Hugo Boss Cuts Full Year Sales Guidance over Weaker Demand in China, UK

FILE PHOTO: Mens clothing are on display at the Boss store in London, Britain, May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Mens clothing are on display at the Boss store in London, Britain, May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe/File Photo
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Hugo Boss Cuts Full Year Sales Guidance over Weaker Demand in China, UK

FILE PHOTO: Mens clothing are on display at the Boss store in London, Britain, May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Mens clothing are on display at the Boss store in London, Britain, May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Chris J. Ratcliffe/File Photo

German fashion house Hugo Boss on Monday cut its sales guidance for the year to a range of between 4.20 billion euros ($4.58 billion) to 4.35 billion euros over weakening global consumer demand especially in markets like China and the UK.
The company earlier expected sales for the year at around 4.30 billion to 4.45 billion euros.
Hugo Boss said that it expects operating profit (EBIT) to be around 350 million euros to 430 million euros, down from its previously communicated guidance of around 430 million euros to 475 million euros.
This is the second time this year that Hugo Boss has cut its sales guidance.
The company had previously also flagged in its first quarter results weaker demand in China and concerns about the US consumer sentiment ahead of presidential elections, causing shares to slump to their lowest since 2022.
The German fashion house also said that its preliminary second-quarter sales declined by 1% to 1.02 billion euros. Its operating profit (EBIT) in the period amounted to 70 million euros on a preliminary basis.
The premium apparel brand has been on an expansion mission, and has been increasing marketing spend and opening 102 new points of sale in 2023, but its shares have fallen this year as it warned of slower sales growth.
World's biggest watchmaker Swatch reported a steep drop in first half sales and earnings earlier on Monday as demand for luxury goods in China remained weak, Burberry also issued a profit warning and scrapped its dividend payment for the year as well.



Nike Sinks as Gloomy Sales Forecast Fans Growth Concerns

The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
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Nike Sinks as Gloomy Sales Forecast Fans Growth Concerns

The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)
The Nike swoosh logo is seen outside the store on 5th Ave in New York, New York, US, March 19, 2019. (Reuters)

Nike shares slumped 15% premarket on Friday as a forecast for a surprise drop in annual sales amplified investor concerns about the pace of the sportswear giant's efforts to stem market share losses to upstart brands such as On and Hoka.

The company on Thursday projected a mid-single-digit percentage fall in fiscal 2025 revenue, compared to analysts' estimates of a near 1% rise, dragging shares of rivals and sportswear retailers across Europe, UK and US on Friday, Reuters reported.

British sportswear retailer JD Sports fell as much as 6.6% and Germany's Puma lost 4%, while Adidas was flat after briefly rising nearly 2%.

"Nike shares are headed for a stay in the proverbial penalty box until new product innovations actually start to manifest themselves and management regains investor trust," Wedbush analyst Tom Nikic said in a note.

To be sure, Nike has cut back on oversupplied brands including Air Force 1 to curb a worsening sales decline as part of a $2 billion cost-cutting plan launched late last year.

Nike is set to roll out this year an Air Max version and Pegasus 41 with full-length foam midsole made from ReactX to boost sustainability, responding to concerns over stagnating innovation.

The company was "also accelerating planned reductions for our three largest franchises ... while we have work to do, we are very focused on scaling the newness to offset this planned reduction," CEO John Donahoe said on a post-earnings call.

Newer sporting goods brands, including Hoka, Asics, New Balance and On, accounted for 35% of global market share in 2023 compared to the 20% held over the 2013-2020 period, according to a RBC research report released in June.

"They know where the problems are, but they're having trouble right now generating demand and it is going to be a transition period that is going to take some time in different markets," Morningstar analyst David Swartz said.

Nike's US market share in the sports footwear category fell to 34.97% in 2023 from 35.37% in 2022, and 35.40% in 2021, according to GlobalData.

At least six brokerages downgraded the stock and 15 cut their price targets on Nike.

Nike's shares were trading at 25.13 times profit estimates while On and Deckers were trading at 37.41 and 31.13 times earnings expectations.