H&M shares fall as retailer misses sales expectations; CAC 40 leads advance

By Steve Goldstein

H&M shares slumped Friday as the Swedish retail chain missed expectations for sales growth in a quarter in which it said it focused on profitability.

H&M stock dropped 5%, though it has rallied 45% this year.

In a brief statement, H&M said fiscal third-quarter sales in local currencies was "flattish," missing analyst estimates for 5% sales growth. It said its goal of reaching a 10% operating margin next year "is going in the right direction" and that profitability and inventory levels have been priortized in the quarter.

Analysts at RBC said weather may have dampened sales, but that it also has become more expensive this season -- for instance, pricing 10% below average in the U.K., versus 20% traditionally. Its publicly traded rivals -- Inditex , the Primark unit of Associated British Foods and Next -- have each reported stronger sales growth.

The broader tone in European markets was positive, except for tech stocks, with ASM International shares losing 6%, after a downgrade by UBS to neutral ahead of its capital market day, and ASML Holding down 3%.

The French CAC 40 FR:PX1 led the major regional indexes with a 1.2% rise, as the U.K. FTSE 100 UK:UKX and German DAX DX:DAX also rose. Better-than-expected Chinese retail sales figures helped Paris-listed luxury plays.

Stellantis shares reversed early losses, rising 1%. The United Auto Workers began a strike at an Ohio plant, along with one plant each at fellow Big Three automakers Ford and General Motors.

-Steve Goldstein

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09-15-23 0948ET

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