Look ahead to FTSE 350, other companies reporting and economic events from 5 – 9 January 2026

• Can Next fashion another upgrade?
• Marks & Spencer looking to rebound after a tough 2025
• J Sainsbury’sprofit guidance appears within reach

Next, Q4 Trading Statement, Tuesday 6 January 
Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:
“It’s been another solid year for Next, with the UK’s fashion powerhouse continuing to deliver for both customers and investors in 2025. Third-quarter full-price sales growth of 10.5% was well ahead of the group’s 4.5% guidance, driven by strong overseas demand. That saw full-year pre-tax profit guidance nudged higher to £1.1 billion back in October, reflecting potential growth of 12.2%.

Investors expect to hear that overseas momentum has continued when Next releases its fourth quarter trading update next week. The group’s targeting 7.0% full-price sales growth in the final quarter. But with Next being a go-to store for Christmas shoppers, alongside its track record of overdelivering, markets wouldn’t be surprised to see another small upgrade to the outlook next week.”

Marks and Spencer, Christmas Trading Statement, Thursday 8 January 
Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:
“Marks and Spencer will be hoping for a magical Christmas performance in next week’s trading update, to help draw a line under what has been a tough 2025. A cyber-attack back in April last year crippled online sales in its Fashion, Home & Beauty (FH&B) division, leading to a sharp decline in first-half profits. Operations are expected to return to full flow by March, sparking hopes that second-half pre-tax profits can rebound above last year’s £468 million.

Underlying trends in the business remain positive, with both Food and FH&B continuing to capture market share from the competition, thanks to its obsessive focus on quality, value, and service. With near-term profit expectations reset, the worst looks to be behind M&S now. But the group has some work to do to rebuild investors’ confidence, starting with delivering a solid performance in next week’s festive update.”

J Sainsbury, Q3 Trading Statement, Friday 9 January 
Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown:
“Sainsbury’s delivered a strong set of first-half results back in November, with sales growth of 4.8% to £15.6 billion landing ahead of expectations. The group continued to gain market share, thanks to its herculean effort to improve products, value perception and innovation more generally.

The ongoing cost-cutting program is helping to offset higher employment costs, and savings are also being reinvested in keeping food prices down. That should have helped lure in more customers in the run-up to Christmas, a period where shopping trollies get piled higher than usual.

As a result, investors expect there to be plenty for Sainsbury’s to be jolly about when it releases its third-quarter trading update next week. The recently upgraded retail operating profit guidance of more than £1 billion for the full year looks within reach.”

Among those currently scheduled to release results next week:

*Events on which HL will be updating investors