Coty Faces Slower Beauty Demand: What It Means for FY26 Sales

Coty Inc. COTY is navigating a beauty market where demand is still expanding, but the pace has cooled, and promotional intensity has increased, creating a tougher setup for near-term fiscal 2026 sales trends.In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the prestige beauty market grew approximately 5%, reflecting a sequential slowdown from roughly 6% growth in the first quarter. The cooling was more visible in prestige fragrances, where the category moderated from 5% growth in the first quarter to 3% in the second quarter, with modest growth in both units and price mix. Coty also pointed to incremental slowing in the United States and in certain European markets such as Germany and the U.K. Against that backdrop, Coty characterized total sell-out as broadly flattish in the second quarter. It described weaker-than-category sell-out in the United States, Germany and the U.K., largely balanced by strong sell-out in emerging regions, including Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Latin America and Travel Retail. It also tied the gap between relatively stronger sell-out and weaker sell-in to elevated proportionality that pressured gross-to-net. Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchThe U.S. holiday period underscored the shift in demand. Coty noted that the U.S. prestige fragrance market slowed from 7% growth in the first quarter to approximately 3% growth in the second quarter, with much of consumer purchasing concentrated at the very end of the quarter. It also highlighted very aggressive promotional activity in prestige fragrances during the holiday season, which it said suppressed broader U.S. fragrance growth and pressured profit contribution from that key market. For the third quarter, Coty expects like-for-like revenues to decline by a mid-single-digit percentage, primarily due to weakening Consumer Beauty sales trends. It also expects that the fragrance market will grow at a low-to-mid-single-digit rate, consistent with second-quarter levels, while noting promotions remain elevated and are a headwind to net sales performance and gross margin. Coty enters fiscal 2026 facing a slower and more promotional beauty market, which is likely to keep near-term sales under pressure. However, the company is focusing on sharper execution, core brands and key markets to support a more stable recovery over time. Over the past three months, the Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock has tumbled 28.1% compared with the industry’s decline of 4.7%.Stocks to ConsiderEuropean Wax Center EWCZ, a personal care franchise brand, currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). EWCZ delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 152.7%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.The consensus estimate for European Wax Center’s current financial-year sales implies a rise of 1.8%, while the same for earnings calls for a 19.5% decline from the year-ago figures.Interparfums, Inc. IPAR, which manufactures, markets and distributes a range of fragrances and fragrance-related products, carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. IPAR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.6%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Interparfums’ current fiscal-year earnings implies a decline of around 8% from the year-ago reported figure, while the consensus mark for the next fiscal year calls for 4.8% growth. Ralph Lauren Corporation RL, which designs, markets and distributes lifestyle products, currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. RL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 9.7%, on average.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ralph Lauren’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 12.4% and 31.8%, respectively, from the year-ago figures.Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL): Free Stock Analysis Report Interparfums, Inc. (IPAR): Free Stock Analysis Report Coty (COTY): Free Stock Analysis Report European Wax Center, Inc. (EWCZ): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks