DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s leading premium beauty retailer, reported preliminary second-quarter sales growth of 1.1% to €949.7 million for the period ending March 31, 2026, but saw profitability decline as the company adjusted its full-year guidance to reflect a challenging market environment.
The company’s adjusted EBITDA fell 5.1% to €116.1 million, resulting in a margin of 12.2%, down from 13.0% in the prior year. Adjusted EBIT dropped to €19.1 million from €32.4 million. The net loss for the quarter was in the high-double-digit to low-triple-digit million euro range, driven primarily by impairments on goodwill related to its French NOCIBE business and Parfumdreams/Niche Beauty, as well as other asset impairments.
CEO Sander van der Laan attributed the results to a fundamental shift in the premium beauty market. “Growth rates in mature premium beauty markets have normalized compared to the exceptional post-pandemic period, while geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty continues to weigh on consumer sentiment,” he said in a statement.
In response, the DOUGLAS Group revised its full-year 2025/26 guidance. The company now expects sales at the lower end of its previous range of €4.65-4.80 billion, an adjusted EBITDA margin of around 16.0% (down from around 16.5%), and net leverage at the upper end of the 2.5x to 3.0x range as of September 30, 2026.
The revised outlook underscores pressures on the premium beauty sector, with slower growth in mature markets, shifting shopping behavior toward greater price sensitivity, and increased promotional activity amid customer uncertainty. Van der Laan emphasized the company’s strategic focus on its omnichannel model, differentiation, and profitable growth. “Our omnichannel model is a structural advantage in this ‘new normal’,” he said, noting that investments under the “Let it Bloom” strategy are being accelerated to build a foundation for sustainable growth.
DOUGLAS Group operates around 1,970 stores across Europe under brands including DOUGLAS, NOCIBE, Parfumdreams, and Niche Beauty. The company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Full financial results for the second quarter are scheduled for release on May 12, 2026. For further information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website.
