to the latest Dividend Monitor from Computershare.Most of the increase was thanks to one-off special dividends, leaving the underlying growth rate at just 1%, but for those clipping the coupons or reinvesting the...

Stock prices in London were in the green at midday, as investors awaited the next interest rate call from the European Central Bank, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted leaders from across Europe at a summit.The FTSE 100 index was up 59.33 points, or 0.7%, at 8,246.78. The FTSE 250 was up 151.37 points, or 0.7%, at 21,244.71, and the AIM All-Share was up 2.77 points, or 0.4%, at...

Sales rise on volume growthEarnings to top estimatesCEO optimistic for coming yearHomewares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) demonstrated once again how resilient its business is against a challenging consumer backdrop by posting an increase in sales and earnings slightly above expectations for the year to the end of June.The shares, which had been trading down on the year, added 75p or 7% to £11.80...

Now the ballots have been cast at the general election, the UK could become the 'reassuringly boring' market, both politically and fiscally, when compared to the more extreme politics on the other side of the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean.So suggests Jean Roche, manager of the Schroder UK Mid Cap Fund (SCP), who notes capital allocators know more or less what to expect, which could...

Resilient third-quarter salesSofter demand in MarchFull year guide spooks investorsLeader in the UK?s fragmented homewares market, Dunelm (DNLM) said it delivered continued sales growth and market share gains in its third quarter as the retailer also nudged up its full year gross margin guidance.Why then, did shares in the affordable curtain, quilt and kitchenware seller cheapen 5% to £10.20...

Investors will be hoping for news of a strong start from new spring lines, continued market share gains and growth in active customers when Dunelm (DNLM) delivers its third quarter update on 18 April.The leader in a fragmented UK homewares market, Dunelm will provide a read on the health of the UK consumer and the margin outlook amid Red Sea disruption and promotional market conditions.The...

Investors reacted positively UK annual inflation holding steady last month, defying expectations of an acceleration and prompting local stocks to rise.The FTSE 100 index closed up 56.12 points, 0.8%, at 7,568.40. The FTSE 250 ended up 80.06 points, 0.4%, at 19,003.89, and the AIM All-Share closed up 3.21 points, 0.4%, at 750.45.The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.7% at 755.91, the Cboe UK 250 closed up...

A more favourable than feared UK inflation reading bolstered London-listed equities heading into Wednesday afternoon, as stocks recovered from a red-hot US consumer price index print on Tuesday.Housebuilders were particular beneficiaries, on hopes the Bank of England can begin cutting rates soon. The yearly inflation rate in the UK is still running at double the Bank of England?s 2% target,...

Sales up in a flat marketGross margins increasedShares now yielding 5%Against the background of a UK economy where companies selling non-essential goods are struggling ? exemplified by The Body Shop appointing administrators ? today?s interim results from homewares and furniture firm Dunelm (DNLM) suggest the firm has done a good job in tailoring its customer offer.Not only were sales for the...

Homewares industry rival Next (NXT) set the bar high with its strong Christmas trading update and latest profit upgrade, so there is pressure on UK market leader Dunelm (DNLM) not to disappoint with its second quarter update on 18 January, which includes the festive selling period.Another stand-out retail sector performer, Dunelm rarely disappoints and Shares suspects the FTSE 250 bedding,...