
SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC (SPD) Shares
ABOUT SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC
Sports Direct International plc is the United Kingdom’s largest sports-goods retailer that owns or operates many sporting brands and trades worldwide.
Its headquarters are in Brook Park East, Shirebrook, Mansfield, United Kingdom.
The company was founded by Mike Ashley in 1982 in Maidenhead and traded as Mike Ashley Sports.
By 1992 the company had 12 stores and soon changed to Sports Soccer, relocated its head office and warehouse to Dunstable after which the number of retail stores rapidly increased to 50.
By 2000 they had 80 stores and had formed a joint venture in Belgium, with 22 stores trading as Disport.
Another chain of 10 stores and the Lonsdale brand were acquired in 2002 and by 2003 there were 150 retail stores.
In 2005 the company started a major rebrand of the stores, changing to Sports World.
OVERVIEW OF SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC
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Today Sports Direct International plc is Britain’s largest sporting goods retailer by revenue with more than 470 UK stores and 670 stores in more than 20 countries worldwide including the chains SportsDirect.com (Sports World prior to 2008), Lillywhites, Field & Trek and USC.
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Approximately 26 500 staff operate across five business segments: UK Sports Retail, European Sports Retail, Premium Lifestyle, Rest of World Retail, and Wholesale & Licensing (formerly Brands).
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The group has more franchised Sports Direct-branded stores in South Africa and the Middle East.
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Other retailers owned by them include House of Fraser, Flannels, USC and Lillywhites.
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Sporting and fashion brands owned include Donnay, Slazenger, Firetrap, Everlast, Kangol, Karrimor and Lonsdale, among others.
VISION & VALUES OF SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC
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Sports Direct International plc aspires to be an international leader in its field by offering customers a dynamic range of iconic brands. They strive to adopt good practices in all their corporate dealings.
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Sports Direct International is committed to offer customers an innovative and unrivalled retail experience, deliver shareholder value over the medium to long term, whilst adopting accounting principles that are conservative, consistent and simple.
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The active management of their property portfolio remains a critical enabler of the strategy. During 2018, they have continued to roll out a new generation of stores including large format flagship-style megastores in strategic retail locations plus fitness gyms where appropriate.
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Sports Direct International aims to maximise the financial benefits for shareholders who purchase shares with them.
MARKET PERFORMANCE OF SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC
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Sports Direct International plc’s shares are traded on the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) under the stock symbol SPD listed in the Retailers sector.
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During the previous financial year group revenue increased by 3.5% and Premium Lifestyle Retail revenue increased by 42.7%, due to an increased store portfolio and online sales.
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The group underlying EBITDA increased by 12.2% to £ 306.1m and a strong free cash flow (pre-capex) up to £ 326.2m increased from £ 257.4m in the prior year.
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Underlying profit before tax increased by 34.5% to £ 152.9m.
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Revenue for 2018 was £ 3,359.5 million, operating income 217.0 million and net income £ 27.6 million.
Buy SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC stocks / shares – A Step by Step Guide how to Buy / Purchase SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC Stocks or Shares online.
Before buying any stock or share one has to consider a few factors.
STEP 1: PROPER RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL
Upon deciding you want to buy SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC Stocks / Shares, it is critical for the serious investor to do proper research into the said company. Its values should align with those of the investor’s current portfolio. An investor needs to familiarise himself with the basics and history of the company, as well as its leadership and performance in the market. Its company reports should also be scrutinized.
Consultation with a brokerage firm can also assist in determining whether investing in a specific company will complement the investor’s current portfolio. The investment “risk ladder”, which identifies asset classes based on their relative riskiness, is another useful tool when determining which company’s stock / share is the best to buy.
STEP 2: CALCULATE THE AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IN SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC STOCKS / SHARES
It is important for an investor to monitor his total investment in stock in order to keep his portfolio aligned to his investment strategy. The overall value of his holdings will change with the fluctuation in stock prices, which can throw his portfolio off balance. To determine the amount to invest, multiply the number of shares of each stock by its current market price to determine the total investment in that specific stock. For example, if you own 100 shares of a US Dollar 5 stock, multiply 100 by US Dollar 5 to get US Dollar 500.
STEP 3: DECIDE ON THE STOCK / SHARE ORDER TYPE
Investors can choose from a market order, a limit order, a stop order (also referred to as a stop-loss order) or a buy/sell stop order. It is important to familiarise yourself with each type’s pros and cons before deciding which one will suit your current stock profile best. An investor should be guided in this choice by his investment objective.
STEP 4: OPEN A BROKERAGE ACCOUNT
A brokerage account – also known as taxable investment account – is similar to a retirement account, but more flexible. Where a retirement account has limitations on the amount of money that can be contributed annually, and restrictions on when funds can be withdrawn, a brokerage account is more flexible. The latter has no income or contribution limit and the investor can withdraw his money at any given time. This flexibility, together with its potential investment gains, makes a brokerage account more attractive to serious investors. Brokerage accounts are ideal for goals or savings that are further than five years away, but closer than retirement. It can also supplement an investor’s emergency savings.
STEP 5: COMMIT AND PURCHASE SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC STOCKS / SHARES
Lastly, commit to the stock. Pro Tip: Monitor the value of your stock to ensure you have a growing stock value and dividend pay-out. Regularly check the share price online to ensure your investment delivers a positive return on investment. You are now a proud owner of SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC stocks / shares.
5 Questions to ask yourself before purchasing any stocks or shares.
- Is it the best time to buy this stock / share?
- Should I buy SPORTS DIRECT INTERNATIONAL PLC stocks / shares in the current economic climate?
- Can I afford to buy this stock / share?
- What is the forecast of the stock / share growth?
- What is the current price per earning ration on the stock / share?













