The DOUGLAS Group, Europe's leading omnichannel premium beauty destination, announced on June 18, 2026, that it is adjusting its financial guidance for the fiscal year 2025/26 following weaker-than-expected third-quarter business performance. The company cited significant pressure on customer confidence and willingness to buy due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and heightened price sensitivity across European markets.
In response to the shifting market dynamics, DOUGLAS outlined a series of strategic measures aimed at safeguarding profitable growth. These include reallocating investments from physical stores to the online business, sharpening differentiation and exclusivity in its product assortment, investing in competitive pricing, and accelerating digitalization efforts. CEO Sander van der Laan emphasized the company's commitment to a sustainable medium- to long-term approach, stating that while some measures will deliver short-term benefits, others will take longer to materialize.
The revised guidance reflects the impact of changed consumer behavior, with many customers delaying purchases in anticipation of promotions. The European premium beauty market continues to shift, with e-commerce growing faster than stores and generating solid profitability at the EBIT level, while like-for-like store sales have turned negative. Cross-channel services such as Click-and-Collect are performing strongly, but overall spending patterns vary across markets.
For the full fiscal year 2025/26, DOUGLAS now expects net sales growth of 0-1%, corresponding to a range of 4.58 to 4.63 billion euros, compared to the previous guidance of "at the lower end of 4.65 to 4.80 billion euros." The adjusted EBITDA margin is forecast at around 15.0%, down from the earlier target of approximately 16.0%. Net leverage is expected to be between 3.0x and 3.5x as of September 30, 2026, versus the prior outlook of "at the upper end of 2.5x to 3.0x."
Despite the challenging environment, the company remains confident in its omnichannel business model, strong brand, and partnerships with premium beauty suppliers. Van der Laan noted that DOUGLAS has already addressed many current challenges through its transformation into a true omnichannel retailer, giving it a clear head start and a healthy financial profile that provides flexibility to act. "In the current market environment, both differentiation and pricing matter more than ever," he said.
Further details and an update on strategic measures will be provided at the DOUGLAS Group's quarterly reporting on August 12, 2026. The company's shares are listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. For more information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website.
