Estee Lauder Q1 2025 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
The Estée Lauder Companies reported a decrease in net sales and a net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Despite challenges in China and Asia travel retail, adjusted diluted EPS increased. The company has withdrawn its fiscal 2025 outlook due to market uncertainties and leadership changes, and has reduced its dividend payout ratio.
Net sales decreased by 4% compared to the prior year, reaching $3.36 billion.
Organic net sales decreased by 5% due to worsened consumer sentiment in China and low conversion rates in Asia travel retail.
The company reported a net loss of $156 million, primarily due to charges associated with talcum litigation settlement agreements.
Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share increased to $0.14, a 7% rise in constant currency.
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder Revenue by Segment
Estee Lauder Revenue by Geographic Location
Forward Guidance
The company anticipates continued challenges in mainland China and Asia travel retail, but is cautiously optimistic about long-term growth opportunities from new economic stimulus measures in China. The company expects ongoing normalization of growth in prestige beauty, particularly in North America, and is providing only a second quarter outlook, withdrawing the full-year fiscal 2025 outlook.
Positive Outlook
- Potential medium- to long-term growth opportunities presented by new economic stimulus measures in China.
- Continued investments to support growth in key areas of the business, particularly for innovation, holiday and key shopping moments.
- Sequential acceleration of retail sales growth in the U.S.
- Expansion of consumer reach of luxury and artisanal portfolio.
- Strategic investments to support targeted expanded consumer reach globally and the growth of the Company’s Luxury Brands
Challenges Ahead
- Additional risks associated with the ongoing slowdown in overall prestige beauty in mainland China and the challenging retail environment in Asia travel retail.
- Continued net sales decline in Hong Kong SAR primarily driven by ongoing low conversion rates among traveling consumers due to worsened consumer sentiment.
- Volatility and uncertainty remain elevated in the near-term in China.
- The company does not expect the stimulus measures to benefit its second quarter performance.
- Ongoing normalization of growth in the prestige beauty industry, most notably in North America.
Revenue & Expenses
Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income