Retailer Metro hit by weak sales
Germany's Metro, one of the world's largest retailers, posted disappointing second-quarter results on Tuesday that underscored weak western European markets and problems at the group's electronics outlets.
Net profit fell nine percent to €40 million ($57 million), about half the level forecast by a Dow Jones Newswires analyst poll.
Metro's operating profit came to €306 million, well below a forecast for around €340 million, on sales flat at €15.7 billion.
Shares in the group were lower, dropping 0.56 percent to €37.60 while the DAX index of German blue-chips was 0.41 percent lower overall.
Last week, Metro cut its full-year forecast and chief executive Ekhard Cordes said Tuesday it would "step up the strategic realignment with regard to the online business" of its electronics outlets Saturn and Media Markt.
"Although the economy has continued to recover, the ongoing concerns about the European debt crisis are having a significant impact on consumer confidence," a statement said.
Metro nonetheless remained "confident that it will be able to achieve earnings growth before special items of around 10 percent" from the 2010 figure of €2.42 billion.
A global giant alongside Walmart, Carrefour and Tesco, Metro has suffered from government austerity programmes in Greece, Italy and Spain.
The situation was also less than rosy in its home market despite signs of a consumer rebound in June while the opening of Metro's first store in Egypt has been hampered by unrest there.
The Media-Saturn division posted a second-quarter loss in core earnings of €44 million, compared with a profit of €41 million in the same period of 2010.
For the group as a whole, second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and special items were down eight percent at €306 million.
The group is pursuing international expansion plans, however, with the launch of five new stores in the first half of the year in China, Russia and Turkey. It plans to open its first signature Metro Cash & Carry story in Indonesia next year.
AFP/emh
Comments
See Also
Net profit fell nine percent to €40 million ($57 million), about half the level forecast by a Dow Jones Newswires analyst poll.
Metro's operating profit came to €306 million, well below a forecast for around €340 million, on sales flat at €15.7 billion.
Shares in the group were lower, dropping 0.56 percent to €37.60 while the DAX index of German blue-chips was 0.41 percent lower overall.
Last week, Metro cut its full-year forecast and chief executive Ekhard Cordes said Tuesday it would "step up the strategic realignment with regard to the online business" of its electronics outlets Saturn and Media Markt.
"Although the economy has continued to recover, the ongoing concerns about the European debt crisis are having a significant impact on consumer confidence," a statement said.
Metro nonetheless remained "confident that it will be able to achieve earnings growth before special items of around 10 percent" from the 2010 figure of €2.42 billion.
A global giant alongside Walmart, Carrefour and Tesco, Metro has suffered from government austerity programmes in Greece, Italy and Spain.
The situation was also less than rosy in its home market despite signs of a consumer rebound in June while the opening of Metro's first store in Egypt has been hampered by unrest there.
The Media-Saturn division posted a second-quarter loss in core earnings of €44 million, compared with a profit of €41 million in the same period of 2010.
For the group as a whole, second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and special items were down eight percent at €306 million.
The group is pursuing international expansion plans, however, with the launch of five new stores in the first half of the year in China, Russia and Turkey. It plans to open its first signature Metro Cash & Carry story in Indonesia next year.
AFP/emh
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.