Coty Inc . (NYSE: NYSE:COTY) has maintained its Buy rating and a $14.00 price target from Canaccord Genuity, following a pre-announcement of its first-quarter fiscal year 2025 results on Monday after the market closed.
The beauty company reported sales growth of approximately 4-5% on a like-for-like (LFL) basis for the quarter ending in September, which was lower than the anticipated 6% LFL growth and the consensus estimate of 6.0%.
Coty's management highlighted a slowdown in the U.S. market during the latter half of the first quarter and noted that retailers in the U.S., Australia, China, and Asia Travel Retail are closely managing inventory levels.
The cautious approach has led to Coty's sell-ins falling short of sell-outs. Despite this, the company reported robust revenue growth in other key markets, with mid-single-digit to double-digit increases.
The company also revised its adjusted EBITDA expectations for the first quarter, now projecting it to be flat to moderately lower year-over-year, compared to previous estimates of a 4.5% to 6.1% increase. This adjustment is attributed to the lower-than-expected ordering patterns and the timing of fixed costs and investments. However, Coty's management remains committed to achieving a 9-11% adjusted EBITDA growth for the full fiscal year 2025.
In response to the first-quarter performance, Coty intends to accelerate its cost reduction efforts throughout the fiscal year, aiming to exceed the previously targeted savings of approximately $75 million. Canaccord Genuity believes that Coty is navigating a normalization in beauty demand trends and is proactively implementing measures to drive growth, such as investing in new product launches, brand demand generation, and emphasizing cost-reduction strategies.
In other recent news, Coty Inc., a global beauty company, reported a growth of 4-5% in like-for-like sales for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, falling short of their own guidance of 6% and the consensus estimate of 5.8%.
Despite this, Coty reaffirmed its full-year profit target, signaling confidence in its financial outlook. Amid these developments, Coty has formed its first Scientific Advisory Board to guide its skincare research and development.
Analyst firms, including Jefferies, TD Cowen, Canaccord Genuity, and DA Davidson, have expressed positive outlooks for Coty, with Jefferies upgrading the stock from Hold to Buy, citing its strong position in the premium fragrance market.
InvestingPro Insights
Coty's recent financial performance and market positioning are further illuminated by data from InvestingPro. Despite the company's lower-than-expected Q1 FY2025 results, InvestingPro data reveals that Coty maintains impressive gross profit margins, with a gross profit margin of 64.39% for the last twelve months as of Q4 2024. This aligns with the company's strong position in the beauty industry and its ability to command premium pricing for its products.
However, investors should note that Coty is currently trading at a high earnings multiple, with a P/E ratio of 105.29. This valuation metric contrasts with Canaccord Genuity's observation that Coty's stock is trading below industry peers, suggesting that the market may be pricing in future growth expectations or potential risks.
An InvestingPro Tip highlights that Coty's net income is expected to grow this year, which could support the company's plans for cost reduction and strategic investments. Additionally, analysts predict that the company will be profitable this year, aligning with management's commitment to achieving 9-11% adjusted EBITDA growth for the full fiscal year 2025.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 6 additional tips for Coty, providing deeper insights into the company's financial health and market position.
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