Endeavour Group's (ASX:EDV) sales accelerated across retail and hotels in the last nine weeks of fiscal 2026 compared with the first 16 weeks of the fiscal second half, likely buoyed by FIFA World Cup tailwinds, Jefferies said in a Wednesday note.
Retail sales growth improved from 0.7% in the first 16 weeks to 2.1% in the last nine weeks of the fiscal second half, while hotel sales improved from 3.7% to 4.6%.
"Management didn't comment, but our scenario analysis suggests World Cup tailwind could have accounted for all the retail growth and half the hotels growth in last nine weeks," Jefferies said.
It added that the tailwind "could be even larger" in the company's fiscal 2027 trading update due for release in August.
Meanwhile, Endeavour Group's fiscal 2026 earnings before interest and taxes and net profit after tax both came in slightly below consensus estimates, with a weaker retail margin likely reflecting price investment and depremiumization that could persist into fiscal 2027, the investment firm said.
Jefferies believes cash consulting fees were a material contributor to pre-tax significant items of AU$372 million, but inventory and asset impairments may benefit underlying earnings going forward.
It maintained a hold rating on Endeavour Group with a price target of AU$3.20.
Endeavour Group's shares added more than 1% in recent Thursday trade.