Kering : 2020 Revenue, Net Profit Fall; Gucci Down More Steeply

By Joshua Kirby

Kering said Wednesday that net profit dropped in 2020 as revenue was hit by store closures and a lack of tourism, but that performance recovered in the second half of the year.

Net income at the French luxury-goods conglomerate dropped to 2.15 billion euros ($2.60 billion), from EUR2.31 billion in 2019. Analysts had forecast net income of EUR1.74 billion, according to a FactSet-compiled consensus of 11 analyst estimates.

Revenue came to EUR13.10 billion, an 18% drop from EUR15.88 billion previously. Analysts had expected revenue of EUR13.26 billion, according to FactSet.

Revenue at key brand Gucci dropped 23% on the year to EUR7.44 billion, including by 10% in the fourth quarter, while at the company's houses overall it dropped 4.8% in the quarter on a comparable basis, Kering said.

The company said it is confident in its medium- and long-term growth potential. The "less mature" brands such as Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta especially have good growth prospects, Chief Financial Officer Jean-Marc Duplaix said in a call with media.

Write to Joshua Kirby at [e-mail]; @joshualeokirby

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-17-21 0151ET