Trainer and tracksuit emporium Sports Direct (LSE: SPD) has seen its share price sink over5% so far in Wednesday trading, the result of news that chief executive Mike Ashley has once again slashed his stake in the firm.
Goldman Sachs advised yesterday that it was selling 15.4 million ordinary shares on behalf of Ashley, cutting the company founders holding by 2.6% to around 55% and raising 117m in the process. This is the first of many such moves by the billionaire businessman in recent years indeed, Ashleys stake stood at just over 68% only two years ago.
Retail conditions remain supportive
However, Ashleys latest disposal does not suggest that the sportswear mogul is losing confidence in the growth prospects of the firm, in my opinion. While other share sales were put down to improving the stocks liquidity, I believe that this weeks sale is most likely related to Ashleys attempted takeover of Rangers Football Club in Scotland.
Indeed, I have long argued that Sports Direct is in great shape to enjoy resplendent growth in the coming years. Many of the retailers core products from trainers and football jerseys through to golf clubs and bikes are traditionally expensive products, of course. So Sports Directs portfolio of cheaper, in-house labels such as Dunlop and Karrimor are striking a chord with budget-conscious shoppers in much the same way as Aldis and Lidls own brand products are with grocery customers.
On top of this, Sports Direct is also expanding into Europe following its acquisition of Austrias Sports Eybl in 2013, a move thathas greatly enhanced its warehousing facilities on the continent. While this is likely to bolster the firms long-term growth prospects, in the meantime Britains buzzing fitness craze combined with rising income levels and falling inflation should boost activity at the checkout.
Earnings expected to sprint higher
This is a view shared by the Citys army of analysts, who expect Sports Direct to continue clocking up double-digit earnings expansion well into the future. Indeed, the business is expected to report growth of 16% for the year concluding April 2015, and advances of 14% and 15% are pencilled in for fiscal 2016 and 2017 correspondingly.
These figures push the firms P/E multiple of 19.5 times for 2015 to 17 times for next year and just 14.7 times for 2017 any figure around or below 15 times is widely considered terrific value for money.
And I reckon that todays share price weakness provides a fresh entry point for growth-hungry investors. Given Sports Directs long-standing pedigree of generating massive annual earnings progression, and supportive retail backdrop in its core UK markets and increasingly abroad, I expect the company to continue delivering exceptional shareholder returns.
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Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Sports Direct International. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.