LVMH sales rose 17% to €21.0bn in the first quarter, on an organic basis. There was growth in all divisions, including an 18% uplift in the biggest division - Fashion & Leather Goods. Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Celine were among the brands that performed well. The strongest performer was the Selective Retailing business (18.8% of revenue), where organic growth was 28%, partly reflecting a good performance from Sephora.
Overall, Asia saw a "significant" rebound as health and travel restrictions were lifted. Europe and Japan saw growth thanks to positive activity from domestic and international customers.
LVMH shares rose 4.4% following the announcement.
View the latest LVMH share price and how to deal
Our view
Growth has been stellar in the first quarter. LVMH is showing once again the stronghold it has over the luxury market. But this is no accident.
The fashion conglomerate's ability to churn out growth quarter after quarter comes down to its biggest superpower. Brands. Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, TAG Heuer watches and Hennessy cognac are status symbols, and revenue is much stickier than for many traditional retailers. It also helps that LVMH's mega-wealthy customer base are able to weather an economic downturn better than some. Spending is more reliable when things take a turn for the worst.
Having high-net worth individuals as your core demographic also means the sky-high ticket prices simply don't deter these shoppers. And those higher price points are supported by what we view as genuine creative and marketing superiority at LVMH. We're not alone in thinking LVMH has a best-in-class stable of labels.
Being able to charge more and repeatedly encourage high demand means LVMH's operating margins are in the mid-twenties. A feat engineered by the group's enormous scale. We're also aware that LVMH overspent on marketing in the second half of last year, when compared to revenue growth. This is unlikely to be a recurring theme, which leaves room for margin growth in the new financial year.
Adept management is a serious asset too. The group has Bernard Arnault, CEO, and now the richest person in the world, for the best part of five decades, to thank. He is also the group's largest shareholder, his family owns 48% of the shares, which probably explains the focus on long-term success.
No investment comes without risk and we think it's prudent to remember there would be knocks to the valuation if LVMH ever put a foot wrong when it comes to its creative reputation. That's not to say this will ever happen, but it can never be fully ruled out.
Debt is worth keeping an eye on. The root cause of the balance sheet stretch was the acquisition of jewellery giant Tiffany. The deal seems to be bearing fruit, but debt reduction is likely to be a focus in the short term.
LVMH's more resilient customer base and higher margins means it generates billions in free cash flow. In turn, that helps it to pay dividends. The prospective yield of 1.7% doesn't shoot the lights out but we view LVMH shareholder returns as less vulnerable than some other businesses. As ever, no shareholder returns or dividends are guaranteed.
We think LVMH can thrive over the long-term and could provide a compounding opportunity thanks to its unrivalled stable of brands. But keep in mind the group's valuation is relatively demanding these days, which increases the risk of ups and downs.
LVMH key facts
All ratios are sourced from Refinitiv. Please remember yields are variable and not a reliable indicator of future income. Keep in mind key figures shouldn't be looked at on their own - it's important to understand the big picture.
This article is original Hargreaves Lansdown content, published by Hargreaves Lansdown. It was correct as at the date of publication, and our views may have changed since then. Unless otherwise stated estimates, including prospective yields, are a consensus of analyst forecasts provided by Refinitiv. These estimates are not a reliable indicator of future performance. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Investments rise and fall in value so investors could make a loss.
This article is not advice or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any investment. No view is given on the present or future value or price of any investment, and investors should form their own view on any proposed investment. This article has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and is considered a marketing communication. Non-independent research is not subject to FCA rules prohibiting dealing ahead of research, however HL has put controls in place (including dealing restrictions, physical and information barriers) to manage potential conflicts of interest presented by such dealing. Please see our full non-independent research disclosure for more information.