The Est©e Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today reported net sales of $3.86 billion for its third quarter ended March 31, 2021, an increase of 16% on a reported basis, and 13% in constant currency, from $3.35 billion in the prior-year period. Net sales grew in every region and in most product categories reflecting the recovery in several areas compared to the prior year where brick-and-mortar began to shut down as COVID-19 spread globally.
The Company reported net earnings of $456 million, compared with a net loss of $(6) million in the prior-year period. Diluted net earnings per common share was $1.24, compared with a loss of $(.02) reported in the prior-year period. Excluding the benefit of currency translation, adjusted diluted earnings per common share, which excludes items detailed on page 3, increased 88%.
Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer said, œWe exceeded our sales and earnings expectations, even as several markets experienced increasing pressure from COVID-19 throughout the quarter. Our growth engines of Skin Care and Fragrance were incredibly powerful. Sales rose in every region, led by double-digit growth in Asia/Pacific, where many markets contributed and sales growth in mainland China accelerated. Online thrived as a growth engine, with sales having increased strong double-digits around the world, and Travel Retail excelled. Est©e Lauder, La Mer, Jo Malone London, Clinique, and Tom Ford Beauty led the robust performance of many brands in our portfolio.
Our fiscal year-to-date sales and adjusted operating margin exceed that of the same period in fiscal 2019, as we continue to successfully navigate the challenges of the pandemic. With strong cash flow generation, we resumed share repurchases in the third quarter. We are thrilled to have agreed to increase our ownership in DECIEM, becoming majority owners with a path to full ownership in three years. DECIEM's soaring brand The Ordinary and new brand incubation capability further enhance our superior multiple engines of growth strategy.
Freda emphasized œWe have achieved these outstanding results while, first and foremost, caring for the safety and well-being of our employees and consumers amid the pandemic. Impressively, we are investing in many compelling long-term growth drivers, including end-to-end innovation with a new center in Shanghai, state of the art manufacturing in Asia/Pacific, global online, and consumer analytics. We are progressing on our environmental goals and acting on our social commitments with urgency. We expect the momentum in our sales growth to build in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, not only from easing comparisons but also fundamental strength, as we drive recovery.
COVID-19 Update
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt the Company's operating environment, temporarily impacting retail traffic and certain consumer preferences in the third quarter of fiscal 2021. The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in several countries, particularly in Western Europe and Latin America, led to government restrictions to prevent further spread of the virus. These restrictions included the temporary closure of businesses deemed non-essential, curtailment of travel, social distancing and quarantines.
Retail Impact
While most brick-and-mortar retail stores that sell the Company's products, whether operated by the Company or its customers, were open during the third quarter of fiscal 2021, most notably in China and the United States, there were intermittent closures throughout the rest of the world. In the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Mexico and Brazil, in particular, many retail stores were temporarily closed for some period during the quarter due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Globally, in areas where stores were open, consumer traffic was significantly reduced as compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period. In addition, while domestic travel in China, especially in Hainan, and some other travel corridors in Asia/Pacific, most notably Korea, were open, international travel has remained largely curtailed globally due to both government restrictions and consumer health concerns that continue to adversely impact consumer traffic in most travel retail locations.
Consumer Preferences
The COVID-19 pandemic-related closures of offices, retail stores and other businesses and the significant decline in social gatherings have also influenced consumer preferences and practices. Specifically, the demand for makeup continues to be weak given fewer makeup usage occasions while other categories have been more resilient.
Cost Controls
In response to the ongoing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company continues to implement cost control actions in certain areas of the business to effectively manage the changing business environment.
Source:-https://www.elcompanies.com/en/news-and-media/newsroom/press-releases/2021/05-03-2021-114526531
