Next are declaring an ordinary dividend of 57.5p, up +4.5% on last year, to be paid on 2 January 2020. Shares will trade ex-dividend from 5 December 2019 and the record date will be 6 December 2019.
Other financial highlights include:
NEXT Brand full price sales were up +4.3% and Brand total sales (including markdown sales) were up +3.8% on last year. Group profit before tax was up +2.7% and Earnings Per Share (EPS) were up +7.5% on last year. They are maintaining our guidance for the full year, as set out in our July Trading Statement, for profit before tax to be £725m (up +0.3% on last year) and EPS growth to be up +5.2%.
