Puma tops quarterly forecasts despite supply chain problems
Reuters API
German sportswear maker Puma
Puma had previously warned supply bottlenecks and manufacturing disruptions would mean a shortage of products well into 2022. Factories in Vietnam, a major supplier to the footwear industry, closed for months last year due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
Puma said fourth-quarter sales rose a currency-adjusted 14% to 1.77 billion euros ($2.01 billion), above analysts’ average forecast for 1.63 billion euros, according to a Refinitiv poll.
Puma shares were up 1.8% at 0931 GMT, the second-biggest gainer on Germany’s blue-chip index.
The company said quarterly earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose to 65 million euros from 63 million in the same period of 2020, well ahead of analysts’ average forecast for 47 million euros.
Throughout 2021, Puma performed better than rivals AdidasNike
Puma will publish final full-year results on Feb. 23, 2022.
