L'Oréal $OR rises 9% as Q1 like-for-like sales grow 7.6%

L'Oréal $OR moved like a cyclical earnings surprise, not a defensive consumer staple. CNBC reported that shares rose 9%, after trading up as much as 10%, putting the stock on track for its biggest daily gain since November 2008. The catalyst was a first-quarter sales beat: the company's sales release showed €12.1523B of revenue, up 3.6% reported and 7.6% like for like.

The surprise was the gap versus expectations. CNBC said analysts had expected roughly 3%-4% organic growth, while L'Oréal reported 7.6% like-for-like growth and 6.7% adjusted like-for-like growth. Currency was a drag, with a -5.5% impact at the end of March 2026. At March 31 exchange rates of 1 euro to $1.1532, the company estimated a full-year currency impact of about -1.3%.

Metric | Q1 2026 | Market context
Stock reaction | +9% | As much as +10% intraday
Sales | €12.1523B | €11.7347B in Q1 2025
Like-for-like growth | +7.6% | Analysts expected about 3%-4%
Adjusted like-for-like growth | +6.7% | IT phasing adjusted
Reported growth | +3.6% | Currency impact -5.5%

The division mix showed that the beat was not one-product driven. Professional Products sales were €1.4620B, with 15.5% like-for-like growth and 13.1% adjusted like-for-like growth. Dermatological Beauty sales were €2.2154B with 10.8% like-for-like growth. Consumer Products grew 5.8% like for like, while Luxe grew 5.2%.

Regionally, North America and Europe were the cleanest signals for global beauty demand. North America produced 11.4% like-for-like growth and 7.6% adjusted like-for-like growth. Europe grew 10.3% like for like, while North Asia was down 4.0% like for like but positive 4.8% on an adjusted basis. SAPMENA-SSA grew 20.4% like for like.

The next watch item is whether L'Oréal can keep share gains while currency remains a reported-sales drag. The company also announced a share repurchase mandate through June 30, 2026, capped at €500M or 2M shares, with repurchased shares intended for cancellation.

Not investment advice. Verify all figures with primary sources before acting.