NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Coty, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/coty-inc-class-action. Why Is Coty being Investigated?Coty is one of the world’s largest beauty companies with a portfolio of brands across fragrance, color cosmetics, and skin and b ...

Core Insights - Coty Inc. is under investigation for potential violations of federal securities laws, as announced by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP [1][2] - The investigation arises amid concerns over Coty's reported demand for Prestige fragrances, which constitute 60% of its revenues, while actual retailer inventory levels suggest overstocking due to declining demand [2] Financial Performance - Coty reported disappointing financial results for Q4 and FY 2025, citing issues such as weaknesses in U.S. execution, retailer inventory buildup, and headwinds from previous fiscal year innovations [3] - The company's stock price fell by $1.05, a decline of over 21%, from $4.86 on August 20, 2025, to $3.81 on August 21, 2025, following the release of these results [3]

Core Insights - L'Oréal announced significant changes within its Executive Committee, effective January 1, 2026, with transitions starting from October 1, 2025 [1] Leadership Appointments - David Greenberg will become Chairman of L'Oréal USA, a newly created role aimed at enhancing the Group's reputation and stakeholder engagement in its largest market [2][4] - Alexis Perakis-Valat will succeed Greenberg as CEO of L'Oréal USA and President of North America, having previously transformed the Consumer Products Division, increasing sales from €12 billion to €16 billion [5][6] - Fabrice Megarbane will take over as President of the Consumer Products Division, previously serving as Chief Global Growth Officer, where he drove significant e-commerce expansion [9][10] - Vianney Derville will be appointed Chief Growth Officer, leveraging his experience from leading the European zone, which generated over €11.4 billion in sales last year [12][13] - Emmanuel Goulin will become President of Europe, transitioning from his role in Travel Retail, where he led significant transformations post-COVID [16][18] - Eva Yu will be appointed President of Travel Retail, joining the Extended Executive Committee, and will focus on growth and transformation in the evolving travel retail landscape [20][21] Strategic Importance - The appointments reflect L'Oréal's strategic focus on enhancing leadership in key markets, particularly the U.S. and Europe, to drive future growth [4][12] - The new roles emphasize the importance of engaging with stakeholders and adapting to market changes, particularly in the context of regulatory landscapes and consumer trends [14][15]

Core Insights - The decision to invest in IMAGE Studios was influenced by the company's strong corporate support and the founder's personal connection to its origin during the housing crisis [1][4] - The franchise model offers a flexible work-life balance compared to previous corporate roles, allowing for reduced working hours and increased personal time [6][9] - IMAGE Studios has a focus on community impact and relationship-centered leadership, which has contributed to a high retention rate of beauty professionals [12] Company Background - IMAGE Studios is recognized as a leading franchise brand in modern and luxurious salon suites, appealing to beauty professionals [4][5] - The franchise was established during the pandemic, indicating resilience and adaptability in challenging economic conditions [1] Investment and Funding - Initial funding for the franchise was challenging, with a total investment of $1.2 million required to start the business [7] - The founder leveraged personal storytelling to secure funding from investors, emphasizing the importance of sharing one's journey [7][8] Lifestyle Changes - Transitioning from a corporate role to franchise ownership resulted in a significant reduction in working hours, from 70-80 hours a week to 5-10 hours [6][9] - Improved health and well-being were noted as benefits of the new lifestyle, along with the ability to support other entrepreneurs [10] Business Strategies - The franchise employs innovative recruiting practices, community philanthropy, and a focus on empowering entrepreneurs [11] - Relationship-centered leadership is emphasized, with a commitment to understanding and supporting beauty professionals, leading to a 65% retention rate [12][11] Philanthropic Efforts - IMAGE Studios engages in community service, such as providing free makeovers to women at shelters, enhancing their confidence and well-being [13]

Core Viewpoint - Evolus, Inc. has granted stock options and restricted stock units to newly hired employees, indicating a focus on incentivizing talent acquisition and retention in the performance beauty sector [1] Summary by Category Stock Options and RSUs - The company granted non-qualified stock options to purchase a total of 8,744 shares of common stock [1] - Additionally, 15,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) were awarded to 6 newly hired non-executive employees [1] - Evolus also allocated 143,403 shares of common stock and 104,603 RSUs to other employees, reflecting a broader strategy to enhance employee engagement and align interests with shareholders [1]

Core Viewpoint - Yatsen Holding Limited, a leading beauty group based in China, is set to release its unaudited financial results for Q2 2025 on August 21, 2025, before U.S. market opening [1] Financial Results Announcement - The financial results will be discussed in a conference call scheduled for August 21, 2025, at 7:30 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time [2] - The call can be accessed via multiple toll-free numbers for the U.S., international, and China, as well as a live and archived webcast available on the company's investor relations website [2] Company Overview - Yatsen Holding Limited was founded in 2016 and has launched and acquired several beauty brands, including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Pink Bear, Galénic, DR.WU, Eve Lom, and EANTiM [3] - Perfect Diary is recognized as one of the leading color cosmetics brands in China based on retail sales value [3] - The company engages with customers through both online and offline channels, maintaining a strong presence across major e-commerce and social platforms in China [3]

Core Insights - The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is expected to report declines in both net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with net sales estimated at $3.4 billion, reflecting a 12.2% decrease year-over-year [1][9] - The earnings consensus for the fourth quarter has risen by 2 cents to 8 cents per share, indicating an 87.5% decline compared to the previous year [2][9] - The company is facing challenges due to weak consumer sentiment in Mainland China and a downturn in global travel retail, impacting the prestige beauty sector [3][4] Sales and Earnings Expectations - The anticipated organic net sales decline for the fourth quarter is projected at 13.4%, following a 28% drop in Asia travel retail during the third quarter [4] - Retailer destocking across various regions, including Asia-Pacific and North America, is expected to further pressure sales despite gradual improvements in retail trends outside of travel retail [4] Operating Expenses and Profitability - The Estee Lauder Companies has experienced a significant increase in operating expenses, which rose by 580 basis points as a percentage of sales in the fiscal third quarter, primarily due to investments aimed at growth [5] - Any potential deleverage in operating expenses may negatively impact profit margins [5] Strategic Initiatives - The company is implementing a Profit Recovery and Growth Plan focused on margin expansion, targeted investments, and process simplification to enhance agility [6] - An expanded presence in high-growth digital channels and positioning in emerging markets are seen as positive factors that may support performance in the fourth quarter [6] Earnings Prediction - The company's earnings model suggests a likelihood of an earnings beat, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +36.11% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]

Core Insights - The Beauty Health Company (SKIN) reported a revenue of $78.2 million for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 13.7% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) was $0.03, a significant improvement from -$0.10 in the same quarter last year, indicating a positive shift in profitability [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $74.55 million by 4.89%, while the EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of -$0.06 by 150% [1] Revenue Breakdown - Geographic Revenue in the Americas was $52 million, slightly above the average estimate of $51.35 million, but down 9.9% year-over-year [4] - EMEA revenue reached $18.4 million, exceeding the estimated $16.23 million, but still down 4.2% compared to the previous year [4] - Asia Pacific revenue was reported at $7.7 million, significantly higher than the estimated $5.63 million, but this represented a substantial decline of 43.4% year-over-year [4] Sales Performance - Delivery Systems Net Sales amounted to $22.4 million, surpassing the average estimate of $19.43 million, but down 36.4% from the year-ago quarter [4] - Consumables Net Sales were reported at $55.8 million, slightly above the average estimate of $55.34 million, with a modest year-over-year increase of 0.7% [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Beauty Health have declined by 23.9%, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's increase of 1.2% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), suggesting potential for outperformance in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the first half of 2025, organic net sales rose by 3%, with net sales reported at $334 million for the second quarter, a slight decline from the same period in 2024 [5][21][22] - Gross margin expanded by 170 basis points to 66.2% for the first half and 150 basis points to 65% for the second quarter [22] - Operating income decreased by 9% to $59 million for the quarter, but increased by 1% to $134 million year-to-date [23][24] - Net income attributable to U.S.-based operations decreased by 26% to $18 million, largely due to lower sell-in [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - European-based operations reported net sales growth of 7% in the second quarter and 6% on an organic basis for the first half [5][26] - U.S.-based operations saw a reported second quarter net sales decline of 20%, with organic sales down 14% [6][27] - SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 48.5% for the second quarter compared to 45.6% in 2024 [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America sales rose by 7%, while Western Europe sales increased by 3% [7] - Sales in Eastern Europe were up 14%, but Asia Pacific fragrances declined by 12% [8] - The Middle East and Africa region declined by 19%, reflecting the exit of the Dunhill license [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on product innovation, effective advertising, and promotional programs to maintain demand for fragrance products [4] - Plans to launch new fragrances and expand e-commerce presence, including flagship boutiques in Paris and an e-commerce platform [10][12] - The company is transitioning to third-party logistics to enhance operational efficiency [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that momentum eased in the second quarter, with challenges expected to continue into the second half of the year [4] - The company remains confident in achieving its full-year objectives, supported by a resilient fragrance category and tariff-driven pricing actions [28][29] - Management highlighted the importance of being agile to respond to potential surges in orders during the holiday season [39] Other Important Information - The company has been selected as the exclusive fragrance licensee for Laurentian, with plans to launch a women's fragrance in 2027 [11] - E-commerce channels are experiencing strong momentum, particularly on platforms like Amazon and TikTok [12][13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss promotional levels and destocking trends? - Management indicated that destocking is difficult to assess but noted a slowdown in the market, with retailers being more prudent [34][35] - End demand was reported as good, with the market up 5% in the second quarter [36] Question: Are tariffs impacting retailer purchasing? - Management clarified that retailers are not subject to tariffs, but distributors are, leading to a more cautious purchasing approach [46] Question: Will the company continue to add new brands? - Management expressed a commitment to diversifying the portfolio and indicated capacity to take on more brands in the future [50] Question: What risks does retailer caution impose? - Management acknowledged the risk of revenue being pushed into Q4 due to uncertainty in purchasing [55] Question: Will smaller packaging be considered for TikTok? - Management confirmed that smaller packaging will be developed for certain brands on TikTok to meet price point demands [58] Question: What caused the increase in debt from Q1 to Q2? - Management explained that the increase was due to a loan taken out for asset purchases and additional office space [61]

Core Insights - Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. reported third-quarter fiscal 2025 results with adjusted earnings of 51 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents and up from 45 cents in the prior year [2][9] - Consolidated net sales were $933.3 million, matching the consensus estimate but reflecting a 1% decline year over year [2][9] - Comparable sales decreased by 0.4% year over year, influenced by macroeconomic uncertainties affecting consumer spending, although there was growth in hair color and digital marketplaces [3][9] Financial Performance - The consolidated gross profit was approximately $481 million, remaining flat year over year, while the adjusted gross margin improved by 100 basis points to 52% [4] - Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $398.9 million, an increase of $2.1 million year over year, primarily due to higher labor and IT costs, partially offset by savings from growth initiatives [5] - Adjusted operating earnings increased to $86.1 million, with an adjusted operating margin of 9.2%, up 30 basis points from the previous year [6] Segment Performance - In the Sally Beauty Supply segment, net sales fell 1.8% year over year to $526.8 million, with comparable sales down 1.1% [7] - The Beauty Systems Group segment saw a slight increase in net sales of 0.2% year over year to $406.5 million, with comparable sales up 0.5% [8] Cash Flow and Debt - At the end of the fiscal third quarter, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $112.8 million and long-term debt of $882.4 million [10] - The company generated cash flow from operations of $69.4 million and operating free cash flow of $49.1 million during the quarter [10] Future Outlook - Management revised its fiscal 2025 comparable sales outlook to the high end of the previously issued range, now projecting flat comparable sales [12][13] - The adjusted operating margin expectation has been raised to a range of 8.6-8.7%, compared to the earlier guidance of 8-8.5% [13]