Analysis of UK Profit Warnings
EY has tracked profit warnings from UK registered companies listed on the UK’s Main Market or AIM for 20 years, giving us powerful insight into business, capital and the UK economy.
What is a profit warning?
A profit warning is an official statement to the stock exchange from a publicly listed company that says that it will report full-year profits materially below management or market expectations.
Our analysis:
Our analysis provides you with insights into profit warning trends and key economic, sector and market issues facing UK businesses. You can delve into the latest quarter’s findings, access twelve years’ worth of data at the click of a button using our console or understand the trends of the past 20 years to identify the forces affecting your market and shape your path ahead.

An isolated incident or the first ripple in a pond?
Q3 2019 Headlines
UK quoted companies issued 77 profit warnings in Q3 2019, as protracted uncertainty continued to trigger widespread UK earning downgrades.
Over a fifth of profit warnings blamed Brexit in the third quarter, with over a third of warnings pointing to citing rising macro-economic uncertainty. There are increasing concerns not just for UK, but also for global growth, as geopolitical and trade tensions continue to dent confidence and investment.
With the outlook in the balance, it’s vital that companies develop the financial and operational agility they need to react quickly to changes in their markets.
In Q3 2019 we recorded a
13%year-on-year increase in profit warnings
In Q3 2019
22%of profit warnings cite Brexit
In the last 12 months
31%of FTSE retailers have issued a profit warning
In 2019
10%of profit warnings cite accounting issues