Fashion
H&M Group is optimistic about the future after a solid recovery in the past nine months: sales grew by 14 per cent, but it is above all the net profit that has recovered from the coronavirus and has increased sevenfold.
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Inditex, the parent company of Zara and Bershka, among others, sold a billion euros less than pre-corona this spring. Yet there is a clear recovery, especially now that measures are easing.
Food
Americans are in the mood again, Walmart concludes after a better-than-expected first quarter. The hypermarket giant is getting ready for "catch-up demand" as people are coming out and are shopping again.
After the hype, the reality check? Meat substitute manufacturer Beyond Meat is unable to reverse the downward spiral in its results, reporting a larger than expected loss for the third quarter in a row. The reason: the absence of a recovery in the catering industry combined with stagnating growth in retail.
McDonald's exceeds expectations with a strong first quarter. Especially in the American market, recovery has begun, with figures that even surpass those before the coronavirus pandemic.
Carlsberg has exceeded analysts' expectations during the first quarter, mainly pushed by sales in China that are rising far above pre-Covid levels.
Puma has had a strong first quarter. Despite some production problems, it looks like the company is recovering after a difficult pandemic year 2020.
Cosmetics
The Belgian Stefan De Loecker steps down as CEO of Nivea's parent company Beiersdorf. The North American CEO Vincent Warnery will replace him. Meanwhile, the cosmetics giant announced solid quarterly results.
Heineken sold as much beer in the last quarter as a year ago. The world's second-largest brewing group was able to compensate for the European lockdowns with growth in Asia and Africa.
FMCG producers can barely keep up with the demand. After another quarter of growth, which was better than expected, Procter & Gamble (P&G) is now raising its prices.
French luxury group LVMH has presented excellent results as Chinese and American consumers, in particular, are once again happy to treat themselves to handbags and champagne in the absence of other entertainment.
Electronics
Samsung expects 44 per cent more profit from the first quarter. The Korean company sold especially more smartphones and television sets.
H&M sold 21 per cent less in the past quarter and dropped into the red. The fashion group also has to cope with Chinese pressure, following concerns regarding forced labour by the Uighur Muslim minority for multiple clothing brands.
Nike saw profits rise sharply during the previous quarter, although revenue growth was held back by major supply issues in the United States and ongoing store closures in Europe.
Meal delivery company Just Eat Takeaway's fourth-quarter figures for 2020 show that it is a big winner in the current corona crisis. The number of orders increased by more than half.
General
Hema has a (preliminary) deal with acquisition candidate Parcom and Jumbo family Van Eerd. The consortium has eight weeks to complete the financing. Meanwhile, the department store chain is also announcing good quarterly results.
