The Estee Lauder Companies Reports Outstanding Fiscal 2021 Results.
Highlights:
* Full Year Net Sales Increased 13% and Diluted EPS Increased to $7.79 from $1.86
* In Constant Currency, Net Sales Grew 11% and Adjusted Diluted EPS Increased 54%
* Fourth Quarter Net Sales Growth Accelerated to 62%; Up 10% Versus Fiscal 2019
* Strong Net Sales Recovery Expected to Continue in Fiscal 2022
NEW YORK- The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today reported net sales of $16.22 billion for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, an increase of 13% from $14.29 billion in the prior-year period. Excluding the impact of currency translation, net sales increased 11%. Net sales grew in every region and in most product categories, reflecting the gradual reopening and recovery in brick-and-mortar retail stores in certain markets compared to the prior year when retail locations closed in most markets during the second half of the year as COVID-19 spread globally. Incremental net sales from the Company's acquisition of Have&Be Co. Ltd. ('Dr. Jart+') and the increase in its ownership of Deciem Beauty Group ('DECIEM') contributed 2 percentage points of growth to reported net sales.
The Company reported net earnings of $2.87 billion, compared with net earnings of $0.68 billion last year. Diluted net earnings per common share was $7.79, compared with $1.86 reported in the prior-year period. Excluding restructuring and other charges and adjustments as detailed on page 3, adjusted diluted net earnings per common share increased 57% to $6.45, and rose 54% in constant currency.
Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer said, 'We delivered outstanding results in fiscal 2021, capped by an exceptional fourth quarter and powered by our multiple engines of growth strategy as well as the timeless desirability of prestige beauty. Notably, both sales and profitability meaningfully exceeded fiscal 2019 performance. Amid the challenges of the pandemic, we invested in near- and long-term growth opportunities and managed costs elsewhere with discipline, while making important progress on our social impact commitments and sustainability goals.
'Our growth engines of Skin Care, luxury and artisanal Fragrance, Asia/Pacific, travel retail in Asia/Pacific, and global Online performed exceptionally well. Innovation soared and eight of our brands grew sales double-digits, led by Estee Lauder, La Mer, and Jo Malone London. We amplified the strength of our skin care portfolio as we became majority owners of DECIEM, with its coveted brand The Ordinary. We also invested in an innovation center in Shanghai and a manufacturing facility near Tokyo to enhance our rapid growth in the region.'
Freda emphasized, 'We begin fiscal 2022 as a stronger company thanks to our employees, whose compassion, creativity, and resolve have been extraordinary during the pandemic. Our success in the past year gives us confidence for the new year, as volatility and variability from COVID-19 are likely to persist for some time to come. For fiscal 2022, we expect strong net sales and adjusted earnings per share growth with continued margin expansion. Our growth engines are poised to increasingly diversify as Makeup and Hair Care, developed markets in the west, and brick-and-mortar retail gradually recover and complement the strength of our existing growth engines. We anticipate that growth in emerging markets will also resume over time as the impacts of the pandemic abate.'
COVID-19 Business Update
The COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt the Company's operating environment, temporarily impacting retail traffic and certain consumer preferences in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. The resurgence of COVID-19 cases and the rapid spread of the Delta variant in most parts of the world, particularly in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe, Latin America and Asia outside of China, 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 much of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, most notably in China and the United States, there were intermittent closures throughout the rest of the world. More specifically, in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Canada, much of Latin America, and most of the Asia/Pacific region with the exception of China, many retail stores were temporarily closed for some period during the quarter due to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases. In the United Kingdom, much of Continental Europe and Canada, retail locations gradually reopened during the quarter but with capacity and other safety restrictions in place. Globally, in areas where stores were open, consumer traffic has not recovered to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. 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.
Conversely, domestic travel in China, especially in Hainan, and some other travel corridors in Asia/Pacific and The Americas were open and drove double-digit growth for fiscal 2021. Online continued to be strong globally as well. Online sales1 as a percent of total net sales has nearly doubled since fiscal 2019, with increases in every region, as more consumers have embraced online shopping since the beginning of the pandemic.
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 compared to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, given fewer makeup usage occasions and ongoing mask wearing, while skin care, fragrance and hair care have been more resilient.
1Online sales discussed throughout includes sales of our products from our websites and third-party platforms, as well as estimated sales of our products sold through our retailers' websites.
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.
Fiscal 2021 Results
Adjusted diluted earnings per common share excludes restructuring and other charges, changes in contingent consideration, acquisition-related stock option expense (less portion attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest), goodwill, other intangible and long-lived asset impairments, and other income, net as detailed in the following table.
See full results at: https://www.elcompanies.com/en/news-and-media/newsroom/press-releases/2021/08-19-2021-114519346
Investors:Rainey Mancini
rmancini@estee.com
Media:Jill Marvin
jimarvin@estee.com
ESTEE LAUDER 
