H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB Full-year report

Full-year (1 December 2017 – 30 November 2018)

• The H&M group’s net sales, increased by 5 percent to SEK 210,400 m (200,004) in the financial year. In local currencies, net sales increased by 3 percent. The ongoing transition work contributed to gradually improved sales development and increased market share in most markets during the second half.
• The group’s online sales continued to develop very well during the year. Online sales amounted to approximately SEK 30 billion, an increase of 22 percent, thereby making up for 14.5 percent (12.5) of the group’s total sales. In local currencies the increase was 21 percent.
• Gross profit amounted to SEK 110,887 m (108,090). This corresponds to a gross margin of 52.7 percent (54.0).
• Profit after financial items amounted to SEK 15,639 m (20,809).
• Profit after tax amounted to SEK 12,652 m (16,184), corresponding to SEK 7.64 (9.78) per share.

Fourth quarter (1 September 2018 — 30 November 2018)

• The group’s net sales increased by 12 percent to SEK 56,414 m (50,407) during the fourth quarter. In local currencies, net sales increased by 6 percent, driven by increased full-price sales and lower markdowns.
• The group’s online sales increased by 24 percent in SEK and 20 percent in local currencies.
• Gross profit amounted to SEK 30,592 m (27,929). This corresponds to a gross margin of 54.2 percent (55.4)
• The cost of markdowns in relation to sales decreased by 0.6 percentage points.
• Profit after financial items amounted to SEK 4,352 m (4,873). The group’s profit after tax amounted to SEK 3,543 m (3,993), corresponding to SEK 2.14 (2.41) per share.
• Three new fulfilment centres with a total logistics area of around 230,000 square metres were opened during the quarter, providing increased capacity – particularly for online sales.
• The result was negatively affected by costs generated in connection with the earlier replacement of logistics systems, but also by activities in preparation for upcoming transitions.Together with negative year-end effects these costs amounted to approximately SEK 560 m in the quarter. 
• The board of directors proposes an unchanged dividend of SEK 9.75 (9.75) per share for the 2017/2018 financial year, to be paid out on two occasions in 2019. The board’s reasoning for the dividend proposal is that the underlying business is showing gradual improvements, investments (capex) will reduce in 2019 and the company remains in a strong financial position taking into consideration the capital structure target.
• Net sales in the period 1 December 2018 to 28 January 2019 increased by 4 percent in local currencies compared to the corresponding period the previous year.
• The platform was successfully replaced in Germany in January 2019. This means that all of H&M’s online markets are now on the new platform.
• Stronger collections and increased full-price sales mean that for the first quarter 2019 the company expects markdowns to be around 1 percentage point lower and a continued improvement in the inventory situation compared with the previous quarter.
• Online and physical stores are being increasingly integrated, while in parallel the rollout of H&M’s online store continues. Today H&M online is represented in 47 markets and during 2019 Mexico will be added as well as Egypt that will open via franchise.
• In 2019 the H&M group plans a net addition of 175 new stores, of which almost half will consist of newer brands.