Puma Reversed Its Growth Trend In The Two Quarter Of Last Year.

German sporting goods manufacturers

(PUMG.DE) Puma's fourth quarter performance today is worse than market expectations, and it is expected that the 2015 fiscal year will continue to be hit by a strong dollar.

The Group recorded a net loss of 4 million 600 thousand euros in the fourth quarter of December 2014, much better than the 115 million euro in the 2013 fiscal year, but analysts expect a net profit of 7 million euros.

Excluding special items, EBIT (pre tax profit) rose to 10 million 600 thousand euros from 1 million 100 thousand euros a year earlier, with analysts expected to be 15 million 100 thousand euros.

Thanks to strong demand in the Americas market, significant increase in spare parts sales and a rebound in footwear performance, quarterly revenue increased 7.5% to 751 million euros over the same period, and analysts forecast a 6.3% rise in the constant exchange rate.

At a constant exchange rate, sales of the Americas increased by 15% to 319 million euros under the driving force of Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, while the United States and Canada also had steady growth.

Sales in the two largest markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and the Asia Pacific region increased by 0.6% and 0.7% respectively, to 225 million euros and 207 million euros. China, Europe and South Korea and Japan were full of challenges, while China and India both achieved growth.

According to the category, despite being dragged down by golf business, accessories sales still increased by 17% and sales amounted to 147 million euros.

Footwear sales of 311 million euros, an annual increase of 4.3%, second consecutive quarters of growth.

Clothing sales increased by 3.6% to 293 million euros.

The increase in gross profit margin pushed the gross profit margin from 43.2% to 45% in the quarter.

Net profit increased from 5 million 300 thousand euros in fiscal year 2013 to 64 million 100 thousand euros, and earnings per share increased from 0.36 euros to 4.29 euros.

However, the EBIT (pre tax profit) after excluding special items fell by 33.1% to 128 million euros a year.

Earnings fell slightly by 0.4% to 2 billion 972 million euros, which was in line with analyst forecasts, with a 3.3% growth rate at a constant exchange rate.

Gross profit margin increased from 46.5% to 46.6%.

Puma SE (PUMG.DE) CEO Puma Bj RN Gulden said in a performance press conference that he was satisfied with the four quarter and annual performance.

He called 2014 a turning point in the recovery of the group and hoped that the performance in 2015 would prove that the group was developing in the right direction.

The sports brand, which belongs to the French luxury giant Kering SA (KER.PA), is expected to achieve a median digit growth in the current fiscal year 2015. Sales in the first half of this year are flat, mainly from the two quarter, while gross margins are expected to increase slightly due to less discounts and more favorable product mix.

However, under the adverse floating effects of foreign exchange, EBIT and net profit will only increase slightly.

Bjrn Gulden pointed out that the main problem is the women's wear series, so the group appointed the international pop star Rihanna Rihanna as creative director of women's wear during the four quarter.

Rihanna Rihanna will take part in the design of Puma SE (PUMG.DE) Puma women's dress, shoes and shoes from January, and create new styles for the product mix.

The Barbados singer, who won the CFDA annual fashion icon award at the beginning of this year, was also the global ambassador of Puma SE (PUMG.DE) Puma, and appeared in the 2015 autumn advertisement with the Jamaica flying girl Usain Bolt Boulter and Italy football star Mario Balotelli Balotelli.

However, as Puma SE (PUMG.DE)

Usain Bolt Boulter, one of the marketing centers, has announced that he will retire in 2017.

Puma SE (PUMG.DE) fell for a narrow day on Monday, dropping 0.75% to 177.6 euros at the end of the deadline. The stock fell 27% in 2014.