JD Sports Fashion Plc reported a jump in preliminary revenue of 13.3% to £670.9 million ($978.8 million) from £592.2 million ($864.0 million) for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2009 after sales of own-label brands increased.


The UK’s second largest sportswear chain said total revenue increased by 3.9% on a comp basis (Sports Fascias +3.3%; Fashion Fascias +7.9%) while gross margin improved marginally from 49.2% to 49.3%. 
Profit before tax and exceptional items improved by 24% in the year to £53.6 million ($78.2 million), compared to £43.4 million ($63.3 million) in 2008. This follows increases of 73% and 51% in the previous two years.  Group profit before tax increased by 9% in the year to £38.2 million ($55.7 million) from £35.0 million ($51.1 million) the previous year. Group profit after tax increased by 4% to £24.5 million ($35.7 million) from last year’s £23.6 million ($34.4 million).


Group operating profit (before exceptional items) for the year was up 24% to £54.5 million ($79.5 million) from £44.0 million ($64.2 million) last year, and comprises a Sports Fascias profit of £54.3 million ($79.2 million) (compared to a profit of £45.6 million ($66.5 million) in 2008) and a Fashion Fascias profit of £0.2 million ($0.3 million) (compared to a loss of £1.6 million ($3.7 million) in 2008.) 


After a sustained period of results improvement and balance sheet strengthening, JD Sports’ Board has decided to propose an increase in the level of the dividend with a final proposed dividend of 8.9p, (11 cents) bringing the total dividends payable for the year to 12.0p (15 cents)  (2008: 8.5p), an increase of 41%.