Core Viewpoint - The company reported a strong performance in the first half of the year, achieving sales of €80.34 billion, a year-on-year increase of 8.1%, while expressing caution regarding future growth due to economic and geopolitical uncertainties [1][5]. Financial Performance - The second quarter sales reached €39.1 billion, reflecting a 9% year-on-year growth, which is an acceleration from the first quarter's 7.2% [2] - The operating profit for the first half increased from €31.5 billion to €33.3 billion, but net profit decreased from €23.7 billion to €22.5 billion [3] - Operating cash flow was €27.33 billion, down 3.4% year-on-year, while adjusted free cash flow rose 4% to €18.47 billion [4] Business Segment Performance - The leather goods and saddlery segment generated €35.78 billion in revenue, growing 12.4% and accounting for nearly 45% of total revenue [4][9] - The ready-to-wear and accessories segment saw a 5.5% increase to €22.55 billion, while the watch segment declined by 7.9% to €2.81 billion [4][11] - The perfume and cosmetics segment shrank by 3.8% to €2.48 billion, attributed to a high base effect from last year's new product launches [4][12] Regional Performance - The Japanese market exhibited a strong growth of 16%, with revenues reaching €8.15 billion, while the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) only grew by 3% [4][12] - The Americas market showed a stable growth of 12%, with revenues of €14.55 billion, primarily driven by double-digit growth in the U.S. [4][12] Profitability and Challenges - The operating margin for the first half was 41.4%, reflecting a 0.6 percentage point decline year-on-year, indicating pressure on profitability [13] - The company highlighted a negative impact of €77 million from currency fluctuations on revenue, alongside ongoing capital expenditure pressures from capacity expansion investments [14]

Core Insights - Hermes reported a 9% year-on-year sales growth in Q2, with revenue reaching €3.91 billion, although slightly below market expectations of €3.92 billion [1] - The company's net profit decreased from €2.37 billion to €2.25 billion, despite an increase in operating profit [1][3] - The overall sales for the first half of the year amounted to €8.034 billion, reflecting an 8.1% increase compared to the previous year [1] Financial Performance - Q2 revenue was €3.91 billion, up 9% year-on-year, accelerating from 7.2% growth in Q1 [1] - Operating profit for the first half rose from €3.15 billion to €3.33 billion, while net profit fell from €2.37 billion to €2.25 billion [1] - Operating cash flow was €2.733 billion, down 3.4% year-on-year, while adjusted free cash flow increased by 4% to €1.847 billion [1] Business Segment Analysis - Leather goods and saddlery generated €3.578 billion in revenue, growing 12.4%, and accounted for nearly 45% of total revenue [6] - Ready-to-wear and accessories saw a 5.5% increase to €2.255 billion, while silk and textiles grew 3.5% to €447 million [1][7] - The perfume and beauty segment declined by 3.8% to €248 million, and watch revenue fell by 7.9% to €281 million [1][7] Regional Performance - Japan exhibited a strong growth of 16%, with revenue reaching €815 million, highlighting local customer loyalty [7] - The Americas grew by 12% to €1.455 billion, driven by double-digit growth in the U.S. market [7] - The Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) only saw a 3% increase, indicating challenges in the Chinese market [2][7] Profitability and Cost Pressures - Hermes' operating margin for the first half was 41.4%, a decline of 0.6 percentage points year-on-year [8] - Currency fluctuations negatively impacted revenue by €77 million, reflecting the cost pressures faced by multinational luxury brands [10] - Ongoing investments in capacity expansion are expected to compress profit margins in the short term [10]