Can Burberry buck the luxury sector malaise with its full-year results?

Investors maybe pinning their hopes on a glimmer of recovery in the luxury goods sector when UK fashion house Burberry (BRBY) reports its results for the 52 weeks ending 29 March on 14 May.
The sector has been struggling due to weakness in the largest luxury goods markets – US and China - which has been compounded by Trump’s tariffs.
On 15 April French counterpart LVMH (MC:EPA) reported weaker-than-expected first quarter sales mainly due to softer demand in Asia. LVMH shares fell 7% to a four-year low of €495 on the news.
The French multi-national luxury goods specialist Kering (KER:EPA) also reported disappointing first-quarter sales with a 25% drop at flagship label Gucci due to a ‘weakening backdrop’, according to Jefferies’ analysts.
Kering’s shares fell 5% after this trading update and have fallen 26% year-to-date.
Burberry’s outlook doesn’t look pretty if we consider these updates from its larger peers and its significant exposure to the Chinese market.
However, in its last trading update in January, the luxury firm upgraded its full year 2025 operating profit guidance, despite reporting a 4% fall in third-quarter revenue. Notably this was before the Trump administration upended things with its new trade policy.
The company has also initiated a brand reset with 360-degree ‘It's always Burberry weather’ outerwear campaign which has caught the attention of Morningstar's senior equity analyst, Jelena Sokolova.
‘We also support the desire to appeal to a wider consumer audience versus a niche, fashion-driven strategy the brand was pursuing before,’ says Sokolova.
Elsewhere there has been speculation about current creative director Daniel Lee leaving the business, a question which may be raised when the company engages with the market alongside its full-year numbers.
UK UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS
FULL-YEAR RESULTS
13 May: Angling Direct, Bytes Technology, Diaceutics
14 May: Burberry
15 May: 3i Group, National Grid, Premier Foods, United Utilities
FIRST-HALF RESULTS
12 May: Victrex
13 May: On The Beach, Renew Holdings, Treatt
14 May: Britvic, Compass, Victorian Plumbing
15 May: Auction Technology, Grainger, Imperial Brands, Nexus Infrastructure, Sage
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
9 May: International Consolidated Airlines
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