Zalando Reports 18.5% Jump in Q2 Operating Profit

The logo of fashion retailer Zalando is pictured at the new headquarters in Berlin, Germany, April 10, 2019. (Reuters)
The logo of fashion retailer Zalando is pictured at the new headquarters in Berlin, Germany, April 10, 2019. (Reuters)
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Zalando Reports 18.5% Jump in Q2 Operating Profit

The logo of fashion retailer Zalando is pictured at the new headquarters in Berlin, Germany, April 10, 2019. (Reuters)
The logo of fashion retailer Zalando is pictured at the new headquarters in Berlin, Germany, April 10, 2019. (Reuters)

Online fashion marketplace Zalando reported an 18.5% rise in its operating profit for the second quarter on Tuesday, helped by inventory management and lower order fulfilment costs, as its sports, designer and beauty segments drove growth.

Zalando has focused on higher-priced brands and the growing sportswear category, along with scaling up its partner business, as it faces competition from fast-fashion retailers with cheaper offerings such as Shein.

Quarterly adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose to 171.6 million euros ($187.9 million) from 144.8 million in the same period last year, Zalando said.

Its qross merchandise volume (GMV) - a key revenue metric measuring the total value of all goods sold - rose 2.8% on the year to 3.8 billion euros in the second quarter, while revenue was up 3.4% at 2.6 billion euros.

Zalando also said Chief Financial Officer Sandra Dembeck had decided not to renew her contract beyond the current term ending on Feb. 28, 2025.



LVMH Posts 3% Drop in Sales as Core Business Slumps

The logo of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is seen in front of the LVMH luxury group headquarters in Paris, France, April 14, 2025. (Reuters)
The logo of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is seen in front of the LVMH luxury group headquarters in Paris, France, April 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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LVMH Posts 3% Drop in Sales as Core Business Slumps

The logo of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is seen in front of the LVMH luxury group headquarters in Paris, France, April 14, 2025. (Reuters)
The logo of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is seen in front of the LVMH luxury group headquarters in Paris, France, April 14, 2025. (Reuters)

LVMH, the world's largest luxury group, said on Monday sales fell 3% over the first quarter, missing expectations and confirming a sector slowdown as shoppers held back on purchases of designer fashion in a choppy economic environment.

The French company behind high-end labels including fashion houses Louis Vuitton and Dior, jewellery brand Bulgari and Hennessy cognac, reported sales for the three months to the end of March of 20.3 billion euros ($23.08 billion).

The result compares with 1% growth in the fourth quarter and analyst expectations for 2% growth in the first quarter of 2025, according to a VisibleAlpha consensus estimates.

The fashion and leather goods division, home to Louis Vuitton and Dior and accounting for nearly half of group sales and over three quarters of operating profit, posted a 5% fall in sales, well below expectations for a flat performance.

LVMH said fashion and leather goods sales saw a "slight decline" in the US while Japan was weaker than the comparable quarter a year ago when Chinese led growth in spending there.

Europe's luxury players were counting on wealthy Americans to reignite growth for the sector at the start of this year as the outlook for China, another crucial market, remained bleak.

But as fears of a US recession are on the rise after President Donald Trump's recent tariff announcements sent stock markets and the dollar plunging, the sector is bracing for what could be its longest slump in years.

The luxury sector, selling prized items to rich shoppers at high margins, is better positioned than other industries to use its pricing power to shield profits against Trump's tariffs, which would include a 20% charge on European fashion and leather goods and 31% for Swiss-produced watches if fully applied.

Last week, Trump paused most of his tariffs for 90 days, setting a general 10% duty rate instead.