Estee Lauder Q4 2023 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
The Estée Lauder Companies reported a 1% increase in net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, with organic net sales increasing by 4%. Growth was driven by Makeup, Fragrance, and Hair Care, as well as double-digit growth in emerging markets. Net loss for the quarter was $33 million, or $.09 per diluted share.
Net sales returned to growth, increasing 1% on a reported basis and 4% organically.
Makeup net sales increased sequentially each quarter, to growth of 13% in the fiscal 2023 fourth quarter.
Fragrance net sales rose 14%, reflecting double-digit growth across every region and led by TOM FORD, Estée Lauder and Le Labo.
Net sales grew in nearly all markets in Asia/Pacific and EMEA as they continued to progress in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder
Estee Lauder Revenue by Segment
Forward Guidance
The Company enters the fiscal year with the continued focus on accelerating balanced and profitable growth across regions, brands, product categories and channels.
Positive Outlook
- Sequential net sales growth improvement quarterly
- Full-year gross margin expansion primarily driven by strategic price increases, discount reductions and lower obsolescence charges, partially offset by manufacturing under-absorption.
- Sequential operating margin improvement quarterly throughout fiscal 2024, with greater expansion in the second half of fiscal year 2024 due to the cadence of the improvement of the Asia travel retail business.
- Full-year effective tax rate of approximately 27%.
- Net cash flows provided by operating activities are forecast to be between $1.7 billion and $1.8 billion.
Challenges Ahead
- The rebalancing of inventory in Asia travel retail is expected to partially offset the anticipated growth in many other markets globally
- The cybersecurity incident is expected to have an immaterial impact to net sales and a dilutive impact to net earnings per common share of approximately $.07 for the fiscal 2024 first quarter and full year.
- The Company is mindful of the headwinds that have emerged in China’s economy.
- The Company is also conscious of the potential impacts to its business from volatility associated with high inflation
- The Company is monitoring the impact on consumer preferences.
Revenue & Expenses
Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income