Sports Direct International said despite the tough conditions, it remains confident of achieving underlying EBITDA of £135 million ($197 million.) The largest U.K. sporting-goods retailer said sales in the last six weeks were “higher than expected” gains, with annual profit expected to meet the company’s forecast although margins were lower than expected.

The group reiterated its guidance from its interim statement in February, and it’s the third time since October that the company has
repeated that forecast.

“Since 18 Feb. 2009 trading within the Group's largest division UK
Retail, despite challenging economic conditions, has continued along
the trend of higher than expected sales but lower than expected
margin,” said the group.

The group will announce its preliminary results for the year ending April 2009 on July 16.