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Can we now say this is officially over? If Hermes can't make money, who can (except Louis Vuitton).
PARIS — With a worsening outlook for luxury, Deutsche Bank has cut its earnings forecasts on Hermès International by 10 percent and projects slim fourth-quarter sales growth of 7.5 percent, or 0.7 percent in organic terms.
“Worsening luxury news flow, in particular from the U.S., suggests to us that Hermès will see a rapid slowdown in growth rates,” analyst Warwick Okines wrote in a report released Monday.
The investment firm also trimmed its 2009 forecasts on Burberry Group plc by 12 percent, while saying it has “more confidence” in the London-based firm “relative to other luxury stocks since the business is not coming off peak margins.” It also expects further cost-saving initiatives.
Burberry is due to release its third-quarter sales in mid-January, with most other luxury players reporting fourth-quarter figures in the weeks that follow.
Deutsche Bank expects Hermès to post an organic sales decline of 3.7 percent in 2009, versus an estimated 10 percent gain in 2008.
Hermès has been one of the most immune of Europe’s big luxury players, citing no material slowdown in the U.S. in the third quarter, when it posted organic growth of 17.9 percent. Deutsche Bank maintains a “sell” rating on the stock, with a price target of 63 euros, or $87.38 at current exchange.
PARIS — With a worsening outlook for luxury, Deutsche Bank has cut its earnings forecasts on Hermès International by 10 percent and projects slim fourth-quarter sales growth of 7.5 percent, or 0.7 percent in organic terms.
“Worsening luxury news flow, in particular from the U.S., suggests to us that Hermès will see a rapid slowdown in growth rates,” analyst Warwick Okines wrote in a report released Monday.
The investment firm also trimmed its 2009 forecasts on Burberry Group plc by 12 percent, while saying it has “more confidence” in the London-based firm “relative to other luxury stocks since the business is not coming off peak margins.” It also expects further cost-saving initiatives.
Burberry is due to release its third-quarter sales in mid-January, with most other luxury players reporting fourth-quarter figures in the weeks that follow.
Deutsche Bank expects Hermès to post an organic sales decline of 3.7 percent in 2009, versus an estimated 10 percent gain in 2008.
Hermès has been one of the most immune of Europe’s big luxury players, citing no material slowdown in the U.S. in the third quarter, when it posted organic growth of 17.9 percent. Deutsche Bank maintains a “sell” rating on the stock, with a price target of 63 euros, or $87.38 at current exchange.
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