Hugo Boss Third Quarter Operating Profit Beats Expectations on Better Cost Control

New Hugo Boss logo and their website shop are seen in this illustration taken, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)
New Hugo Boss logo and their website shop are seen in this illustration taken, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)
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Hugo Boss Third Quarter Operating Profit Beats Expectations on Better Cost Control

New Hugo Boss logo and their website shop are seen in this illustration taken, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)
New Hugo Boss logo and their website shop are seen in this illustration taken, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)

Hugo Boss' third-quarter operating profit slightly beat market expectations on Tuesday, as the company reported a 1% increase in currency-adjusted group sales amid persistently weak demand in China.

Quarterly earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) were down 7% on the year at 95 million euros ($103.3 million), but above analysts' estimate of 90 million euros in a company-provided poll, helped by cost management, it said.

Hugo Boss shares were indicated 2.5% higher in Lang & Schwarz premarket trade.

"Estimates for the coming quarter should be anchored today," analysts at Jefferies wrote in a note to clients, highlighting improved sales in September, better cost control and Hugo Boss' confirmed guidance for the year.

After a 2022 brand revamp boosted its resilience last year, the upmarket fashion label has been grappling with weakening consumer demand despite increasing investment in marketing and production capacity in recent months.

Currency-adjusted sales were 1.029 billion euros during the three months, slightly up from 1.027 billion last year and broadly in line with market expectations of 1.023 billion euros.

"Particularly in China, the overall market environment was affected by persistent subdued consumer demand," the company said in a statement.

Quarterly currency-adjusted sales in its third-biggest market Asia/Pacific fell 7% to 110 million euros, but increased 1% in the Europe, Middle-East and Africa region and 4% in the Americas.

The company said improvements in Germany offset softer sales trends in France and in Britain, while it also saw further sales improvements in the United States.

Hugo Boss, which is taking additional measures to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, especially around sourcing, said it continued to focus on cost control to support profitability into the fourth quarter. It maintained its full-year sales and earnings forecasts after slashing them earlier this year.



Under Armour Raises Annual Profit Forecast on Cost-savings Plan

FILE PHOTO: Products are displayed in an Under Armour store in New York City, US, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Products are displayed in an Under Armour store in New York City, US, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
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Under Armour Raises Annual Profit Forecast on Cost-savings Plan

FILE PHOTO: Products are displayed in an Under Armour store in New York City, US, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Products are displayed in an Under Armour store in New York City, US, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

Sportswear maker Under Armour raised its annual profit forecast on Thursday, betting on its cost-saving strategy and efforts to sell more clothing and shoes at full price.

Shares of the company rose 6.3% in premarket trading.

Following several quarters of poor results, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank returned as CEO to reset the business and has been reducing headcount and cutting down on inventory of some products.

The company is also aiming to cut back on promotions and sell apparel and footwear at full prices.
It now expects annual adjusted per-share profit of between 24 cents and 27 cents, compared with its prior forecast of 19 cents to 21 cents.