Pernod Ricard Q2 sales slip amid soft demand in key markets

(Sharecast News) - French drinksmaker Pernod Ricard reported a drop in second‑quarter sales on Thursday, as soft consumer demand and ongoing destocking in the US and China continued to weigh on performance. Pernod Ricard said like‑for‑like sales fell 5% in the three months ended 31 December, though it noted the decline was less severe than the 7.6% contraction seen in the first quarter, helped by improving trends in India and in global travel retail.

For the first half as a whole, the owner of Martell, Mumm and Absolut posted sales of €5.25bn, down 5.9% on a like‑for‑like basis and broadly in line with the 5.7% decline expected by analysts, while operating profits fell 7.5% on a like‑for‑like basis, slightly better than the 7.7% drop forecast.

The Paris-based group, the world's second‑largest Western spirits maker behind Diageo, reiterated that FY26 would remain a transition year, with momentum expected to strengthen in the second half.

As of 1015 GMT, Pernod Ricard shares were up 2.91% at €84.08 each.





Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com