Pandora raises profit guidance after improved sales

Danish jewellery-maker Pandora on Thursday upwardly revised its profit guidance after seeing stronger sales and a big boost to its online business in the third quarter, it said in a statement released after the market closed.

"In the third quarter of 2020, the underlying brand momentum continued to develop strongly as Pandora experienced a further improvement in the majority of the main markets," the firm said.

It sees EBIT-margin for the year in the range of 17.5% to 19%, up from a previous guidance of 16% to 19%.

Online organic sales growth increased by 89% in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, largely offsetting a drop in customers in physical stores, Pandora said, but temporary store closures continued to dent performance.

Around 90% of physical stores had remained open in the third quarter on average, a trend the company expects to continue in the fourth quarter.

Pandora now expects organic growth for the year in the range of -14% to -17%, narrowed up from a previous guidance of -14% to -20%.

Pandora publishes its third quarter earnings on Nov. 3. Pandora operates in more than 100 countries through 7,400 points of sale, including more than 2,700 concept stores.