The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s number one premium beauty retailer, announced preliminary results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025/26, showing continued sales growth but at a lower margin. The company also adjusted its full-year guidance, reflecting a challenging market environment.
Group sales increased by 1.1% to 949.7 million euros in the period from January 1 to March 31, 2026, compared to 939.0 million euros in the same quarter last year. However, adjusted EBITDA decreased by 5.1% to 116.1 million euros, resulting in a margin of 12.2%, down from 13.0% in the prior year. Adjusted EBIT fell to 19.1 million euros from 32.4 million euros.
The net loss for the second quarter is expected to be in the high-double-digit to low-triple-digit million euro range, primarily due to impairments on goodwill related to NOCIBE and Parfumdreams/Niche Beauty, as well as further asset impairments.
CEO Sander van der Laan commented: “We operate in a market that has undergone a fundamental shift and is now stabilizing at a new level. Growth rates in mature premium beauty markets have normalized compared to the exceptional post‑pandemic period, while geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty continues to weigh on consumer sentiment.”
Reflecting these changes, the Management Board has adjusted the full-year guidance for fiscal 2025/26. The company now expects sales at the lower end of the range of 4.65-4.80 billion euros, an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 16.0% (previously around 16.5%), and net leverage at the upper end of the range between 2.5x and 3.0x as of September 30, 2026.
The DOUGLAS Group is sharpening its strategic focus on omnichannel, differentiation, and profitable growth. Van der Laan emphasized: “Our omnichannel model is a structural advantage in this ‘new normal’. The strategic direction we took with ‘Let it Bloom’ already put us in a good position, and we are further narrowing down this path and accelerating our efforts to excel in the execution of our initiatives.”
The company noted that slower growth in mature markets, increased focus on pricing and promotion, and weak consumer sentiment in the euro area weighed on profitability. The full financial figures for the second quarter will be published on May 12, 2026.
For more information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website or view the original release on NewMediaWire.
