JB Hi-Fi defies retail gloom

JB Hi-Fi expects further sales growth this year after lifting its net profit by 11 per cent in the 2012/13 financial year.

JB HiFi lifts sales, profit

Electronics retailer JB Hi-Fi has lifted its net profit more than 11 per cent to $A116 million.

B Hi-Fi has defied a difficult trading environment to lift sales and profit, and expects the trend to continue for the next 12 months.

The electronics retailer made a net profit of $116.4 million in the 2012/13 financial year, up more than 11 per cent on the previous year.

Chief executive Terry Smart said the profit growth was the result of stronger sales and improved margins.

JB Hi-Fi recorded sales growth of 5.8 per cent for the year, and sales were up more than 10 per cent in the second six months.

Sales are expected to grow by between six and eight per cent in the 2013/14 financial year, Mr Smart said.

"We have seen a good start to FY14 with the continuation of the positive comparable sales seen in the second half of FY13," he said in a statement.

"We see good growth opportunities ahead with a strong line up of new products planned for the first half of the year, growth from our new store roll out program and the expansion of the home appliance categories."

JB Hi-Fi had posted a strong result given the difficulties retailers face from subdued consumer sentiment and ongoing pressure to discount prices, Invast chief market analyst Peter Esho said.

"They really could have blown up this year but JB Hi-Fi is in a much better position than other retailers," he said.

"I can't fault it at all."

Low interest rates may have helped the company, but the sales growth experienced by the company shows the stores continued to lure customers in, Mr Esho said.

"Their sales line is growing at a pretty decent level which means they know what consumers want," he said.

Mr Esho said the company should benefit from the release of several new smart phones and tablets ver the next year, as well as the growing market for smart TVs.


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Source: AAP


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