Pernod Ricard's New Profit Forecast Lifts Shares To Record High

By Donna Ahern
Pernod Ricard's New Profit Forecast Lifts Shares To Record High

Pernod Ricard raised its annual profit forecast as the French drinks saw a stronger than expected recovery with the removal of COVID-19 curbs, driving its shares to a record high in early trading on Wednesday.

The owner of Mumm champagne, Absolut vodka and Martell cognac now expects organic profit growth of about 16% for its 2020/2021 fiscal year, up from a previous April forecast of 10%.

Pernod shares were up 2.97% at €185.30 at 0810 --, having hit €187.60 earlier -- and were one of the strongest performers on the Stoxx 600. Since the start of the year, the stock is up 18.2% versus around 13% for the Stoxx 600 Food & Beverage index.

China Demand 

The world's second-biggest spirits group after Britain's Diageo had already told an investor presentation on Tuesday that it was confident about its prospects in Asia, helped by cognac and Scotch whisky demand in China.

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And the group's third-quarter results, published two months ago, had beaten analysts' expectations.

"The pace of recovery is proving stronger than anticipated (...) Demand is accelerating as restrictions are progressively lifted," the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

News by Reuters edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. For more drinks stories click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.

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