These FTSE 100 stocks are flying! Can they keep it up?

The last few years have been miserable for some stock markets, especially in the UK. I’m hoping that we’re slowly but surely turning a corner. Should stocks continue to soar, the times ahead could be a prosperous for us retail investors.

These two stocks have soared this year. So, can they keep their strong form moving forward? I haven’t paid much attention to fashion and lifestyle retailer ( ) this year and I’m regretting it. Year to date its share price is up 16.

1%. Over the last year, it has climbed a magnificent 43.1%.

I thought the FTSE 100’s 8.3% rise over the last 12 months was impressive. Next has outdone that, and then some.

The threats to the business are fairly obvious. We’re in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, which is an ongoing threat to Next’s sales. If the economy takes a dive, that will no doubt impact the firm.

Next earlier warned that sales were expected to slow down in the remaining three quarters of its year due to factors including wet spring weather. With its shares trading on 14.2 times earnings, above the Footsie average of 11, it could be argued its stock is on the expensive side.

Nevertheless, annual profit is still expected to rise nearly 5% to £960m this year. And I like the moves the business has made as it continues to invest in future growth. For instance, it has increased its equity stake in Reiss from 21% to 72%, while also taking a 97% stake in FatFace.

Its yield of 2.2% sits below the Footsie average. But there’s scop.