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Estée Lauder Returns to Growth as Fragrance, China and Travel Retail Lift Q1

Executives kept their 2026 outlook, pointing to cost actions under PRGP that push most savings into fiscal 2027 despite tariff pressure.

Overview

  • Net sales rose about 4% to roughly $3.48 billion with organic growth of ~3%, and adjusted EPS of $0.32 topped estimates.
  • Profitability improved as gross margin expanded about 100 basis points to 73.4% and adjusted operating margin reached ~7.3%.
  • Fragrance led with roughly 13% organic growth, while skin care increased ~3%, makeup fell ~2% and hair care declined ~7%.
  • Mainland China sales grew ~9% and Asia Pacific advanced on travel retail strength, as North America softened with department-store weakness.
  • The company continued executing its PRGP restructuring, reaffirmed fiscal 2026 sales guidance (reported 2%–5%, organic 0%–3%) and flagged roughly $100 million in tariff headwinds; a new four-region reporting structure now separates Mainland China and places global travel retail within Asia/Pacific.