STORE PROSPERITY.
Whatever may be the depression in some of our key industries, it is clear that many of the big London Stores are , able to show a position of considerable prosperity. This is certainly so in the case of John Barker and Co., where the gross profits have steadily expanded during the past three years, the figure for last year of £1,579,000 comparing with £1,489,000 for 1924-5 and £1,494,000 for the previous year. Moreover, expenses have not expanded in the same ratio and the net profit for last year was £480,000 as compared with only £402,000 two years previously. After paying a dividend of 20 per cent., a sum of £100,000 has been placed to the General Reserve against only £50,000 last year, while to Goodwill and Premises allocations are now made of £26,000 and £35,000 respectively against £20,000 and £25,000 last year. Even after these allocations, the carry-forward is £277,000 as against £266,000. In view not so much of the high dividends but 'the strong balance-sheets, the shares of some of our leading Stores are beginning to rank amongst really sound industrial investments.
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