Sainsbury's lifts profit guidance for Sainsbury's stock

Published on 10/22/2026 at 13:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

First-half operating profit reached GBP 525 million on October 22, 2026. Sainsbury's stock costs EUR 4.17 at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026.

Profit outlook and trading update

Sainsbury's lifted continuing operating profit guidance to GBP 1,025 million to GBP 1,065 million on October 22, 2026.
Grocery sales increased 2.9 percent to GBP 13.2 billion in the first half of fiscal 2026/27.
Sainsbury's stock trades at EUR 4.17 at 1:30 p.m. CEST at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026.

Makroaufnahme von frischem Salat und roter Paprika mit Wassertropfen — J Sainsbury plc GB00B019KW72 illustriert in einer Makroaufnahme frisches Gemüse mit glänzenden Wassertropfen, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Sainsbury's stock (ISIN GB00B019KW72) was trading at EUR 4.17 at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. CEST. The grocer raised the lower end of its full-year profit outlook after reporting stronger grocery sales and a 3.6 percent increase in first-half underlying operating profit, as Reuters reported on October 22, 2026.

Guidance rises despite mixed sales

For the 28 weeks ended September 12, 2026, continuing underlying operating profit reached GBP 525 million, up from GBP 507 million. Continuing sales excluding fuel rose 2.6 percent to GBP 14.0 billion, while grocery sales increased 2.9 percent to GBP 13.2 billion, according to DividendMax on October 22, 2026.

The counterweight was general merchandise and clothing, where sales fell 3.4 percent to GBP 0.8 billion. The statutory result also swung to a GBP 164 million loss after tax, primarily because Argos was classified as a discontinued operation.

What does the update mean for profit?

Sainsbury's now expects continuing underlying operating profit of GBP 1,025 million to GBP 1,065 million for fiscal 2026/27. The lower end is above the equivalent previous range of GBP 965 million to GBP 1,065 million after removing Argos, while free cash flow remains expected to exceed GBP 500 million, according to Reuters.

Three dates frame the strategy

On February 28, 2026, the annual figures showed retail sales of GBP 29,992 million and retail underlying operating profit of GBP 1,025 million, according to Sainsbury's. On July 31, 2026, the company agreed to sell Argos to Swift Partners for at least GBP 120 million, before the October 22, 2026 interim update lifted the lower profit-guidance floor, as reported in the Reuters regulatory report.

Next dates include cash milestones

Shareholders are due to receive the interim dividend of 4.1 pence per share on December 18, 2026, with the register date set for November 13, 2026. Sainsbury's will issue its third-quarter trading statement on January 8, 2027, according to the half-year report carried by Reuters.

Stock price stays under review

On the London Stock Exchange, SBRY was last at GBp 347.50 on October 22, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. BST. The quote sat within a 52-week range of GBp 293.70 to GBp 380.30, while market capitalization was GBP 7.6 billion. The company operates in the Consumer Defensive sector and Grocery Stores industry.

Sainsbury's stock was trading at EUR 4.17 at Lang & Schwarz on October 22, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. CEST.

The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Sainsbury's stock.