ASOS reported a quadrupling of 2019-20 profit on the back of strong demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and said it had made a "solid" start to its new financial year and was "well-set" for the peak trading period.

However, it said it was cautious on the outlook for consumer demand, and would remain so until lifestyles and financial stability for its 20-something customers start to normalise.

Shares in ASOS were down 7% at 0859 GMT, paring year-on-year gains to 95%.

"Unemployment is going to be a problem, we feel, for our customers. The brunt of it will fall in the 20-something audience," Chief Executive Nick Beighton told Reuters.

He is also mindful of the impact of Brexit, and is assuming a no-deal outcome in Britain's future trading relationship with the European Union.

"If there is a Brexit deal with tariffs, we would have to suck up a substantial amount of operating cost," he said.

ASOS made a pretax profit of 142.1 million pounds ($183.4 million) in the year to Aug. 31, in line with guidance in August and up from 33.1 million pounds in the same period last year.

Sales rose 19% to 3.26 billion pounds as it served 23.4 million customers, up 3.1 million.

ASOS traded through coronavirus lockdowns when store-based rivals had to close shops for weeks. It has also benefited from fewer products being returned by shoppers during the crisis.

The pandemic has driven a big change in ASOS's product mix. It has dialed-down its going-out, occasion and partywear and dialed-up its casual lines, activewear, sportswear, and hair and make-up products.

"We're worried for our customers because the next three months is normally about partywear, going out, going to the pub, Christmas parties, all that stuff, but we've pivoted our product offer accordingly," said Beighton.

He anticipates a "very promotional" trading environment in the run-up to Christmas, meaning fashion retailers will offer more products at a discount to boost sales.

Excluding the favourable COVID-19 related cost and cash impacts seen in the 2019-20 year, ASOS does expect an improvement in profit in 2020-21.

The group also said it would invest about 90 million pounds in a fourth warehouse. The site in central England is targeted to be up and running in the 2022-23 year, and would employ around 2,000.

($1 = 0.7747 pounds)

(Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Paul Sandle, Sarah Young and Jan Harvey)

By James Davey