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Estee Lauder Companies Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 1 lowered, 1 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales up 6% to $4.2 billion: Net sales were $4,229 million against $4,004 million, a 6% reported and 4% organic increase. Six-month net sales were $7,710 million, up 5%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 14.4%: Adjusted operating income was $608 million, up 32%. Reported operating income was $401 million, against a $580 million loss in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 43% to $0.89: Reported diluted EPS was $0.44, against a $(1.64) loss a year earlier. Six-month adjusted diluted EPS was $1.21, against $0.77. Source
  • Makeup fell on Estée Lauder returns: Makeup net sales fell 1%. Estée Lauder declined on a returns accrual for its existing Double Wear foundation, ahead of a February 2026 successor. M·A·C partly offset the decline. Source
  • Gross margin up 40 basis points: Gross margin reached 76.5%. PRGP operational efficiencies and lower excess and obsolescence were offset by tariffs, mix and inflation. Adjusted gross margin matched reported at 76.5%. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $581 million: Six-month operating cash flow was $785 million, against $387 million. Free cash flow was $581 million, against $114 million, with timing of capital expenditures a contributor. Source
  • Approved cuts pass 6,000 positions: Approved restructuring initiatives total $1.2 billion of cumulative charges and a net reduction of over 6,000 positions, up from over 4,000 positions approved at October 26, 2025. Source

“as we expect to restore organic sales growth and expand our operating margin for the first time in four years”

Stéphane de La Faverie, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported net sales growth Sourcefiscal 2026 (twelve months ending June 30, 2026)3% - 5%Raised from 2% - 5%
Organic net sales growth Sourcefiscal 20261% - 3%Raised from 0% - 3%
Organic net sales by region Sourcefiscal 2026, at mid-point of rangemid-single-digit growth in Mainland China; The Americas flat
Organic net sales growth, second half Sourcefiscal 2026 second halflow-single-digit increase
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$2.05 - $2.25Raised from $1.90 - $2.10
Adjusted operating margin Sourcefiscal 20269.8% - 10.2%Raised
Reported (GAAP) diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$0.98 - $1.22Lowered from $1.39 - $1.65
Restructuring and other charges per diluted share Sourcefiscal 2026$1.03 - $1.07Raised from $0.45 - $0.51
Tariff impact on profitability Sourcefiscal 2026, mostly second halfapproximately $100 millionKept
Adjusted operating margin, third quarter Sourcefiscal 2026 third quartercontraction of approximately 50 basis pointsNew
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 36%
Diluted weighted-average shares Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 365 million shares
Operating cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026$1.1 billion - $1.2 billion
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 4% of projected sales
Restructuring and other charges, total program Sourceonce fully implemented$1.2 billion - $1.6 billionKept
Annual gross benefits, restructuring program Sourceannual run-rate$0.8 billion - $1.0 billionKept
Net reduction in positions Sourcerestructuring program, including approvals to date5,800 - 7,000Kept
Quarterly dividend Sourcepayable March 16, 2026$.35 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Reported (GAAP) EPS range lowered to $0.98 to $1.22 from $1.39 to $1.65, as restructuring charges are included. Source
  • New guidance: A third-quarter adjusted operating margin contraction of about 50 basis points was given for the first time. Source
  • New: Entered a global agreement with Accenture for Enterprise Business Services, as part of the global operating model transformation. Source
  • New: First investment in a Latin American brand: a minority interest in Mexican luxury fragrance brand XINÚ. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales up 6% to $4.2 billion: Net sales were $4,229 million against $4,004 million, a 6% reported and 4% organic increase. Six-month net sales were $7,710 million, up 5%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 14.4%: Adjusted operating income was $608 million, up 32%. Reported operating income was $401 million, against a $580 million loss in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 43% to $0.89: Reported diluted EPS was $0.44, against a $(1.64) loss a year earlier. Six-month adjusted diluted EPS was $1.21, against $0.77. Source

Product categories and regions

  • Skin Care and Fragrance grew: Skin Care net sales rose 7%, or 6% organically, with La Mer, Estée Lauder and The Ordinary driving growth. Fragrance rose 6% organically, with Luxury Brands up high single digits. Source
  • Makeup fell on Estée Lauder returns: Makeup net sales fell 1%. Estée Lauder declined on a returns accrual for its existing Double Wear foundation, ahead of a February 2026 successor. M·A·C partly offset the decline. Source
  • Mainland China grew 13%: Mainland China net sales rose 13% to $928 million. Operating income rose to $148 million from $75 million, against a prior year hit by a local government subsidy policy change. Source
  • The Americas flat, profit up: The Americas net sales were $1,218 million, flat. Operating income was $104 million, against a $771 million loss that included $861 million of impairments. Source

“Beauty Reimagined has invigorated our business as we execute the biggest operational, leadership, and cultural transformation in our history”

Stéphane de La Faverie, President and CEO

Brands, channels and distribution

  • Prestige share gains in key markets: Share gains were reported in Mainland China, Japan, the U.S. and Western Europe. In U.S. prestige beauty, the company gained volume share and gained value share in Skin Care and Hair Care. Source
  • Amazon and TikTok Shop expansion: Brand portfolios on Amazon and TikTok Shop each expanded between October 2025 and January 2026, extending reach across more markets. Source
  • Freestanding fragrance stores and M·A·C: Fragrance added freestanding stores, led by Jo Malone London and Le Labo. M·A·C's March 2026 launch in select U.S. Sephora locations and online was announced in October 2025. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Gross margin up 40 basis points: Gross margin reached 76.5%. PRGP operational efficiencies and lower excess and obsolescence were offset by tariffs, mix and inflation. Adjusted gross margin matched reported at 76.5%. Source
  • Tariff mitigation offsets over half: Trade programs and regional manufacturing, including the facility in Japan, are offsetting more than half of expected tariff impacts. Supply chain agility is also cited. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 51.4%: The rate was 51.4%, against 9.2% a year earlier. Adjusted rate was 39.8%, against 42.6%, with new foreign valuation allowances and recent U.S. tax legislation also cited. Source
  • PRGP funds consumer-facing spending: Non-consumer-facing costs fell with PRGP net benefits, which also funded higher consumer-facing spending on co-op advertising, selling, advertising, promotion and store operating costs. Source

Cash, capital and dividends

  • Free cash flow rose to $581 million: Six-month operating cash flow was $785 million, against $387 million. Free cash flow was $581 million, against $114 million, with timing of capital expenditures a contributor. Source
  • Capital spending fell to $204 million: Six-month capital expenditures were $204 million, against $273 million, as the company prioritizes consumer-facing investments while optimizing overall spending. Source
  • TOM FORD payment and dividends paid: Six-month cash uses included $150 million of deferred consideration for the 2023 TOM FORD acquisition and $255 million of dividends paid, against $366 million a year earlier. Source

Digital and partnerships

  • Shopify store goes live in UK: The Shopify partnership, announced in October 2025, modernizes digital technology infrastructure. Its first store, a freestanding TOM FORD store, went live in the United Kingdom in January 2026. Source
  • AI scent advisor launched: Jo Malone London launched an AI Scent Advisor in December 2025, giving conversational fragrance recommendations built on Google Gemini and Vertex AI. Source
  • Clinique and ACUVUE collaboration announced: Clinique and ACUVUE, a contact lens brand, announced a U.S. collaboration to advance eye education in beauty and vision. Source

People, restructuring and charges

  • Approved cuts pass 6,000 positions: Approved restructuring initiatives total $1.2 billion of cumulative charges and a net reduction of over 6,000 positions, up from over 4,000 positions approved at October 26, 2025. Source
  • Charges recognized to date: Cumulative restructuring charges reached $904 million through December 31, 2025, including $207 million in the quarter. Most of the charge was employee-related. Source
  • Approvals cover most expected totals: Approved initiatives cover over 80% of expected gross benefits, over 75% of expected charges and over 80% of the expected net reduction in positions, measured against the high end of the ranges. Source
  • Benefits ramp as transition completes: Management expects the outsourcing and process changes to yield net benefits that ramp over time. The benefits are also intended to fund reinvestment in consumer-facing areas. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • M·A·C Sephora launch in March: Initial shipments for M·A·C's March 2026 launch in select U.S. Sephora locations were included in the second quarter. Source
  • Restructuring approvals to finish: Approvals for the restructuring program are expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2026. Source
  • PRGP completion in fiscal 2027: PRGP actions are expected to be substantially completed in fiscal 2027, with most full run-rate benefits realized that year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Net new freestanding fragrance stores opened in the quarter Source9
Amazon Premium Beauty portfolio Source12 brands across 10 markets
TikTok Shop portfolio Source12 brands across seven markets

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management flagged challenges in outsourcing select services, and possible effects of the PRGP changes on suppliers and retailers. Source
  • Demand: Negative trends are expected to continue in the rest of Northern Asian travel retail, while Hainan retail momentum is expected to continue. Source
  • Financial: Restructuring payments are expected to peak in fiscal 2026, weighing on operating cash flow. Source
  • Regulatory: Management is monitoring evolving trade policies and enacted tariffs, and is evaluating mitigation. Source
  • External: Management is monitoring the global macro environment, including recession risk, currency volatility, inflation and geopolitical tensions. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management states the company remains on track to achieve the overall PRGP savings. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.