Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing a mid-single-digit sales decline in Q3, primarily driven by the Consumer Beauty segment, which is still in a phase of addressing operational gaps [40][39] - Gross margin for Q2 was lower than expected, with a contraction of 200-300 basis points attributed to high promotional activity, tariffs, and foreign exchange impacts [44][46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Consumer Beauty segment is underperforming, with a focus on streamlining the portfolio and improving sell-out growth [5][9] - The Prestige division is seeing a sequential recovery, with improved synchronization between sell-in and sell-out, although challenges remain in the U.S. market [41][42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has reported over 30% sales growth in its Prestige portfolio on Amazon, indicating a successful strategy in new channels [14] - The promotional environment has intensified, with competitors increasing markdowns, which is expected to continue into Q3 [60] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on its most iconic brands and streamlining its product offerings to drive market share growth [5][13] - There is a clear emphasis on improving operational discipline and aligning marketing efforts with consumer needs to enhance sell-out performance [31][69] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges that recent financial performance has not met expectations and emphasizes a commitment to transparency and focused execution moving forward [69] - The company is optimistic about future improvements, with plans for sharper priorities and resource allocation to key areas [69] Other Important Information - The company is investing in AI to enhance marketing asset creation efficiency, potentially reducing costs by 70%-80% [8] - There are significant growth opportunities identified in brands like Hugo Boss and Marc Jacobs, with new initiatives planned for the coming years [20][21] Q&A Session Summary Question: Future performance improvement plan for Consumer Beauty - Management is focusing on iconic brands and streamlining product offerings to improve sales and market share [5][9] Question: Changes in channel strategy - The company is investing heavily in online and e-commerce channels while maintaining focus on traditional retail [17] Question: Managing business after Gucci license ends - The company plans to drive growth in existing big brand franchises and explore new initiatives to compensate for the Gucci exit [20][22] Question: Impact of SKU rationalization on top line and gross margin - SKU rationalization is expected to improve productivity and gross margin over time, with a focus on driving top line growth [67] Question: Promotional environment and its impact - The promotional environment is expected to remain challenging, but the company is confident in its innovation and market strategies to mitigate these effects [60][61]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is experiencing a mid-single-digit sales decline in Q3, primarily driven by the Consumer Beauty segment, which is still in a phase of addressing operational gaps [34][38] - Gross margin for Q2 was lower than expected, with a contraction of 200-300 basis points attributed to high promotional activity, tariffs, and foreign exchange impacts [44][46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consumer Beauty is underperforming, with significant declines in iconic brands like COVERGIRL, although recent initiatives have shown early signs of improvement [5][40] - The Prestige division is seeing a sequential recovery, with improved synchronization between sell-in and sell-out, although challenges remain in the U.S. market [41][46] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has reported over 30% sales growth in its prestige portfolio on Amazon, indicating a successful adaptation to changing consumer purchasing behaviors [14][15] - The promotional environment has intensified, with competitors increasing markdowns, which is expected to continue into Q3 [59][60] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on streamlining its portfolio by prioritizing iconic brands and reducing SKU proliferation to enhance market share and sell-out growth [5][13] - Future initiatives include launching sharper, more focused product bundles and leveraging AI for cost-effective asset creation [8][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges that recent financial performance has not met expectations and emphasizes a commitment to transparency and disciplined execution moving forward [69] - There is confidence that the changes being implemented will lead to improved performance over time, although it will not happen overnight [69] Other Important Information - The company is actively investing in new channels such as TikTok and e-commerce to capture emerging consumer segments, particularly Gen Z [17][62] - The exit from the Gucci license in 2028 is prompting the company to focus on building its existing brand franchises and exploring new growth opportunities [20][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Future performance improvement plan for Consumer Beauty - Management is focusing on iconic brands and streamlining product offerings to improve sales and market share, with expected benefits materializing in fiscal 2027 [4][9] Question: Changes in channel strategy - The company is investing heavily in online and e-commerce channels while also protecting existing retail channels to cater to diverse consumer demographics [17][19] Question: Managing business after Gucci license ends - The company plans to drive growth in existing franchises and explore new brand opportunities while adjusting cost structures as needed [20][22] Question: Impact of SKU rationalization on top line and gross margin - SKU rationalization is expected to improve operational efficiency and gross margins over time, with a focus on driving top line growth as a priority [66][67]

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 the guidance range [39] - Adjusted gross margin was 64.2%, reflecting a 260 basis point decline from the prior year, primarily due to an intensified promotional environment during the holiday period [37] - Free cash flow in the first half was $524 million, exceeding guidance and last year's performance, driven by better receivables performance [40] 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, indicating some recovery efforts are taking effect [33] - The company plans to streamline its innovation pipeline to focus on core brands, which is expected to improve productivity and drive margin accretion [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The prestige beauty market grew approximately 5% in Q2, showing a slowdown from 6% growth in Q1, particularly in the U.S. and certain European markets [29] - The U.S. market experienced significant pressure, with the prestige fragrance market growth slowing from 7% to 3% [16] - Emerging regions like Asia Pacific and Latin America showed strong sell-out performance, balancing weaker results in key markets [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is implementing a new strategic framework called "Coty Curated," focusing on making big brands bigger and stopping initiatives that dilute resources [8][9] - A performance improvement plan named "Color the Future" is being activated to return the consumer cosmetics business to growth and profit expansion [26] - The company is committed to operational discipline and prioritizing investments in core brands to drive sustainable growth [51] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged that financial results over the past 18 months have been disappointing, indicating a need for improved operational performance [8] - The leadership transition is seen as an opportunity to provide a balanced view of the business and set realistic financial targets [50] - The company expects mid-single-digit declines in like-for-like revenue trends for Q3, driven primarily by consumer beauty [42] Other Important Information - The company ended its license with the Orveda skincare brand to focus on scale and profitability [27] - A strategic collaboration with OpenAI is being pursued to enhance AI capabilities within the organization [24] - The divestiture of Wella generated $750 million in upfront proceeds, aligning with the company's commitment to divest financial stakes [41] 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, primarily due to consumer beauty challenges [42] - Management is focused on improving market share and operational discipline to drive future growth [51]

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 the guidance range [39] - Adjusted gross margin was 64.2%, reflecting a 260 basis point decline from the prior year, primarily due to an intensified promotional environment during the holiday period [37] - Free cash flow in the first half was $524 million, exceeding guidance and last year's first half free cash flow of $411 million [40] 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, driven by reduced retailer destocking and stronger innovation contributions [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 towards core brands [33][34] - The company plans to streamline the innovation pipeline to focus on high-potential launches, particularly in color cosmetics [35] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The prestige beauty market grew approximately 5% in Q2, showing a slowdown from 6% growth in Q1, with the prestige fragrance market moderating from 5% to 3% growth [29][30] - Emerging regions like Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America showed strong sell-out performance, balancing weaker sales in key markets like the U.S., Germany, and the U.K. [30] - The U.S. market experienced significant pressure, with the prestige fragrance market slowing and aggressive promotional activity impacting overall growth [16][28] 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 projects that dilute resources [8][9] - 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 committed to operational discipline and prioritizing investments in core brands to drive sustainable growth [10][51] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged that financial results over the past 18 months have been disappointing, with a need for improved operational discipline and focus [7][8] - The leadership transition is seen as an opportunity to refine strategic priorities and align with the board for future growth [41][50] - The company expects mid-single-digit declines in like-for-like revenue trends for Q3, primarily driven by consumer beauty [42][45] Other Important Information - The company ended its license with the Aveda skincare brand to focus on scale and profitability [27] - The divestiture of Wella generated $750 million in upfront proceeds, aligning with the company's commitment to divest its financial stake [41] - The company is leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs in content creation [24] 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 by consumer beauty challenges and a highly promotional environment [42][45] Question: How is the company addressing underperformance in the U.S. market? - Management is focusing on reallocating investments towards core brands and improving execution in key markets to close market share gaps [18][33] Question: What is the outlook for gross margins? - The company anticipates gross margins to decline by 200-300 basis points in Q3, influenced by lower sales and a highly promotional environment [46][47]

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]

Core Insights - Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is focusing on innovation to drive growth and reconnect with consumers in its beauty portfolio, demonstrating that new product launches can generate demand even in a mixed macro environment [2][10] Product Development and Innovation - The company is accelerating product development, exemplified by the launch of Fragrance Atelier in Paris, which utilizes AI to shorten development timelines significantly [3] - Fragrance has become Estee Lauder's strongest-performing category, growing by 13% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by new luxury brand launches [4] - Innovation is also evident in faster-growing subcategories like skin longevity and clinical solutions, with recent product launches addressing specific consumer concerns [5][10] Competitor Analysis - Coty Inc. is also leveraging innovation for category growth, focusing on fragrance with new product launches and expanding digital distribution [7] - e.l.f. Beauty is achieving growth through high-quality products at competitive prices, resulting in a market share gain and consistent net sales growth [8] Financial Performance and Valuation - Estee Lauder's shares have increased by 9.1% over the past month, outperforming the industry growth of 8.7% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 44.53X, higher than the industry average of 30.26X [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 and 2027 earnings has increased to $2.17 and $2.96, respectively, over the past week [13]

Core Insights - Coty Inc. is focusing on its innovation pipeline to drive organic revenue growth amid macroeconomic pressures affecting discretionary beauty spending [1][7] - The company is emphasizing fragrances and selective expansion into high-margin categories to improve sales trends [1] Innovation Strategy - A key component of Coty's strategy is the global launch of BOSS Bottled Beyond, which is performing well in Europe and Australia and aims to enhance brand penetration in the U.S. [2] - Coty is also increasing its presence in the fragrance mists category, which is growing rapidly and contributing positively to margins, with successful launches from Calvin Klein, Kylie Cosmetics, and adidas [2] Premium Segment Growth - The ultra-premium fragrance segment saw a 17% growth in the first quarter, indicating strong demand for higher-end products [3] - Upcoming launches include ultra-premium fragrances under the Etro brand and Marc Jacobs Beauty makeup, along with new licenses like Swarovski and Marni [3] Sales Momentum - Management anticipates that the concentration of product launches in the second half of fiscal 2026 will be crucial for restoring positive sales momentum [4] - Current revenue pressures are attributed to trade inventory adjustments, but the innovation pipeline is expected to support a return to positive like-for-like sales growth [4] Stock Performance - Coty's shares have decreased by 2.8% over the past month, underperforming the Consumer Staples sector, which grew by 2.4%, and the S&P 500 index, which rose by 1.3% [5] - The stock is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 6.69, significantly lower than the industry average of 30.32 and the sector average of 16.81, indicating a modest discount compared to peers [9]

Core Insights - Estee Lauder Companies Inc. has identified fragrance as a significant driver of organic sales growth, achieving a 13% organic net sales increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, contributing to an overall organic sales growth of 3% for the quarter [1][8] Fragrance Performance - The luxury segment is the primary driver of Estee Lauder's fragrance portfolio, with brands like Le Labo and Tom Ford experiencing strong consumer demand, particularly in Mainland China [2] - New product launches and extensions from brands such as Jo Malone London and KILIAN PARIS have also bolstered category performance [2] Distribution and Innovation - To enhance fragrance growth, Estee Lauder has expanded its distribution and innovation capabilities, opening 14 new freestanding fragrance stores in key markets and launching a Fragrance Atelier in Paris to develop next-generation luxury fragrances [3] Future Outlook - Management anticipates that fragrance will continue to be a faster-growing category within prestige beauty for fiscal 2026, providing a stable growth source amid mixed broader category trends [4] Competitive Landscape - Coty Inc. positions fragrance as its core growth engine, highlighting strong demand for prestige scents and new launches, with the U.S. prestige fragrance market growing in mid-single digits [5] - e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. treats fragrance as a complementary category, focusing primarily on growth in color cosmetics while selectively expanding into fragrance [6] Financial Performance - Estee Lauder's shares have increased by 9.3% over the past month, outperforming the industry growth of 8.5% [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 44.19X, higher than the industry average of 30.07X [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year earnings growth of 43.1% for fiscal 2026 and 35.9% for fiscal 2027 [10]

Core Insights - Coty reported a decline in both net sales and earnings for Q1 fiscal 2026, missing consensus estimates [2][4] - The company is focusing on becoming a Prestige-focused beauty player, particularly in fragrances, and expects gradual improvement in sales trends [3][20] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were 12 cents per share, below the expected 15 cents, and down from 15 cents in the previous year [4] - Net revenues were $1,577.2 million, a 6% year-over-year decline, missing the consensus estimate of $1,583 million [5] - Adjusted operating income fell to $240.5 million, a 21% decline from the prior year, with an adjusted operating margin of 15.2% [6] Segment Analysis - Prestige segment revenues were $1,069.5 million, accounting for 68% of total sales, down 4% year-over-year [8] - Consumer Beauty segment revenues were $507.7 million, a 9% decline, with an operating loss of $7.7 million compared to an operating income of $14 million in the prior year [12][13] Regional Performance - Americas segment revenues were $649.6 million, reflecting a 6% decline [16] - EMEA segment revenues were $754.8 million, a 4% decline, while Asia Pacific revenues were $172.8 million, down 9% [17][18] Future Outlook - Management anticipates improved sales trends in fiscal 2026, with a return to LFL revenue growth expected in the second half of the fiscal year [21][22] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to decline in the fiscal second quarter before returning to growth later in the year, targeting approximately $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 [23] Market Position - Coty has a subpar Growth Score of D and a Momentum Score of F, but a value score of B, placing it in the top 40% for value investment strategy [25] - The stock has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating an expected in-line return in the coming months [26]

Core Insights - Coty Inc. reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 results with both net sales and earnings missing Zacks Consensus Estimates, showing year-over-year declines in both metrics [1][3][10] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were 12 cents per share, below the expected 15 cents, and down from 15 cents in the prior year [3][10] - Net revenues totaled $1,577.2 million, a 6% decline year-over-year, missing the consensus estimate of $1,583 million [3][10] - On a like-for-like basis, net revenues decreased by 8%, driven by declines in both Prestige and Consumer Beauty segments [4] Segment Analysis Prestige Segment - Net revenues were $1,069.5 million, accounting for 68% of total sales, reflecting a 4% decline on a reported basis [8] - Adjusted operating income for the Prestige segment was $239 million, down from $279.7 million in the prior year, with an adjusted operating margin of 22.3% [9] - The segment is expected to benefit from new fragrance launches and improved performance in the second half of fiscal 2026 [10][11] Consumer Beauty Segment - Net revenues were $507.7 million, representing a 9% decline, with a reported operating loss of $7.7 million compared to an operating income of $14 million in the prior year [12][13] - The segment is focusing on reigniting growth through new innovations and expanding into digital channels [14][15] Regional Performance - The Americas segment reported net revenues of $649.6 million, a 6% decline, primarily due to lower Prestige revenues [16] - EMEA segment revenues were $754.8 million, reflecting a 4% decline, while Asia Pacific revenues were $172.8 million, down 9% [17][18] Financial Health - As of the end of the fiscal first quarter, Coty had cash and cash equivalents of $264.6 million and total debt of $4,069.3 million, resulting in a leverage ratio of 3.7x [19] Future Outlook - Management anticipates gradual improvement in sales trends through fiscal 2026, with expectations for stronger performance in the second quarter and the second half of the year [20][22] - Adjusted EBITDA is projected to decline in the second quarter before returning to growth later in the year, with a target of approximately $1 billion in adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 [23]