Metro Group has continued its sound operating development from the first quarter of financial year 2015/2016 with an increase of 0.6% in like-for-like sales in the second quarter.
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All sales lines contributed to this development, which was also helped by calendar effects. Particularly the company's home market of Germany displayed strong development, with like-for-like sales increasing by 1.1% and reported sales increasing by 1.7% to €5.4 billion.
Due to portfolio and exchange rate effects, group-wide Metro Group's sales fell by 0.9% to €13.6 billion in the second quarter. Adjusted for currency effects, however, there was a 0.7% increase in sales.
EBIT before special items significantly improved over the previous year, climbing €35 million to €11 million in spite of negative exchange rate effects in the amount of €9 million.
In the first half of 2015/2016, Metro Group EBIT before special items amounted to €838 million, falling below the previous year's figure of €867 million as a result of negative exchange rate effects totalling €47 million.
At €1,206 million, EBIT was clearly over the previous year's value of €312 million, also the company's sale of its wholesale business in Vietnam in January had a positive effect on this balance.
Metro Group posted an increase of 0.3% in like-for-like sales for H1 2015/16 (October 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016).
Like-for-like sales at METRO Cash & Carry and Media-Saturn maintained their positive momentum, while sales at Real declined due to a negative sales trend in Q1. Metro Group sales in local currency increased by 0.4%.
However, exchange rate developments - particularly relating to the Russian rouble - and portfolio effects caused reported sales to decline by 1.1% to €30.7 billion.
Metro Group like-for-like sales rose by 0.6% in Q2 2015/16 (1 January to 31 March 2016). All sales lines contributed to the company's sales growth. Sales in local currency increased by 0.7%.
However, portfolio effects and exchange rate developments caused reported sales to decline by 0.9% to €13.6 billion. ■