Weak Chinese demand behind 70 per cent profit plunge for Swatch

(Source: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

Swatch Group, the world’s biggest watchmaker, reported a steep drop in first half sales and earnings on Monday as demand for luxury goods in China remained weak, but forecast business would improve significantly later in 2024.

The Swiss maker of Tissot, Longines and Omega watches, as well as the eponymous plastic Swatch watches, said net sales at current exchange rates dropped 14.3 per cent to US$3.85 billion in the January-June period.

The company’s shares plunged more than 11.5 per cent, on track for their worst day in more than four years.

Sales were well below the $4.1 billion consensus forecast gathered by Visible Alpha, with the company also pointing to a negative currency impact of $161 million.

Operating profit fell to $227.724 million from $765.7 million a year earlier, with the operating margin contracting to 5.9 per cent from 17.1 per cent. Net profit tumbled to $164.093 million from $555.908 million.

“An ugly half year for Swatch Group in all respects,” said Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy.

The group attributed the lower turnover to a slump in demand for luxury goods in China, with only the Swatch brand bucking the trend with a 10 per cent rise in sales in the country.

China would likely remain challenging for the entire luxury goods industry until the end of 2024, Swatch said, but added that there are currently “excellent opportunities” for the Group’s brands in the lower price segment.

The company expects strong growth in Japan and the United States in the second half of 2024, and said prospects in many European countries are promising.

“The Group expects the situation to improve strongly in the second half of the year,” it added, when the full impact of cost-cutting measures would also be felt.

Other firms have also been struggling, with British luxury group Burberry on Monday issuing a profit warning and scrapping its dividend payment for 2024 as it replaced its CEO.

China woes

Swatch CEO Nick Hayek said earlier this year that Chinese consumers had become “more price sensitive”, while a recent report said the country’s rich are avoiding flaunting their wealth in favour of more low-key fashion.

China’s economy grew much more slowly than expected in the second quarter, as a protracted property slump and job insecurity hampered a fragile recovery.

“The downturn in the property sector has had a ripple effect on the rest of the economy, dampening consumer and investor confidence and also leading to higher unemployment,” Caroline Reyl, senior investment manager at Swiss private bank Pictet, said of the difficulties faced by brands exposed to China.

She said watches had lagged wider jewellery performance, with entry level and mass market Swiss watches also seeing increased competition from smart and connected watches.

Sales figures outside of China in local currencies held at the level of 2023, Swatch said.

  • Writing by Dave Graham; Additional reporting by John Revill and Amir Orusov; Editing by Ludwig Burger, Kirsten Donovan, of Reuters.

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