Estée Lauder Raises Full-Year Forecast as Shares Rise

NEW YORK, United States — Estée Lauder Companies raised its annual forecast for profit and sales on Tuesday, after reporting better-than-expected quarterly results that were driven by higher demand for luxury skincare products, sending its shares up 10 percent.

Growth in the Asia-Pacific region, online and travel retail channels, brands such as La Mer, Mac Cosmetics and Origins, and strong holiday sales of Jo Malone London fragrances, fuelled a robust quarter, the company said.

"Despite a volatile and challenging backdrop, we are optimistic about our company's long-term outlook," chief executive Fabrizio Freda said.

The company now expects adjusted profit for fiscal 2019 to be in the range of $4.92 to $5 per share from a prior forecast of $4.73 and $4.82. It also expects adjusted sales to grow between 8 percent and 9 percent. The company had earlier forecast a range of 7 percent to 8 percent.

Sales in the skincare business grew 16 percent in the quarter, while the Asia-Pacific region drew in the biggest growth with 17 percent.

Net income attributable to the company rose four fold to $573 million (£440 million), or $1.55 per share, in the second quarter ended December 31, 2018, from a year earlier, when the company incurred a tax-related charge.

On an adjusted basis, the company earned $1.74 per share, beating estimates of $1.55 per cent, according to Refinitiv data.

Net sales rose 7 percent to $4.01 billion, also topping analysts' average expectation of $3.92 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

By Jaslein Mahil; editor: Shinjini Ganguli.