LVMH flags robust Chinese language rebound, U.S. slowdown By Reuters
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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The brand of LVMH is seen earlier than a information convention to current the 2022 annual outcomes of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in Paris, France, January 26, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
By Mimosa Spencer and Silvia Aloisi
PARIS (Reuters) – LVMH, the world’s largest luxurious firm, reported a 17% rise in first-quarter gross sales, greater than double analysts’ expectations, as China rebounded sharply after COVID-19 lockdowns.
Gross sales on the French firm, which owns the Louis Vuitton and Dior vogue homes, in addition to Hennessy cognac and U.S. jeweler Tiffany, got here to 21.04 billion euros ($23.10 billion) for the three months to end-March.
The 17% progress on an natural foundation, which strips out the impact of foreign money fluctuations and acquisitions, in contrast with analysts’ expectations for 8% progress, based on a Seen Alpha consensus.
The figures for LVMH, a bellwether for the high-end trade that has confirmed resilient to rising inflation and market turmoil, provided the primary snapshot of the size of the Chinese language restoration after lockdowns dented gross sales on the finish of 2022.
LVMH stated first-quarter gross sales grew by 14% in Asia, excluding Japan, in contrast with an 8% decline within the fourth quarter of final yr, and the group stated it anticipated China to drive progress in 2023.
The image was extra blended in america, the place the robust demand that boosted European vogue homes final yr is displaying indicators of waning, notably amongst youthful, lower-spending buyers.
U.S. gross sales grew by 8% within the quarter, greater than analysts had anticipated, however LVMH finance chief Jean-Jacques Guiony stated most of that progress was right down to brisk enterprise at its much less unique Sephora retail chain of magnificence shops.
“For the remaining, the enterprise is slowing down a bit,” he stated, citing softer demand for vogue and leather-based items, in addition to jewellery.
LVMH made 27% of its 2022 revenues within the Americas, and 30% in Asia excluding Japan.
LVMH’s shares have risen 23% because the begin of the yr, outperforming a 14.5% rise within the French blue-chip index and giving the luxurious items group a market capitalisation of 420 billion euros – double its degree three years in the past — cementing its lead as Europe’s most respected firm.
GRAPHIC: LVMH shares have doubled in 3 years https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/egpbyljmevq/lvmh.PNG
($1 = 0.9109 euros)
