Wed, 29 Oct 2025

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 Next continues to profit after M&S cyber-attack boost

Next is now expecting to report a pre-tax profit of just over £1.1bn at the end of January 2026.
Next reports stronger-than-expected sales growth of 10.5% in its third quarter, driven by UK sales that were better than anticipated despite weakening compared to earlier this year. The retailer credits favourable weather conditions and competitor disruption - specifically a cyber-attack on rival M&S in April - for part of the success. Pre-tax profit is now expected to be around £1.1bn at the end of January 2026, with the company having raised its full-year guidance for the fourth time in eight months. Consumer expert Kate Hardcastle notes that Next has "picked up the benefit" of consumers moving away from M&S following the cyber-attack, while investment director Russ Mould praises the company's international expansion and cost engineering efforts as contributing factors to its growth.
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