Jeweller Pandora cuts 2018 sales, margin guidance

Danish jewellery maker Pandora , known for its charm bracelets, has cut its sales and profit margin guidance for this year following falls in both measures in the second quarter.

The world’s largest jewellery maker by production volume said on Monday it now expected sales in local currencies to increase by between 4 and 7 percent this year, compared with the 7-10 percent it previously projected.

It also cut its forecast margin on earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the year to around 32 percent from 35 percent.

However, Pandora, which has suffered from slowing mall traffic in its key U.S. market, also said it would add around 250 concept stores this year, rather than the 200 it had planned.

Around half of those will be in European, Middle Eastern and African countries, while the rest will be split evenly between American and Asia-Pacific countries.
Second-quarter sales totalled 4.82 billion Danish crowns ($748 million), slightly lower than a year earlier, the company said.

The EBITDA margin for the three month period was 31.1 percent, down from 33.4 percent a year earlier, it added.

The company said it would publish its full second quarter results on Thursday, rather than on Aug. 14 as planned.