Investing.com -- Kering (EPA:PRTP) shares jumped over 5% on Tuesday after the luxury goods group reported fourth-quarter revenue and earnings that beat analysts’ expectations, providing some relief to investors amid ongoing challenges at flagship brand Gucci.
The company posted fourth-quarter revenue of €4.39 billion, a 4% organic increase that came in ahead of consensus estimates.
For the full year, Kering’s EBIT reached €2.55 billion, with a margin of 14.9%, slightly above expectations. The group’s second-half EBIT of €972 million was 7% higher than forecasts.
Gucci, Kering’s largest brand, continued to struggle, reporting a 24% decline in fourth-quarter revenue on an organic basis.
That was slightly below estimates, but marked an improvement from the previous quarter, when sales fell 26%. Retail sales at Gucci declined 21%, showing a modest rebound in North America and Asia-Pacific, helped by new leather goods lines.
Still, RBC analysts noted that Gucci’s performance improvement was less pronounced than some of its peers, leaving a gap in relative performance.
Despite Gucci’s weakness, other Kering brands posted better-than-expected results. Saint Laurent reported a smaller-than-expected decline, with fourth-quarter revenue down 8% organically, compared to an estimated 11% drop.
The brand saw particular strength in North America and Asia-Pacific, supported by new iterations of its signature handbags.
Bottega Veneta delivered a standout performance, with revenue growing 12% organically, nearly double the consensus estimate of 6%, driven by strong retail demand.
The group’s “Other Houses” segment, which includes Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen, saw a 4% organic decline, outperforming expectations of an 11% drop.
While Balenciaga performed well, Alexander McQueen lagged. Meanwhile, Kering’s eyewear and corporate division generated €434 million in revenue, 4% ahead of forecasts.
In addition to Kering's cash flow and financial position, investors were encouraged by its cash flow. For the year, the company generated free cash flow of €1.4 billion, or €3.6 billion excluding real estate, compared to net debt of €10.5 billion, which was slightly lower than expected.
In its dividend proposal, the company proposed a dividend of €6 per share, below the €6.5 forecast by analysts at RBC.
In spite of the uncertainty surrounding Gucci's turnaround, speculation has fueled the appointment of new CEO Stefano Cantino.
Cantino appears willing to take bold measures, including a possible reshuffling of Gucci's creative direction, according to RBC analysts. Though the timing of a full brand reset is unclear, analysts believe the “worst” may be over.