PresentationLuca MarottaGroup Chief Finance Officer  Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us today. As highlighted in our press release, H1 sales decreased by 4.2% organically. This performance includes a minus 11% decline in Q2, which should be, as expected, the lowest quarter of the year. It reflects some adverse phasing effect in a still challenging macroeconomic environment. This result stems from mixed regional trends, mainly driven by, on one hand, strong sales growth in the U.S. Cognac div ...

Core Viewpoint - The cognac maker reported a deterioration in market conditions in China and a softer-than-expected sales rebound in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Market Conditions - Market conditions in China have worsened, impacting sales performance [1] - The anticipated sales rebound in the U.S. has not met expectations, indicating potential challenges in recovery [1]

Core Insights - LVMH's wine and spirits division experienced a 1% increase in organic revenue in Q3, reaching €1.33 billion ($1.55 billion) due to improvements in Champagne and wines [1] - Champagne and wines saw a 7% organic revenue growth in Q3, while Cognac and spirits faced a 6% decline [2] - For the first nine months of 2025, organic revenues for the wine and spirits division decreased by 4% to €3.9 billion, with reported revenues down 7% due to negative currency impacts [2] Group Performance - Total group revenues in Q3 increased by 1% on an organic basis but decreased by 4% on a reported basis to €18.3 billion [4] - For the first nine months of the fiscal year, revenues dropped 2% organically and 4% reported to €58 billion [4] - The company noted sequential improvement in Champagne and wines, alongside strong performance in Provence rosé wines [4] Segment Analysis - Champagne and wines achieved a 3% organic revenue growth in the first nine months of 2025, totaling €2.16 billion, while reported revenues increased by 1% due to positive currency effects [3] - Cognac and spirits revenues declined 12% organically and 4% in reported terms to €1.76 billion, influenced by trade tensions affecting demand in the US and China [3] - The Chinese market showed some recovery with restocking of VSOP in Q3, although overall Cognac demand remained soft [5] Demand Factors - The demand for Champagne remained resilient, particularly in the US, contributing to solid depletions year-to-date [5] - Cognac faced challenges from trade tensions and weak demand in key markets, particularly the US and China [5] - In Q1 of 2025, the wine and spirits business reported a 17% organic sales drop in the Cognac segment, attributed to ongoing soft demand and uncertainties related to US tariffs [6]

Core Insights - LVMH has unexpectedly returned to growth in the third quarter, driven by increased traffic and volume rather than price effects [1][2] - The Wines and Spirits division, which had been declining for two and a half years, is now experiencing growth due to champagne restocking in the US and solid demand for rosé wine [2] - The luxury sector may benefit from LVMH's turnaround, with competitors like Zenyatta and Prada also showing positive movements in the market [4][5] Company Performance - All divisions of LVMH showed improvement, although the key fashion and leather goods division remained negative [1] - The CFO noted that the growth was not influenced by price increases, indicating a focus on volume and customer traffic [2] - The Wines and Spirits division's recovery is notable, particularly in the US market, despite ongoing struggles in the cognac segment [2] Regional Insights - The European market has seen a decline in tourism spending, attributed to a weaker dollar against a stronger euro, impacting sales negatively [3] - Conversely, the mainland China market has returned to growth, which could have significant implications for the broader luxury sector [3][4] - Hong Kong and Macao are still down but showing signs of improvement, indicating a potential recovery in these regions [3] Market Implications - The positive performance of LVMH could uplift the entire luxury market, as indicated by the rising stock prices of competitors [4][5] - Upcoming results from other luxury brands, including Kering and Gucci, are anticipated, which may further reflect the industry's recovery [5] - The market sentiment appears encouraging, suggesting a potential turnaround for the luxury sector as a whole [5]

Sales Concerns - Cognac producers are worried about a slump in sales in America [1] Market Trends - The slump partly reflects the general strain on consumers' wallets [1] - The slump is also the result of longer-term trends [1]

Market Overview - America is the largest market for cognac [1] Trade Relations - Cognac is currently involved in a trade dispute in the American market [1]

Group 1 - European countries exhibit a sense of "victory" over China, seeking to acquire rare earth resources while simultaneously attempting to suppress China through restrictive measures, reflecting a typical "bullying" behavior of Western nations [1] - The EU Ambassador to China emphasized the urgency of resolving Europe's rare earth needs within a month, warning that failure to do so could severely impact high-level meetings between China and the EU [3] - Despite engaging in friendly talks with China, the EU has raised tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to 35% and restricted Chinese medical devices from entering the European market, indicating a dual strategy of maintaining a friendly facade while implementing sanctions [3] Group 2 - Western countries do not view China as an equal partner, focusing instead on the United States, which they regard as a dominant force, even at the cost of their own national interests [5] - European nations continue to criticize China for alleged military support to Russia, despite China's assurances of non-support, highlighting a contradiction in their diplomatic approach [5] - The historical context of Western imperialism in China contributes to a persistent arrogance among European nations, leading them to adopt aggressive commercial policies against China [7] Group 3 - In response to Europe's disregard for China's goodwill, China has implemented measures such as banning European companies from participating in government procurement projects exceeding 45 million RMB for medical devices and imposing a maximum anti-dumping tax of 34.9% on European cognac [7] - These actions signify China's shift from its historical position, showcasing its status as the world's second-largest economy and a military power capable of responding to European challenges [7]