#Retail & Brands
Inditex increases sales and profit in Q1/2023
/ In 1Q2023, Inditex continued with a very robust operating performance due to the creativity of the teams and the strong execution of the fully integrated business model
/ The Spring/Summer collections have been very well received by the customers. Sales grew +13% over 1Q2022 to reach €7.6 billion, showing very satisfactory development both in stores and online. Sales were positive in all geographical areas and in all concepts. Sales in constant currency grew 15%
/ Gross profit increased 14% to €4.6 billion. The gross margin reached 60.5% (+34 bps versus 1Q2022)
/ All expense lines have shown a favourable evolution. Operating expenses increased 13%, below sales growth
/ EBITDA increased 14% to €2.2 billion
/ EBIT increased 43% to €1.5 billion and PBT 52% to €1.5 billion
/ Net income increased 54% to €1.2 billion
/ Due to the strong operating performance cash from operations has increased markedly. The net cash position grew 14% to €10.5 billion
/ Inditex’s Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting a dividend for FY2022 of €1.20. The dividend is composed of two equal payments of €0.60 per share: the first interim payment was made on 2 May 2023 and the final dividend payment will be made on 2 November 2023
/ Inditex continues to see strong growth opportunities. To take their business model to the next level and extend their differentiation further they are developing several initiatives in all key areas for the coming years
/ Spring/Summer collections continue to be very well received by the customers. Store and online sales in constant currency between 1 May and 4 June 2023 increased 16% versus the same period in 2022
First quarter 2023: Very strong operating performance
The Spring/Summer collections have been very well received by customers. Sales grew +13% over 1Q2022 to reach €7.6 billion, showing very satisfactory development both in stores and online. Sales in constant currency grew 15%.
Sales were positive in all geographical areas and in all concepts.
In 1Q2023, openings have been carried out in 17 markets. At the end of the period Inditex operated 5,801 stores. A list of total stores by concept is included in Annex I.
In 1Q2023, the execution of the business model was very strong. Gross profit increased 14% to €4.6 billion. The gross margin reached 60.5% (+34 bps versus 1Q2022).
All expense lines have shown a favourable evolution. Operating expenses increased 13%, below sales growth. Including all lease charges, operating expenses grew 150 bps below sales growth.
EBITDA increased 14% to €2.2 billion.
EBIT increased 43% to €1.5 billion and PBT 52% to €1.5 billion. As a reminder, in 1Q2022, Inditex reported a provision for expected expenses for FY2022 in the Russian Federation and Ukraine of €216 million under Other results.
Annex II includes a breakdown of the Financial Results.
The tax rate applied to the quarterly result is the best estimate for the fiscal year 2023 based on available information.
Net income increased 54% to reach €1.2 billion over €760 million in 1Q2022. Net income ex provision in 1Q2022 would have been €940 million.
Given the strong execution of the business model, cash from operations has increased markedly. The net cash position grew 14% to €10.5 billion at the end of 1Q2023.
Due to the robust operating performance over 1Q2023 and the normalisation in supply chain conditions, inventory was 5% higher as of 30 April 2023. Collections are considered to be of high quality. Commitment levels are similar to last year at this stage.
Second quarter 2023
Spring/Summer collections continue to be very well received by the customers. Store and online sales in constant currency between 1 May and 4 June 2023 increased 16% versus the same period in 2022.
Inditex started operations in Cambodia in May, with the opening of a Zara flagship store in Phnom Penh at Chip Mong Mega Mall and the launch of online sales in the market through zara.com/kh.
Outlook
Inditex continues to see strong growth opportunities. The key priorities are to continually improve the fashion proposition, to enhance the customer experience, to increase their focus on sustainability and to preserve the talent and commitment of their people. Prioritising these areas will drive long-term growth. To take their business model to the next level andextend their differentiation further they are developing several initiatives in all key areas for the coming years.
The creativity of the teams and the flexibility of the business model in conjunction with in-season proximity sourcing allows a swift reaction to customer demand. This situation results in a unique market position which provides their business model with great growth potential going forward.
Inditex operates in 213 markets with low share in a highly fragmented sector and they see strong growth opportunities. They expect increased sales productivity in the stores going forward. The growth of gross space in 2023 will be around 3%. Optimisation of stores is ongoing. Inditex expects space contribution to sales to be positive in 2023. Inditex continues to see a very satisfactory evolution of online sales and an increasing participation in the group total. At current exchange rates, Inditex expects a -2.5% currency impact on sales in FY2023.
In FY2023, Inditex expects a stable gross margin (+/-50 bps).
For FY2023, they are planning investments that will scale their capabilities, obtain efficiencies and increase their competitive differentiation to the next level. They estimate ordinary capital expenditure of around €1.6 billion.
/ Fashion proposition
Inditex continues focusing on the creativity, innovation, design and quality of all its collections and integrated sales channels, while reinforcing the commercial initiatives of all its concepts. Zara Woman Atelier, Massimo Dutti Moment de Detente or Casa Stradivarius are just some of the creative proposals available throughout 2023.
/ Customer experience
To continue offering the best customer experience both in the stores and on the online platforms they are developing several initiatives:
New Zara store design: A key recent project has been the new store design for Zara created by their Architectural Studio that integrates organically the most sophisticated interiors with the functional and digital sections, like fitting rooms, self-checkout areas, click&collect points, in-store silos and stockrooms.
This new Zara store design is featured in openings, enlargements or relocations such as Paris Champs Elysees, London Stratford, Miami Dadeland, Mumbai Phoenix Palladium and Johannesburg Sandton.
New security technology in stores: The hardware to implement the new security technology and eliminate hard tags will be available in all Zara stores globally by July with the aim to start test operations in the 2023 Autumn/Winter season.
/ Sustainability
Sustainability is a key part of Inditex’s strategy. As per the Sustainability Roadmap Goals, Inditex is on track to deliver upon all of the targets set for 2023 to 2025. They continue deepening their sustainability strategy and they will present at the next AGM new commitments that demonstrate their ambition in this area.
In 2022, Inditex made an investment in Circ, the fashion technology company that recycles textile waste back into new fibres, aimed at accelerating industrial-scale solutions towards circularity in the fashion sector.
In April, Zara partnered with Circ to launch a first-of-its-kind women’s capsule collection made using recycled polyester and lyocell derived from the separation of polycotton textile waste.
In terms of circularity, the Zara Pre-Owned platform, currently available in the United Kingdom, will reach France, Germany and Spain in the second half of 2023. Through this platform, they will continue helping the customers to extend the life cycle of their Zara garments through donation, repair or resale.
/ People
One of the priorities of Inditex's People strategy is to promote stimulating work environments where the growth and continuous learning of the teams is encouraged.
Last year, more than 11,000 of the employees were promoted. At the end of this quarter there are already more than 2,700 people who have been promoted internally. They have also invested almost 600,000 hours of training in this period, as they are convinced that continuous learning contributes to the personal and professional development of its people.
Dividends
As approved in March 2023, Inditex’s Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting a dividend for FY2022 of €1.20. The dividend is composed of two equal payments of €0.60 per share: the first interim payment was made on 2 May 2023 and the final dividend payment will be made on 2 November 2023.
Agreements of the Board of Directors
Inditex´s Annual General Meeting will take place at the Company’s registered office on 11 July 2023.
Mr Emilio Saracho Rodríguez de Torres will leave the Board of Directors of Inditex once his tenure expires at the AGM. Inditex would like to thank him for his significant contribution to the Board.
The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting to set the number of Board members to 10.
