Carrefour 2025 sales grow as profit hit by currency and integration costs

Core Insights - Carrefour reported a like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of 2.8% in 2025, with total group sales reaching €91.48 billion ($108.25 billion) despite currency pressures [1] - The company faced a decline in net income, dropping to €319 million from €723 million in 2024, attributed to higher taxes and integration costs [2] - Recurring operating income fell to €2.16 billion, with an operating margin of 2.6%, while net free cash flow was reported at €1.31 billion [3] Financial Performance - Net sales for the year were €82.10 billion, with a gross margin decline of 22 basis points to 19.5% due to price investments and changes in store mix [2] - EBITDA was €4.51 billion, down 0.4% on a reported basis but up 3.4% at constant exchange rates [2] - Fourth quarter LFL sales increased by 1.6% to €24.29 billion [3] Regional Performance - France's ROI, excluding Cora & Match, increased by 11.3% to €1.10 billion, with a margin increase of 31 basis points to 3.0% [4] - ROI in Europe, excluding France, grew by 3.7% to €481 million, driven by a 13.5% increase in Spain [4] - Latin America's ROI declined to €779 million from €879 million, stable at constant exchange rates but impacted by currency depreciation [4] Strategic Developments - Carrefour completed the disposal of its Italian operations and raised its stake in Carrefour Brazil through a minority buyout [4] - The company launched the Concordis buying alliance and entered exclusive negotiations to sell Carrefour Romania, expected to complete in the second half of 2026 [5] - Carrefour confirmed €130 million of synergies from integrating Cora & Match by 2027 [5] Future Outlook - For 2026, Carrefour anticipates ongoing strength in France and Spain, gradual volume recovery in Brazil, and benefits from the end of Cora & Match integration costs [6] - The board proposed an ordinary dividend of €0.97 per share for 2025, a 5.4% increase, along with a €150 million special dividend contingent on the closure of the Carrefour Romania disposal [5] - CEO Alexandre Bompard highlighted major milestones in 2025, including the integration of Cora & Match and the launch of the European buying platform Concordis [7]