JD Sports Fashion's momentum keeps going. In an update, the big U.K.-based international sports retailer said it continued its strong performance after the record fiscal year that ended on Feb. 2, with encouraging growth on a same-store basis in its core sports fashion chains both in the U.K. and abroad. The company's share value rose as much as 4.4 percent after the announcement.

The management noted that the JD banner continued to expand with a net increase of 29 new stores in the period to June 29, including 18 new stores across Europe. Among them, the company converted six former Chausport stores in France. JD Sports also opened five new stores in the Asia-Pacific region, with additional units in Malaysia and Australia.

It did not say what JD is doing in a couple of somewhat peripheral European markets, but according to local reports, the chain opened its first store in Austria a few days ago, covering 1,500 square meters in the centrally located Mariahilfer Strasse. It is also making a big splash in Portugal, refurbishing its recently acquired Sport Zone stores and planning to open six new JD stores, mainly in the northern region of the country.

Meanwhile, the group opened its sixth JD store in the U.S. through the conversion of a former Finish Line store at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Its emerging chain of JD stores in the U.S. is being complemented by a transactional website that was launched in May.

The management remains confident that the group will deliver pre-tax profits for the current fiscal year at least equal to current consensus market expectations of £404.3 million (€450.8m-$508.1m), although the British retail sector is experiencing a slowdown.

For the past financial year, the company reported a 15.4 percent rise in adjusted pre-tax earnings to £339.9 million (€393.6m-$444.6m). The acquisition of The Finish Line in the U.S. and Sport Zone in Iberia helped it to book a strong 49.2 percent increase in total revenues to £4,717.8 million (€5,454.2m-$6,171.5m).

Going forward, the management is counting on strong sales from new stores and growing demand for athleisure, which has become popular among millennials and Generation Z customers.

JD Sports will announce its results for the first half ending on Aug. 3 on Sept. 10.