Coty (NYSE:COTY) Q2 2026 Earnings call February 05, 2026 04:45 PM ET Company ParticipantsLaurent Mercier - CFOMarkus Strobel - Executive Chairman and Interim CEOOperatorFollowing fiscal 2026 earnings. On Friday, February 6, 2026, at approximately 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time or 2:00 P.M. Central European Time, we will hold a separate live Q&A session on our results, which you can access via our investor relations website. Joining me for our presentation are Markus Strobel, Coty's Executive Chairman of the Board a ...

Coty (NYSE:COTY) Q2 2026 Earnings call February 05, 2026 04:45 PM ET Company ParticipantsLaurent Mercier - CFOMarkus Strobel - Executive Chairman and Interim CEOOperatorFull 11 fiscal 2026 earnings. On Friday, February 6, 2026, at approximately 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time or 2:00 P.M. Central European Time, we will hold a separate live Q&A session on our results, which you can access via our investor relations website. Joining me for our presentation are Markus Strobel, Coty's Executive Chairman of the Board and ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a decline in adjusted EBITDA of 15% year-over-year, totaling $330 million, which was at the lower end of guidance for a low- to mid-teens decline [37] - Adjusted gross margin was 64.2%, reflecting a 260 basis point decline from the prior year, with expectations for continued margin pressures in the second half of fiscal year 2026 [36][44] - Free cash flow in the first half was $524 million, exceeding guidance and last year's performance, driven by better receivables performance [38] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Prestige segment, like-for-like sales declined by 2%, an improvement from a 6% decline in the previous quarter, with innovation contributing positively [31][32] - Consumer beauty saw like-for-like sales decline of 6%, improving from an 11% decline in Q1, with a focus on reallocating investments to core brands [33][36] - The company plans to streamline its innovation pipeline to focus on high-potential launches, particularly in the color cosmetics segment [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The prestige beauty market grew approximately 5% in Q2, indicating a slowdown from 6% growth in Q1, with the prestige fragrance market moderating from 5% to 3% growth [28][29] - The company experienced a gap between sell-out and market performance, particularly in key markets like the U.S., U.K., and Germany, while emerging markets showed strong sell-out performance [30][31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is implementing a new strategic framework called "Coty Curated," focusing on making big brands bigger, scaling successful initiatives, and stopping those that dilute resources [9][10] - A performance improvement plan named "Color the Future" is being activated to return the consumer cosmetics business to growth and profit expansion [26][33] - The company is prioritizing operational discipline and focused investment to enhance market share and profitability [18][49] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged disappointing financial results over the past 18 months and emphasized the need for operational discipline and focused execution to leverage the company's strengths [8][9] - The outlook for Q3 includes expectations for mid-single-digit declines in like-for-like revenue trends, particularly in consumer beauty, while the prestige fragrance market is expected to grow low to mid-single digits [40][41] - Management is committed to protecting marketing investments behind core brands and expects to see improvements in sell-out trends in focus brands [46][44] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with net debt of $2.6 billion and leverage of 2.7x, the lowest levels in over nine years, with a commitment to reduce leverage closer to 2x over time [39] - The divestiture of Wella generated $750 million in upfront proceeds, aligning with the company's strategy to streamline its portfolio [38] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for the upcoming quarters? - The company expects like-for-like sales to decline mid-single digits in Q3, driven primarily by declines in consumer beauty, while the prestige fragrance market is anticipated to grow low to mid-single digits [40][41] Question: How is the company addressing the underperformance in the U.S. market? - The company is focusing on reallocating investments to core brands and improving execution in key markets, with a specific plan to narrow the sell-out gap with the market over time [33][41]