Douglas sees growing sales and earnings in 2025 (updated)

Douglas AG

19/12/2024 07:15

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paragraphs 1-3, 6-8)
       Dec 19 (Reuters) - German perfume and cosmetics retailer
Douglas  DOU1.DE  on Thursday said it expected its sales and
earnings to grow in 2025, driven by growth both in stores and
online, after a good start to the new financial year that
included the important pre-Christmas season.
    That was despite lower consumer confidence in key markets
Germany and France due to rising political and economic
uncertainty.
    "We not only delivered yet another year of excellent
results, but also managed to exceed our upgraded guidance," CEO
Sander van der Laan said in the statement, adding this allowed
Douglas to enter the new year from a position of strength.
    The group, which makes half of its sales in Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, forecast
adjusted sales of between 4.7 billion and 4.8 billion euros
($4.9 billion and $5.0 billion) for the year started on Oct. 1,
up from the 4.45 billion reported for the previous 12 months.
    Analysts polled by Vara were expecting adjusted sales of
4.44 billion euros for 2024 and 4.75 billion euros for 2025.
    Douglas expects its adjusted earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation to rise to between 855 million and
885 million euros in 2025, versus analysts' consensus forecast
of 871.4 million.
    It also confirmed its medium-term target for an adjusted
EBITDA margin of 18.5%. The margin was at 18.2% in the fiscal
2024.
($1 = 0.9629 euros)

 (Reporting by Amir Orusov in Gdansk; editing by Milla Nissi)
 ((Amir.orusov@thomsonreuters.com))