L'Oreal sales rise 9.4% as mass market makeup outshines luxury
L'Oreal's Q1 sales better than expected
Driven by Europe, North America
Sales at consumer division, company's biggest, grew 11.1%
Recasts with analyst comment, detail throughout
By Dominique Patton and Mimosa Spencer
PARIS, April 18 (Reuters) -L'Oreal OREP.PA reported a 9.4% rise in first quarter sales on a like-for-like basis on Thursday, beating expectations and easing concerns about a slowdown in the two biggest beauty markets the United States and China.
The French cosmetics giant, which owns the Maybelline and Lancome brands, reported sales of 11.24 billion euros ($11.98 billion) for the first three months to the end of March.
The sales growth exceeded a consensus of a 6.1% rise cited by analysts at Jefferies. Sales were up 8.3% on a reported basis.
L'Oreal, the world's biggest beauty company, said sales in both North America and Europe grew by more than 12%, as its mass market range and dermatological products compensated for weakness in the luxury segment.
The West "continues to power on," Jefferies analysts said following the results, adding North America had defied weakening scanner data and downbeat retailer commentary.
U.S. retailer Ulta Beauty ULTA.O earlier this month rattled the market with comment about a faster-than-expected slowdown in the United States that hit shares across the sector.
Following Thursday's results, L'Oreal's American depositary receipts (ADRs) gained as much as 6.5% in New York trading, while shares in U.S. rivals Estee Lauder EL.N and Coty COTY.N also rose.
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
L'Oreal said its consumer products division, which includes its L'Oreal Paris range of mascaras and Elseve hair gloss and accounts for more than a third of its revenues, grew 11.1% on a like-for-like basis.
The company benefited from higher volumes as well as value in the unit, with strong demand in Europe and emerging markets.
The smaller but fast-growing dermatological beauty unit, which sells La Roche-Posay and CeraVe skincare, grew 21.9%, as it continued to benefit from medical recommendations.
Sales in the luxury division that markets fragrances such as YSL's Libre and Aesop products acquired last year, grew by 1.8%, beating expectations for a decline, as strong growth in Europe and North America helped offset softness in North Asia.
North Asia suffered from an unfavourable comparison base in Travel Retail and sluggish market growth in mainland China, the company said.
Jefferies analysts said travel retail sales were also dented by a Chinese government crackdown on resellers of foreign consumer products, known as "daigou".
L'Oreal has the biggest share of China's luxury beauty market, or about 34%, Chief Executive Nicolas Hieronimus told analysts on a call.
"We are unhappy about the fact that this market is not rebounding the way we expected it to rebound," he said, but added that the company is still outperforming the market.
The company grew 6.2% in China, compared to less than 1% in the broader market, he said.
Shares in L'Oreal, Europe's 6th most valuable listed company, with a market capitalisation of about 220 billion euro ($234.26 billion), have lost 6% so far this year, compared to a 5% fall at U.S. peer Estee Lauder EL.N.
($1 = 0.9383 euros)
LVMH sales growth slips on luxury spending slowdown - Reuters News ID:nL2N3GP22C
Reporting by Dominique Patton and Mimosa Spencer; Editing by Susan Fenton and Barbara Lewis
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
