PUMA
Herzogenaurach, 31 July 2025
PUMA reports sales decline in Q2 and lowers outlook

Key developments Q2 2025

  • Currency-adjusted sales down by 2.0% to € 1,942 million (-8.3% reported)
  • Gross profit margin decreases by 70 basis points to 46.1%
  • Operating expenses (OPEX) increase by 4.0% to € 915 million
  • Adjusted EBIT, excluding one-time costs*, decreases to € -13 million
  • Reported EBIT at € -98 million, including one-time costs of € 85 million from the “nextlevel” cost efficiency programme and a goodwill impairment

 

Lowered Outlook FY 2025

  • Currency-adjusted sales decline at low double-digit percentage rate (Previously: Currency-adjusted sales growth at low- to mid-single digit percentage rate)
  • For the EBIT (reported) we expect a loss (Previously: EBIT of € 445 million to € 525 million)
  • CAPEX of around € 250 million (Previously: € 300 million)
  • Outlook includes implications from U.S. Tariffs based on information available as of 
    23 July 2025

Second Quarter 2025

Sales decreased currency-adjusted (ca) by 2.0% to € 1,942.2 million. Currencies were a headwind, negatively impacting sales in euro terms by approximately € 135 million in Q2 2025 (-8.3% reported). Sales in the EMEA region decreased by 3.1% (ca) to € 771.7 million, mainly driven by a softer Europe. In the Americas region, sales decreased by 0.5% (ca) to € 779.9 million due to a decline in North America, while Latin America recorded double-digit growth during the quarter. Sales in the Asia/Pacific region decreased 2.9% (ca) to € 390.5 million, mainly reflecting ongoing softness in Greater China. 

PUMA’s Wholesale business decreased by 6.3% (ca) to € 1,341.2 million, driven by softness in the U.S., China and Europe. Our Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) business grew by 9.2% (ca) to € 601.1 million, led by the e-commerce business which grew 19.4% (ca), while sales in owned & operated retail stores increased 3.4% (ca). The DTC share rose to 30.9%, up from 27.8% in Q2 2024.

Footwear sales increased by 5.1% (ca) to € 1,061.1 million, driven by the Running and Sportstyle categories. Sales in Apparel decreased by 10.7% (ca) to € 597.8 million and Accessories decreased by 6.4% (ca) to € 283.4 million.

The gross profit margin declined by 70 basis points to 46.1%, primarily reflecting increased promotional activity and unfavourable currency effects. This was partially offset by tailwinds from sourcing and freight, as well as a positive impact from distribution channel mix.

Operating expenses (OPEX), excluding one-time costs*, increased by 4.0% to € 914.7 million (Q2 2024: € 879.3 million). The increase was mainly due to accounts receivable write offs of around € 20 million and the continued growth of our DTC business, especially e-commerce, and higher depreciation & amortisation (D&A) from investments in DTC and infrastructure. In addition, currency-related headwinds weighed on the OPEX ratio, which increased by 560 basis points to 47.1% (Q2 2024: 41.5%).

Adjusted EBIT, excluding one-time costs*, decreased to € -13.2 million. (Q2 2024: € 117.2 million) due to a lower gross profit margin and higher OPEX. PUMA incurred one-time costs related to the “nextlevel” cost efficiency programme and a goodwill impairment of € 84.6 million in the second quarter. Consequently, the operating result (reported EBIT) came in at € -97.8 million (Q2 2024: € 117.2 million) and the EBIT margin came in at -5.0% (Q2 2024: 5.5%).

The financial result decreased by 9.4% to € -46.6 million (Q2 2024: € -42.6 million) mainly due to higher net interest expenses. Taxes on income amounted to € -94.7 million (Q2 2024: € -18.4 million). The increase compared to last year was mainly driven by deferred tax assets write-offs in the U.S. and China. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests decreased to € -7.9 million (Q2 2024: € -14.3 million), as a result of a weaker socks and bodywear business in the U.S.

Consequently, net loss came in at € -247.0 million (Q2 2024: € 41.9 million) and earnings per share amounted to € -1.67 (Q2 2024: € 0.28).

First Half Year 2025

Sales decreased by 1.0% (ca) to € 4,018.2 million. Currencies were a headwind, negatively impacting sales in euro terms by approximately € 163 million in H1 2025 (-4.8% reported). Sales in the EMEA region increased by 1.2% (ca) to € 1,663.5 million. The Americasregion recorded a sales decline of 1.6% (ca) to € 1,533.7 million, while sales in the Asia/Pacific region decreased by 3.8% (ca) to € 821.1 million.

PUMA’s Wholesale business declined by 4.9% (ca) to € 2,870.6 million, driven by softness in the U.S., China and Europe. Our Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) business increased by 10.5% (ca) to € 1,147.6 million. Sales in owned & operated retail stores increased 6.0% (ca) and e-commerce increased 18.4% (ca). This resulted in an increased DTC share of 28.6% (H1 2024: 25.6%).

Among product divisions, sales in Footwear increased by 3.7% (ca) to € 2,247.1 million, driven by the Running, Basketball and Sportstyle categories. Apparel decreased by 6.3% (ca) to € 1,192.1 million and Accessories decreased by 6.1% (ca) to € 579.1 million. 

The gross profit margin decreased by 60 basis points to 46.5% (H1 2024: 47.2%). Increased promotional activity, currency effects as well as positive inventory valuation effects in the previous year were a headwind. This was partially offset by tailwinds from sourcing and freight, as well as a positive impact from distribution channel mix.

Operating expenses (OPEX), excluding one-time costs*, increased by 5.5% to € 1,819.6 million (H1 2024: € 1,724.6 million). The increase was mainly due to accounts receivable write offs of around € 20 million and the continued growth of our DTC business, especially e-commerce, and higher depreciation & amortisation (D&A) from investments in DTC and infrastructure. In addition, currency-related headwinds weighed on the OPEX ratio, which increased 440 basis points to 45.3% (H1 2024: 40.9%).

Adjusted EBIT, excluding one-time costs*, decreased by 77.4% to € 62.5 million (H1 2024: € 276.2 million) due to a lower gross profit margin and higher OPEX. PUMA incurred one-time costs related to the “nextlevel” cost efficiency programme and a goodwill impairment of € 102.6 million. Consequently, the reported EBIT came in at € -40.1 million (H1 2024: € 276.2 million) and the EBIT margin came in at -1.0% (H1 2024: 6.5%).

The financial result decreased by 27.7% to € -88.7 million (H1 2024: € -69.4 million) mainly due to higher net interest expenses. Taxes on income amounted to € -98.9 million (H1 2024: € -51.4 million). The increase compared to last year was mainly driven by deferred tax assets write-offs in the U.S. and China in the second quarter. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to € -19.0 million (H1 2024: € -26.1 million).

Consequently, net loss came in at € -246.6 million (H1 2024: € 129.3 million) and earnings per share amounted to € -1.67 (H1 2024: € 0.86).

Working Capital

The working capital increased by 13.5% to € 1,864.8 million (30 June 2024: € 1,643.7 million). Inventories increased by 9.7% reported and 18.3% currency adjusted to € 2,151.1 million (30 June 2024: € 1,961.1 million) and were primarily impacted by higher inventory levels in our key markets. Trade receivables decreased by 6.2% to € 1,308.8 million (30 June 2024: € 1,394.7 million). Trade payables decreased by 8.1% to € 1,513.8 million (30 June 2024: € 1,647.9 million).

 

Cash Flow and Liquidity Situation

The free cash flow was at € -642.8 million in the first half of 2025 (H1 2024: € -204.4 million). As of 30 June 2025, PUMA had cash and cash equivalents of € 292.6 million (30 June 2024: € 271.8 million). In addition, the PUMA Group had credit lines totalling € 1,967.4 million as of 30 June 2025 (30 June 2024: € 1,411.7 million). A refinancing project was initiated already towards the end of the previous year, starting with the early renewal and expansion of the revolving credit facility (RCF). Supported by nine participating banks, this secures a committed credit line of € 1.2 billion (previously € 800 million) with a maturity date in December 2030. In addition, a new Schuldschein was issued in the second quarter of 2025, raising an additional € 210 million in financing. Both financing instruments offer competitive terms and are aligned with PUMA’s specific needs. Unutilized credit lines amounted to € 663.8 million as of 30 June 2025 (30 June 2024: € 595.4 million). 

Additionally, PUMA completed the acquisition of shares within the framework of the share buyback programme of PUMA SE on 31 March 2025. Under this programme, a total of 1,687,753 shares were repurchased for € 50 million in the first half of 2025 (H1 2024: 700,413 shares for € 31 million) (excluding incidental transaction costs). 

 

Lowered outlook 2025

Amid ongoing volatile geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility, PUMA anticipates that both sector-wide and company-specific challenges will continue to significantly impact performance in 2025. Key factors include muted brand momentum, shifts in channel mix and quality, the impact of U.S. Tariffs, and elevated inventory levels. 

Looking ahead, PUMA no longer expects to achieve the currency-adjusted sales growth previously anticipated for the remainder of 2025. The softer topline performance observed in the second quarter is expected to persist for the remainder of 2025, resulting in higher inventory levels. In this context, PUMA will continue to actively reduce inventory levels. Despite ongoing mitigating measures such as supply chain optimization, pricing adjustments and partner collaboration, the U.S. Tariffs are expected to have a mitigated negative impact in 2025 of around € 80 million on gross profit. 

In response to these developments, PUMA has revised its full-year guidance. Currency-adjusted sales are now forecast to decline low double-digit percentage (Previously: low- to mid-single-digit percentage currency-adjusted increase). 

For the EBIT we expect a loss in the full year 2025 (Previously: EBIT of € 445 million to € 525 million), reflecting softer topline development, increased currency headwinds, the impact of the U.S. Tariffs and additional measures, including one-off charges, to further align the cost base in the second half of the year. We are providing an earnings outlook for reported EBIT only.

In response to second quarter performance and the muted growth outlook in the second half of 2025, PUMA has revised its capital expenditure plans for the year and now expects to invest around € 250 million in 2025 (Previously: around € 300 million).

 

*one-time costs include costs related to the “nextlevel” cost efficiency programme and a goodwill impairment