Coty Inc raised full-year profit forecast on Wednesday, betting on price hikes and resilient demand for its fragrances and cosmetics even as inflation pinches consumer wallets.
The company's shares rose about 4% to $10.80 in premarket trading after also beating expectations for second-quarter revenue and profit.
Even with the United States on the edge of a potential recession, the beauty market's post-pandemic rebound thrives as wealthy consumers indulge in smaller luxuries like lipsticks and fragrances while delaying big-ticket purchases.
Higher Costs
To offset higher freight and labour expenses along with rising commodity costs, Coty was also implementing new price increases in a very granular manner on consumer beauty and prestige segments, chief finance officer Laurent Mercier told Reuters.
Coty's prestige division, home to cosmetics and fragrances from the Hugo Boss and Gucci brands, reported a 5% decline in its second-quarter revenue as a strong dollar impacted companies that are stretched out internationally and convert foreign currencies into dollars.
Meanwhile, smaller exposure to the Chinese market helped Coty shield itself from China's zero-COVID policy that hit major luxury companies including peer Estée Lauder that last week forecast a bigger drop in annual profit due to uncertainty around the region's recovery.
Big Opportunity
But Mercier said China posed a big opportunity in the coming quarters combined with great performance of its other regions, adding that Chinese travellers' eventual return to Europe would create a even bigger momentum for the European business.
Analysts expect China's move in early December to relax its toughest COVID curbs and lift some travel restrictions to benefit luxury and beauty companies that had flagged a hit to sales in the country.
The CoverGirl parent now expects 2023 adjusted profit of between 35 cents and 36 cents per share, against a prior forecast of 32 cents to 33 cents per share.
News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more A-brand news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
