Thursday preview: Whitbread and Sports Direct report interims

10th Dec 2014 15:24

Whitbread's third quarter interims on Thursday are expected to show 7.5% like-for-life growth at Premier Inn and 6.5% at Costa, according to Numis."Premier Inn and Costa, going from strength to strength and continue to win market share," the broker said.Sports Direct also reports its interims, with analysts predict earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £205.8m, compared to £177.2m previously."We model first half EBITDA of £177m but, with second half trading likely to have been impacted, like all clothing retailers, by the unseasonably warm weather, we see scope for Sports Direct to come in a touch light of this implying a slight downgrade to full year estimates," Numis said."Short-term weather effects notwithstanding, we retain our positive stance, seeing significant scope for the group to build on its leading position in the UK and expand aggressively into Europe."On the macro-front, German inflation data will be released while the US sees the release of retail sales and initial jobless claims figures.Thursday 11 DecemberINTERIMSAbzena, Darty, Dixons Retail , Polar Capital Holdings, Science In Sport, Sports Direct International, SupergroupINTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEInfinis EnergyINTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE3i Group, API Group, Babcock International Group, Betfair Group, Big Yellow Group, Bonmarche Holdings, Brown (N.) Group, Caffyns, Caledonia Investments, Clipper Logistics , Croma Security Solutions Group, Cropper (James), Falkland Islands Holdings, Helical Bar, Investec, Iona Environmental VCT, Iona Environmental VCT 'A' Shares, Iona Environmental Vct 'B' Shares, Juridica Investments Ltd., Majestic Wine, Montanaro European Smaller Companies Trust, Northgate, Pets at Home Group , Plastics Capital, Solid State, Telford Homes, Ventus 2 VCT, Ventus 2 VCT 'C' Shares, Ventus VCT, Ventus VCT 'C' Shares, Vianet GroupQUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATEF&C Commercial Property Trust Ltd., Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd, Real Estate Credit Investments PCC Ltd Pref Shs , XP Power Ltd. (DI)INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTSBusiness Inventories (US) (15:00)Consumer Price Index (GER) (07:00)Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)ECB Report (EU) (09:00)Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)Manufacturing Inventories (US) (15:00)Retail Sales (US) (13:30)Retail Sales Inventories (US) (15:00)GMSArk Therapeutics Group, Reckitt Benckiser GroupSPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATEBest of the BestAGMSChelverton Growth Trust, Investment Company, Nanoco Group, Plexus Holdings, StarvestTRADING ANNOUNCEMENTSWood Group (John)FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATEAberdeen Asset Management, Associated British Foods, Bellway, Inland Homes, JPMorgan Chinese Inv Trust, K3 Business Technology Group, Netcall, Numis Corporation, Renewable Energy Generation Ltd., Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust, Waterman Group