Profits in ASOS PLC (LON:ASOS) dived 68% to £33.1 million on the year whilst sales grew 13% to the year end in August and revenues smashed £2.7 billion.
Why such heavy losses?
ASOS will be glad to put the past financial year behind it. The eye watering losses come after a year of transformation at a large cost. ASOS spent heavily on installing robots in its warehouses and expanding its facilities in US in a sizeable transformation across two continents. By its own admission ASOS underestimated the cost and complexity of becoming an international player.
After two profit warnings across the year, the dire full year profit was in fact in line with expectations. The share price was down 50% from 12 months earlier, when it traded at 5000p. At the close yesterday ASOS was down at just 2560p. However, despite the massive slump in profits, the share price has jumped 19% in early trade.
Why the rally?
Investors are optimistic that after expensive restructuring across last year, ASOS is in a better position to face the challenges ahead. There is hope that these results represent a line being drawn under last years’ troubles.
So Is it enough to push shares back towards £50?
Whilst ASOS has enjoyed rapid growth across recent years, competition is heating up from the likes of Boohoo.Com PLC (OTC:BHOOY) and Next PLC (LON:NXT). Gone are the days when ASOS had the online fashion marketplace to itself. There is still much work to be done for ASOS to regain it online crown. Given the increasingly competitive environment and consumers potentially reining in their spending ASOS could struggle to reach its former glory.
Levels to watch:
ASOS has jumped 19% in early trade talking it above its 200 ma, whilst it already traded above it 50 sma and 100 sma. The share price has broken out of the channel that it has traded in since mid-July. We would now look for a move above 3400p, which could open the door to resistance in the region of 4050-4100p. On the downside a drop back below 2790p could open the door to strong support at 2300p.
