Adidas Hikes Profit Guidance, Trims Sales Outlook

BERLIN, Germany — German sportswear firm Adidas hiked its 2018 profit guidance, citing a strong financial performance in the first nine months of the year, but trimmed revenue target due to weaker-than-expected growth in western Europe.

While Adidas has been taking market share from bigger rival Nike in North America, the US firm has been powering ahead in Europe, Middle East and Africa, where its sales rose 9 percent in the three months ended August.

Adidas had already warned that sales in western Europe were likely to stay flat in the second half of the year after the company failed to focus enough on the launch of more products.

The group said on Wednesday that its net income from continuing operations grew 16 to 20 percent to €1.66 billion to €1.72 billion ($1.90 to 1.97 billion), compared with previous guidance for 13 to 17 percent growth.

It now expects its full year currency-neutral sales to grow by 8 to 9 percent, less than the previous forecast for an increase of around 10 percent.

Third quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 8 percent to €5.87 billion, compared with analysts' forecast of €5.92 billion, while net profit from continuing operations jumped 19 percent to €656 million, beating consensus for €619 million.

By Maria Sheahan and Emma Thomasson; editors: Riham Alkousaa and Sherry Jacob-Phillips.