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Gucci Sales Surge Past 2019 Level to Lead Kering Rebound

By Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Sales at Gucci soared above pre-pandemic levels as the Italian brand lures young shoppers with its social media campaigns and benefits from easing lockdown restrictions.

Gucci revenue jumped 86% on a comparable basis during the second quarter, owner Kering SA said in a statement Tuesday. That was above analysts’ estimates and pushed total group revenue up 11.2% from the corresponding period in 2019.

Kering shares gained 0.7% early Wednesday in Paris.

Kering follows LVMH and Cartier owner Richemont in publishing stellar results as consumers across the world spend their savings accumulated during lockdowns on luxury handbags, shoes and jewelry. Like those companies, Kering was helped by an easy comparison with 2020, when many stores were shut.

“Performance in the first half is excellent, be it on revenue, but also on the profitability side,” Chief Financial Officer Jean-Marc Duplaix said in a press call, noting particularly good results in Asia Pacific and North America. Kering is “confident” that Gucci’s profitability can improve even further.

During a call with analysts, Duplaix said Kering raised some prices on Gucci and Bottega Veneta products in the past year -- a sign that consumers are willing to pay more for the brands.

The rebound at Gucci, which is marking its 100th anniversary, should bring comfort to investors who’d been worried about the steeper slowdown the brand suffered last year. That was in contrast to peers such as LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and Hermes, where revenue recovered strongly once the toughest restrictions had eased.

Gucci helped generate buzz by releasing a digital fashion show in April with sister brand Balenciaga. The 15-minute video, called Aria, featured equestrian helmets and boots, disco skirts and sequined jackets with the brands’ logos. The Aria collection will hit stores in the second half, Duplaix added.

The arrival of this new collection as well as the release of a movie about the Gucci family scheduled for November will give the brand “more opportunity to impress” in the second half, Luca Solca, analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, wrote in a note to clients.

Kering’s recurring operating income in the first half rose 135% to 2.24 billion euros ($2.65 billion). Analysts had expected 2.08 billion euros.

Other Houses

All houses contributed to the result, with quarterly sales at Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta jumping by 118.5% and 69%, respectively, on a comparable basis. Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen also recorded “outstanding performances,” the company said.

Although 80% of Kering’s sales come from stores the company directly operates, another fast-growing part of the business is online. During the first half, e-commerce revenue soared 78.5% from a year earlier.

Gucci generated more than 80% of Kering’s total recurring operating income last year. The luxury-goods company’s reliance on its blockbuster brand has led analysts to wonder whether Kering will put its financial power to use for a major acquisition, especially after a number of recent deals in the industry.

Chief Executive Officer Francois-Henri Pinault said in April that the company could afford to make an acquisition. Earlier this month, Kering made a smaller one, announcing the purchase of eyewear brand Lindberg.

That acquisition “isn’t exclusive of a more transformational move,” Kering Managing Director Jean-Francois Palus said during a call with analysts Tuesday, adding that the group remains “very active” watching M&A opportunities.

Duplaix said Kering isn’t currently in the process of selling its watch unit, although it will consider all possible options.

(Updates with share prices in third paragraph)

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