COTY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 2027 RESULTS

COTY INC. (COTY) filed an SEC Form 8-K — Results of Operations and Financial Condition. COTY ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 2027 RESULTS Q1 Profit and EPS Ahead of Guidance; Modest Sales Decline of 1%, with LFL Sales Down 2% Top 6 Core Prestige Brands Back to Growth Operating Cash Flow Up $65 Million YoY to $130 Million, with Free Cash Flow of $85 Million Exten

Original reporting
Published Nov 4, 2026, 9:31 PM UTC
Analysis
AlphAI AI DeskAI-generated
Added to AlphAI Nov 4, 2026, 9:35 PM UTC. Informational, not investment advice.
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AlphAI market briefEarnings
Primary signal
$COTY
Bullish
high confidence
Mentioned
$COTY
Relevance
7/10
AlphAI data visualization · based on SEC EDGAR 8-K
Decision brief

The 30-second read

$COTYBullishHigh
01

Why it matters

The earnings beat and cash flow improvement could drive short‑term buying interest, while the slight revenue decline may temper enthusiasm.

02

Market read

The report offers fresh data for traders targeting consumer discretionary and beauty sector stocks.

03

What to watch

The 40‑year Marc Jacobs license extension and rising free cash flow provide long‑term strategic value.

Relevance 7/10Novelty 8/10Timing: after-hours release
AlphAI · Earnings readCOTY · first quarter fiscal year 2027 · ended September 30, 2026

Q1 Profit and EPS Ahead of Guidance; Modest Sales Decline of 1%, with LFL Sales Down 2%; Operating Cash Flow Up $65 Million YoY to $130 Million, with Free Cash Flow of $85 Million

→Mixed quarter

Coty delivered improved cash generation and higher reported and adjusted EPS, but revenue declined, gross margin contracted, adjusted EBITDA fell, and Consumer Beauty remained loss-making.

Revenue
$1.56B
(1) % y/y
Prestige
$1.06B
(1) % y/y
Gross margin · GAAP
63.3 %
decreased 120 basis points year-over-year y/y
EPS · non-GAAP
$0.16
33 % y/y
2Q27 and first half of FY27 outlook
2Q27 LFL revenue to decline by a low-single-digit percentage; low-single-digit percentage headwind to Q2 revenues from foreign exchange (FX)

Key metrics

shortened, hover for the filing’s print
MetricValueq/qy/y
Net revenuesGAAP$1.56B–(1) %
Net revenues, like-for-likeother(2) %–(2) %
Gross profitGAAP$984.8M––
Gross marginGAAP63.3 %–decreased 120 basis points year-over-year
Adjusted gross marginnon-GAAP63.3 %–decreased 120 basis points year-over-year
Selling, general and administrative expensesGAAP$779.6M––
Operating incomeGAAP$170.4M–(8) %
Operating marginGAAP11.0 %––
Adjusted operating incomenon-GAAP$220.5M–(8) %
Adjusted operating marginnon-GAAP14.2 %–contracted by 100 basis points year-over-year
Net incomeGAAP$112.4M–52 %
Net income marginGAAP7.2 %––
Net income attributable to common stockholdersGAAP$106.2M–64 %
Adjusted net income attributable to Coty Inc.non-GAAP$146.1M–38 %
Adjusted net income marginnon-GAAP9.4 %––
EPS attributable to common shareholders (diluted)GAAP$0.12–71 %
Adjusted EPS attributable to common shareholders (diluted)non-GAAP$0.16–33 %
Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP$274.2M–(7) %
Adjusted EBITDA marginnon-GAAP17.6 %–decreased by 120 basis points
Provision for income taxesGAAP$45M–36 %
Effective tax rateGAAP28.6 %––
Adjusted effective tax ratenon-GAAP25.8 %––
Cash flow from operating activitiesGAAP$130.4M––
Capital expendituresGAAP−$45.8M––
Free cash flownon-GAAP$84.6M––
Total debtother$2.79B––
Cash and cash equivalentsGAAP$210.6M––
Financial net debtnon-GAAP$2.58B––
Financial leverage ratio (net debt to adjusted EBITDA)non-GAAP3.1x––
Americas net revenuesGAAP$653M–1 %
EMEA net revenuesGAAP$710M–(6) %
Asia Pacific net revenuesGAAP$192.2M–11 %

Segments

SegmentRevenueq/qy/y
PrestigeModerate decline in Prestige fragrance and skin care, partially offset by growth in Prestige cosmetics.$1.06B–(1) %
Consumer BeautyDecrease in color cosmetics and mass fragrance sales, partially offset by growth in mass body care.$496.8M–(2) %

2Q27 and first half of FY27 outlook

  • Revenue2Q27 LFL revenue to decline by a low-single-digit percentage; low-single-digit percentage headwind to Q2 revenues from foreign exchange (FX)
  • NoteCoty anticipates Q2 adjusted EBITDA to decline by a high-single-digit percentage.
  • NoteAdjusted EPS, excluding the equity swap, of $0.16 to $0.18 per share.
  • NoteFree cash flow for the first half of FY27 of over $300 million.
  • NoteContinued LFL sales growth in its Top 6 core Prestige brands.

Capital returns

  • Dividend payment on Class A Common Stock and Series B Preferred Stock: $(3.3) million.

What drove it

  • The Top 6 core Prestige brands returned to 5% like-for-like growth, with five of the six growing.
  • BOSS Bottled Beyond for Her, Mood Stones by Kylie Jenner, and Marc Jacobs makeup contributed approximately 2% of Top 6 core Prestige brand growth.
  • Americas revenue increased primarily because of higher sales in Brazil.
  • Asia Pacific revenue increased primarily because of higher sales in China, Southeast Asia, and the Asia Travel Retail channel.
  • Operating cash flow improved with better payables and receivables performance.
  • Coty extended the Marc Jacobs license, securing a 40-year license duration.

Concerns

  • Reported revenue declined 1% and LFL revenue declined 2%.
  • Reported and adjusted gross margin decreased 120 basis points, reflecting higher freight and material costs related to the Middle East conflict and higher excess and obsolescence.
  • Adjusted EBITDA declined 7% and adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by 120 basis points.
  • Consumer Beauty reported an operating loss of $(24.1) million and adjusted operating loss of $(15.0) million.
  • EMEA revenue declined 6%, primarily due to lower sales in the Middle East and Europe.
  • Coty expects 2Q27 LFL revenue to decline by a low-single-digit percentage and adjusted EBITDA to decline by a high-single-digit percentage.

What to watch

  • Whether the Top 6 core Prestige brands sustain LFL sales growth in 2Q27.
  • The pace of recovery in Consumer Beauty, where LFL revenue declined 3% and adjusted EBITDA fell 59%.
  • The impact of foreign exchange, expected to be a low-single-digit percentage headwind to Q2 revenues.
  • Gross-margin effects from freight and material costs related to the Middle East conflict and elevated excess and obsolescence.
  • Completion of the strategic review by the end of calendar 2026 and the broader outlook Coty expects to provide thereafter.
  • Delivery of over $300 million of free cash flow for the first half of FY27.

Balance sheet and cash flow

  • Cash and cash equivalents were $210.6 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $176.1 million as of June 30, 2026.
  • Total debt was $2,787.0 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $3,088.2 million as of June 30, 2026.
  • Financial net debt was $2,576.4 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $2,912.1 million as of June 30, 2026.
  • Trade receivables were $703.7 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $525.8 million as of June 30, 2026.
  • Inventories were $874.5 million as of September 30, 2026, compared with $838.7 million as of June 30, 2026.
  • Proceeds from brand exit and sale of other long-lived assets were $250.0 million.

Analysis

Coty reported a modestly weaker top line in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. Net revenues were $1,555.2 million, down 1% on a reported basis and down 2% on a like-for-like basis. Prestige revenue declined 1%, while Consumer Beauty revenue declined 2% reported and 3% LFL. The regional outcome was uneven: Americas rose 1% and Asia Pacific rose 11%, while EMEA declined 6% because of lower sales in the Middle East and Europe.

The Prestige portfolio showed signs of improving mix within a still-declining division. The Top 6 core Prestige brands returned to 5% LFL growth, and launches including BOSS Bottled Beyond for Her, Mood Stones by Kylie Jenner, and Marc Jacobs makeup contributed approximately 2% of that growth. Prestige adjusted EBITDA declined 2% to $262.5 million, substantially more resilient than Consumer Beauty, where adjusted EBITDA fell 59% to $11.7 million and the segment reported an adjusted operating loss of $(15.0) million.

Profitability remained under pressure at the gross-margin level. Reported and adjusted gross margin were both 63.3%, down 120 basis points year-over-year, as higher freight and material costs related to the Middle East conflict and higher excess and obsolescence offset cost control. Reported operating income declined 8% to $170.4 million and adjusted operating income also declined 8% to $220.5 million. However, reported net income attributable to common stockholders rose 64% to $106.2 million and adjusted net income rose 38% to $146.1 million, with the current quarter including a $14.8 million benefit from the mark-to-market on the equity swap compared with a $26.5 million negative impact in the prior-year quarter.

Cash generation was the strongest financial feature of the quarter. Operating cash flow was $130.4 million versus $65.2 million in the prior-year period, and free cash flow was $84.6 million versus $11.2 million. Total debt declined to $2,787.0 million from $3,088.2 million at June 30, 2026, while financial net debt declined to $2,576.4 million from $2,912.1 million. The period also included $250.0 million of proceeds from brand exit and sale of other long-lived assets.

The Q2 outlook still points to a transition period rather than a broad recovery. Coty expects LFL revenue to decline by a low-single-digit percentage, a low-single-digit percentage FX headwind to reported Q2 revenue, and a high-single-digit percentage adjusted EBITDA decline. It guided adjusted EPS excluding the equity swap to $0.16 to $0.18 per share and expects first-half FY27 free cash flow of over $300 million. Management plans to complete its strategic review by the end of calendar 2026 and provide a broader outlook after gaining greater visibility into growth and profitability.

Management, verbatim

Our first quarter results were ahead of expectations on sales, adjusted EBITDA, and EPS, alongside a significant improvement in free cash flow, supported by the focus of Coty.Curated.

Markus Strobel, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer

The prestige and mass beauty markets continue to grow despite macroeconomic uncertainty, while our overall sell-out still trails the market in both divisions.

Markus Strobel, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer

We delivered adjusted EBITDA ahead of our guidance, supported by better-than-expected sales and cost control, while continuing to invest in our brands.

Soraya Benchikh, Chief Financial Officer

Not in the filing

stated, not guessed
  • Prior-quarter revenue, gross margin, operating income, net income, EPS, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow were not reported.
  • Share repurchases were not reported.
  • Common-stock dividend amount was not separately reported.
  • Q2 gross margin, operating expenses, and tax-rate guidance were not reported.
  • FY27 full-year revenue, profitability, EPS, and free-cash-flow guidance were not reported.
  • Previous-release outlook was not provided, so comparison of actual results with prior guidance was not available.

Written by an AI language model from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was checked against the filing text, and a metric whose value, prior period and change do not add up is dropped from the metrics. The model can still misread a table, in the metrics or in the text, so check a number in the filing before you rely on it. Consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.

Background

Coty's Q1 FY2027 filing is the first public disclosure of its quarterly performance, including revenue, earnings, and cash flow figures.

Company-level read

Ticker impact

$COTYBullishHigh confidence
Context

Coty Inc. reported its Q1 FY2027 results, showing EPS of $0.12, free cash flow of $85M and a 1% revenue decline.

Expected impact

likely upward pressure as the market prices in better-than-expected earnings and cash generation

Evidence & confidence

The release provides fresh financial metrics that exceed guidance, indicating stronger profitability and liquidity, which typically supports a price rise.

Market effects

Beauty and cosmetics sector may see modest uplift from Coty's improved cash flow and prestige brand performance.

US and European equity markets could react to the earnings surprise.

Limited to investors focused on consumer discretionary and beauty stocks.

Counterpoint

Some investors may view the 1% revenue decline and modest sales contraction as a warning sign despite earnings beat.

Key entities

  • Coty Inc.

    Global beauty company reporting Q1 FY2027 results.

Every COTY earnings report

This story covers one filing. The ticker page keeps them all: each quarter's reported metrics with year-over-year and sequential comparisons, segments, guidance, and how the numbers landed against the company's own prior outlook.

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Why is Coty stock rallying today?

Coty (COTY) stock rose 2.6% in after-hours trading after reporting fiscal Q1 2027 earnings that beat estimates, with revenue of $1.56B and adjusted EPS of $0.16. The company also secured a 40-year extension of its Marc Jacobs beauty license, reinforcing its strategic overhaul. Q2 guidance met expectations, and the stock gained during regular trading.