Next ups full-year guidance as Q2 sales rise 10.5%

Next has upped its full-year sales guidance after sales soared by 10.5% in its second quarter, as the group “overperformed” in both the UK and international markets.

In the quarter ended 26 July 2025, full price sales were £49m ahead of its original guidance, with the group previously expecting a 6.5% rise over the period. 

The group attributed this overperformance to the “better than expected” weather in the UK, as well as trading disruption at one of its major competitors. 

International sales also grew faster than expected, as its digital marketing “proved more effective than anticipated”, allowing it to raise its marketing expenditure to help boost sales.

In light of its strong performance, Next is now increasing its sales guidance in the second half from a 3.5% to 4.5% rise, which adds a further £27m of full price sales to its forecast.

In addition, it noted that alongside the Q2 sales rise and its improved sales guidance for H2, it is increasing its full-year profit guidance by £25m to £1.105bn.

Nonetheless, the group said it “remains cautious” for the second half, and has maintained its H2 guidance for UK sales to be up by 1.9%, against a 7.6% rise in the first half.

The group attributed this guidance to an expectation that UK employment opportunities would “continue to diminish” over the second half, with the effects of April’s National Insurance changes coming into play.  It added this may “increasingly dampen consumer spending as the year progresses”.

In addition, it noted that comparative numbers in the second half of last year were “much stronger” than the first half, as H1 sales in the UK last year were up 0.7%, but up by 4.3% in H2.