Hennes & Mauritz B

H&M slightly beat adjusted expectations for the third quarter but reported high inventory levels and a cautious outlook for margin development. Analysts at RBC and Deutsche Bank view the results as mixed and criticize the lack of clear sales improvements despite management measures. The stock was among the losers in the overall market. » More on finanzen.net

H&M shares fell sharply after third-quarter results and hit their lowest level since July, partly triggered by skeptical analyst comments. A one-off positive effect from refunded customs duties failed to convince investors in the short term. Citigroup and Barclays criticized margins, the business mix and the outlook, praising only cost control. Year to date the stock is down around 14 percent. » More on finanzen.net

H&M reports an operating profit increase of 23% in Q3 to SEK 6.04bn and sales of SEK 57.2bn (currency‑adjusted +1%). Gross margin rose to 54.0%, partly supported by one‑off customs effects of around 1.6 percentage points. H&M cites improvements in purchasing, cost control and operations, but points to logistics and supply‑chain issues. At the same time, members of the Persson family increase their stake, fueling speculation about a possible delisting. » More on deraktionaer.de