LVMH Posts Solid Results Amidst Economic Uncertainty

7월 23일

Luxury goods giant LVMH has reported robust first-half results, with revenue climbing 2% on an organic basis to €41.7bn. Despite a challenging economic and geopolitical backdrop, the group demonstrated its resilience, driven by the enduring appeal of its high-end brands.

Operating profit reached €10.7bn, representing a healthy operating margin of 25.6%, significantly exceeding pre-pandemic levels. However, the group cautioned that exchange rate fluctuations had a substantial negative impact on the period.

Europe and the US delivered growth, while Japan experienced a stellar performance, buoyed by a surge in Chinese tourists. The group's fashion and leather goods division, anchored by powerhouse brands Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, continued to perform strongly.

While the wines and spirits arm faced headwinds from a normalising post-Covid demand environment, particularly in cognac, the group's perfumes and cosmetics division thrived, driven by the success of flagship brands and innovative product launches.

The watches and jewellery division encountered challenges, with revenue declining 3% organically due in part to unfavourable exchange rates. Nevertheless, the group maintained its focus on innovation and store refurbishment.

LVMH's selective retailing business, spearheaded by Sephora, continued to impress with strong growth and market share gains. The group's travel retail arm, DFS, remained under pressure from subdued international travel.

Bernard Arnault, LVMH Chairman and CEO, expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting the group's ability to navigate a complex environment. He reiterated the company's commitment to product excellence and retail expertise as it seeks to reinforce its global leadership position in luxury goods.

The group declared an interim dividend of €5.50 per share.
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TL;DR

Revenue growth: Overall revenue grew 2% organically.

Profitability: Operating margin remained exceptionally high at 25.6%.

Regional performance: Europe and the US saw growth, while Japan experienced double-digit growth driven by Chinese tourists.

Divisional performance:

Wines & Spirits: Declined due to normalization of post-Covid demand and weak Chinese market.

Fashion & Leather Goods: Continued growth with strong performance from Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior.

Perfumes & Cosmetics: Solid growth driven by flagship brands and new product launches.

Watches & Jewelry: Declined due to exchange rate fluctuations, but maintained strong innovation.

Selective Retailing: Sephora continued to excel, while DFS remained challenged.

Economic uncertainty: The group faced a challenging economic and geopolitical environment.

Exchange rate fluctuations: Had a negative impact on the financial results.

Outlook:

LVMH remains confident in its ability to maintain its leadership position in the luxury goods market through continued focus on product desirability, exceptional quality, and strong retail execution.