EasyJet’s winter and summer outlook will be key in results, say analysts

Last month easyJet PLC (LON:EZJ) reported a record finish to its financial year and unveiled a new shareholder returns policy and medium-term profit targets.

Final results next Tuesday, 28 November, will confirm exactly where profit before tax landed in the £440-460 million guidance range, which will determine how big the returns will be for shareholders, with the budget airline’s board having promised to pay 10% of profit after tax.

In a preview of the results, UBS said it expects the focus on Tuesday will be looking forward “rather than refining the 2023 results”.

This means the key items will be how winter ’23 sales are doing as well as the outlook for summer ’24 sales.

In October’s update, the company said it expects the first quarter of the 2024 financial year to be up 15% year-on-year, though analysts at Barclays (LON:BARC) predict demand will soften “significantly” if conflict in the Middle East continues in the coming months, as Egpyt is an important winter sun market.